Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s never a welcome sight to open a machine and discover the machine hasn’t drained fully, don’t overreact just yet. You might manage deal with the issue without having to call a repair person or purchase a brand-new dishwasher.

Standing water in your machine could be induced by a number of components a few of which are easy to rectify. So, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service here is a selection of probable components you could correct on your own. A few of which are not even a fault of the machine itself.

Check the cycle wasn’t interrupted

It is probable that there is nothing stopping your machine from emptying. Rather, the cycle may have been interrupted.

The program could have been stopped mid-way for any number of of reasons. Little fingers pressing buttons, accidentally pressing against the control panel, a power cut or opening the machine mid-program could all stop the cycle from completing and mean your dishwasher doesn’t empty.

If you suspect this could be the case, or you feel it might be worthwhile checking run the dishwasher again on a short program.

A few appliances may have a drain program meaning it’s worth consulting your instructions or checking online to make sure.

Check the waste disposal

If your dishwasher is attached to the waste disposal examine this before you move on as an obstructed garbage disposal will block the dishwasher from emptying. Run the disposal using plenty of water to ensure there are no blockages.

If you do discover a blockage drain un-blocker or a plunger could be employed to remove the obstruction and this could resolve the problem.

Inspect the sink for blockages

If you kitchen sink is emptying inefficiently this may signify an issue with the drains instead of a problem with your dishwasher.

If the sink is emptying inefficiently you can try putting some bicarb and white vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a few minutes, then rinsing it away with hot water.

A plunger may also be employed to try and remove the obstruction.

This may be all you need to do to allow the machine to drain so start a quick rinse and empty program at this point. If not you could manually drain the dishwasher using a cup and a towel and have a look at the next few possible issues.

At this point make sure you unplug the machine to prevent electrocution.

If while you are carrying out one of these examinations you suspect you may have discovered and fixed the fault there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just start an empty cycle to make sure the machine is repaired.

Inspect and wash the filters

Popcorn, paper from food jars, film covers and smashed glass, plus food debris, can all obstruct the dishwasher filter. Clear film could also be hard to see if you aren’t looking for it.

Remove the filter then clean it thoroughly before putting it back in place. Not all filters are obvious and simple to remove so you could need to refer to the owners manual for this.

Is the waste hose blocked?

The next area to check is the waste water hose. Many things could cause a blockage including a build up of food debris, a kink in the hose, or a crushed hose. All of which could all impede your machine from draining.

Contingent upon the position of the hose (normally the corrugated one) you may manage inspect it by means of taking off the base or you could need to move the dishwasher out from under the counter.

Look at the hose first to discover if it has been squashed or kinked. You may have the means to manually remove any kinks which should fix the issue, but it’s worth noting that when this has happened it is significantly more likely to happen again so you could need to order a spare hose.

If you are unable to see any obvious kinks or obstructions you can disconnect the drain hose from the pump and blow through it to check for any blockages. Make sure you line the floor with newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as even if you have emptied the dishwasher there could still be water in the hose.

If you are unable to blow through the waste hose this could be the reason your dishwasher isn’t draining.

Remove the hose at the sink end in order to give it a thorough clean to get rid of the obstruction. If you can’t dislodge the obstruction or the pipe is slit or degraded buy a new one. If you could get rid of the obstruction then replace the hose and start a short cycle to find out if you have repaired the issue.

You can also check the point where the pipe connects to the sink. This is a common place for debris to build up so if you do remove the waste pipe give this point a good scrub as well.

Check the drain valve

You may check the drain valve by hand to check it isn’t stopped working. The drain valve will most often be situated at the base of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Examine your instructions if you can’t see it.

Pressing down on the valve or giving it a wiggle will likely be adequate to let you know if it’s seized. If you can see something blocking it get rid of this. If you are unable to, this might be a good time to get in touch with a repair person unless you are happy in purchasing and repairing the component on your own.

Examine your pump is not broken

Your water pump makes use of impellers that may get obstructed by broken glass or other debris. Check your impellers aren’t obstructed by removing the safety cover and ensuring that the impellers are free to move.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual sounds

If the dishwasher doesn’t sound normal your dishwasher pump or motor might be damaged and need to be repaired.

Call a repair person

If none of the above checks has fixed the fault, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are not working, it might be time to call your local repair person.

At least having attempted to fix the problem yourself you have avoided having to pay a hefty call-out fee for a blocked drain.

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