Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one is happy to open their machine and discover it hasn’t emptied correctly but, don’t overreact just yet. You may have the means to solve the problem without having to call a plumber or purchase a new machine.

Standing water in your machine can be caused by any number of components a number of which are easy to resolve. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service try this lineup of probable components you can identify on your own. A few of which aren’t even related to the machine itself.

Check the program wasn’t interrupted

If you’re lucky the fact your dishwasher hasn’t drained may not be a problem at all. Instead, the program may have been cut short.

The cycle might have been cut short for multiple of reasons. Children pushing controls, inadvertently pressing against the controls, a power outage or opening the machine mid-cycle might all interrupt the program and mean your dishwasher doesn’t drain.

If you believe this could be the circumstance, or you feel it could be a good idea to check run the machine again on a short cycle.

A number appliances could have a drain function so it’s worthwhile having a look at your instruction manual or doing a quick internet search to make sure.

Examine the waste disposal

If your dishwasher is connected to a disposal examine this before you do anything else as an obstructed garbage disposal will block your dishwasher from emptying. Run the waste disposal using plenty of water to make sure there are no obstructions.

If you do find a blockage drain un-blocker or a natural alternative could be employed to clear the blockage and so this might resolve the problem.

Inspect the sink for issues

If you sink is emptying reluctantly this could suggest a plumbing issue as opposed to a problem with your dishwasher.

If the kitchen sink is emptying slowly you could attempt putting a little bicarb and white vinegar down the drain, leaving it for a while and then flushing it away with hot water.

A plunger might also be utilized to try and remove the obstruction.

This might be enough to permit your machine to work again so run a quick rinse and drain cycle now. If not you may manually drain the dishwasher using a jug as well as a towel and troubleshoot a few more possible issues.

Make certain to unplug the dishwasher to stay safe.

If while you are carrying out one of these checks you believe you have found and fixed the fault you don’t need to go through the rest of the steps. Just complete an empty cycle to make sure the machine is once again emptying as it should.

Check and scrub the filters

Popcorn, paper from jars, plastic lids and smashed glass, as well as food debris, may all block the dishwasher filter. Clear glass can also be difficult to see if you don’t look closely.

Take out the filter then give it a thorough clean before replacing it. Not all machines have their filter in the same place so you might need to look at the owners manual for this.

Is the drain pipe blocked?

The next place to check is the waste hose. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose can all prevent your machine from draining.

Contingent upon the position of the waste hose (usually the ribbed one) you might manage look at it simply by taking off the base or you could be required to pull the dishwasher out from under the counter.

Have a look at the hose in the first instance to see if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You may have the means to fix these issues by hand which will most likely solve the issue, but be aware that once this has occurred the chance of it happening again is greatly increased so you could wish to purchase a new hose.

If you are unable to find anything you may take off the drain pipe from the machine and blow through it to discover any blockages. Be sure to put down newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as even if you have emptied the machine there might still be dirty water in the hose.

If you are unable to blow through the waste pipe this may be the problem.

Remove the hose at the sink end and then give it a thorough clean to clear the blockage. If you can’t remove the obstruction or the waste hose is split or degraded purchase a brand-new one. If you could get rid of the blockage then put the hose back and run a short cycle to check that you have repaired the error.

You could also inspect the point where the pipe connects to the waste disposal. This is a likely point for blockages to occur so if you do take off the waste hose give this area a thorough clean as well.

Check the drain valve

You could check the drain valve by hand to ensure it isn’t seized. The drain valve will generally be found in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Check your manual if you can’t see it.

Pressing down on the valve or giving it a wiggle will likely be enough to find out if it’s seized. If you are able to see any debris blocking it remove this. If you are unable to, this may be when you should ring a repair person unless you are confident in procuring and repairing the part yourself.

Inspect your pump is not broken

Your dishwasher pump makes use of impellers that may become obstructed by pieces of glass or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t blocked by removing the safety cover and checking that the impellers can rotate freely.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual noises

If your dishwasher sounds unusual your dishwasher pump or motor might be faulty and need replacing.

Call a plumber

If none of the above examinations has repaired the issue, or you have reason to believe the pump, pump valve or motor are broken, it may be the moment you need to call a plumber.

This way though you will at least have the means to give them more information and have managed to avoid needing to pay a hefty call-out fee for a clogged filter.