Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s never a pleasant sight to open the dishwasher and realize it hasn’t drained fully, don’t panic just yet. You might manage deal with the issue without having to call a plumber or acquire a new machine.

Your machine refusing to empty could be induced by a number of things a few of which are straightforward to rectify. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a selection of potential components you could troubleshoot by yourself. A number of which aren’t even caused by the dishwasher itself.

Ensure the program wasn’t cut short

It is probable that there is nothing stopping your dishwasher from emptying. Instead, the program may have been cut short.

The program could have been interrupted for any number of of reasons. Little fingers pushing buttons, inadvertently pushing on the buttons, a power outage or opening the machine mid-cycle may all interrupt the cycle and mean your dishwasher doesn’t drain.

If you believe this might be the case, or you feel it might be a good idea to check start your dishwasher again on a short cycle.

A number dishwashers may have a drain program meaning it’s worthwhile having a look at your owners manual or checking online to make sure.

Examine the waste disposal

If your dishwasher is connected to a garbage disposal inspect this first as an obstructed disposal will stop your dishwasher from emptying. Run the garbage disposal using fast running water to check there are no issues.

If you do find an issue drain un-blocker or a natural alternative could be used to clear the obstruction and so this might fix the problem.

Examine the sink waste for blockages

If you kitchen sink is draining inefficiently this might indicate an issue with the pipes as opposed to a problem with your dishwasher.

In the case that the kitchen sink is emptying inefficiently you may attempt putting a little bicarb and vinegar down the drain, letting it sit for a while, then washing it away with hot water.

A sink plunger may also be utilized to attempt to dislodge the blockage.

This could be all you need to do to allow your appliance to work again so run a short program to check. If not you could remove the standing water by hand using a bowl and a sponge and have a look at the next few possible issues.

Make sure you turn off the machine to prevent electrocution.

If during one of these checks you believe you have found and solved the fault you don’t need to go through the remaining issues. Just complete an empty cycle to make sure your machine is fixed.

Check and clean the filters

Corn Kernels, paper from food jars, plastic film lids and broken glass, as well as scraps of food, could all block the dishwasher filter. Clear film could also be difficult to see if you aren’t looking for it.

Take out the filter and wash it thoroughly before replacing it. Not all machines have their filter in the same location so you could need to consult the instruction manual for this.

Is the waste water pipe obstructed?

The next component to check is the drain hose. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose could all prevent your machine from draining.

Depending on the position of the hose (usually the ribbed one) you may have the means to inspect it by means of taking off the base alternatively you might need to move the dishwasher away from the wall.

Visually examine the pipe first to find out if it has been squashed or kinked. You could manage fix these issues by hand which is likely to deal with the issue, however, it’s worth noting that when this has happened the chance of it occurring again is greatly increased so you might wish to buy a spare hose.

If you are unable to see an issue you could disconnect the drain hose from the machine and blow through it to figure out if there are any blockages. Be sure to line the floor with newspaper or towels first as there could still be dirty water in the hose.

If you are unable to blow through the pipe this might be the reason your machine isn’t emptying.

Disconnect the hose at the sink end and give it a good flush through to clear the obstruction. If you can’t dislodge the blockage or the waste pipe is cracked or worn purchase a new one. If you may get rid of the obstruction then put the hose back and start a quick program to make sure you have repaired the error.

You could also examine where the waste hose connects to the waste disposal. This is a typical point for debris to build up so if you happen to take off the hose give this connection a thorough scrub as well.

Examine the drain valve

You could manually check the drain valve to check it isn’t seized. The drain valve will usually be situated at the base of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Consult your manual if you can’t see it.

Pushing down on the valve or giving it a wiggle will likely be sufficient to find out if it’s stuck. If you can see something stopping it from moving carefully extract this. If you are unable to, this could be a good time to ring a plumber unless you are happy in purchasing and replacing the valve on your own.

Check your pump is not blocked

Your appliance pump makes use of impellers that can get obstructed by broken glass or other debris. Check your pump isn’t broken by removing the cover and ensuring that the impellers can rotate freely.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s running

If the dishwasher is making funny noises your dishwasher pump or motor could be damaged and need replacing.

Call a repair person

If you have been through the above list and the problem remains, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it might be time to get the professionals.

This way though you will at least be able to give them more information and have prevented having to pay a big repair charge for a blocked hose.