Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always irritating to open the dishwasher and find out the machine hasn’t drained fully, try not to panic just yet. You may manage figure out the error by yourself, without having to call a plumber or acquire a new machine.

Standing water in your machine could have any number of of causes a proportion of which are easy to solve. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a lineup of potential things you can identify on your own. Some of which aren’t even related to the machine itself.

Check the program wasn’t cut short

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

The program could have been cut short for any number of of reasons. Kids pressing buttons, inadvertently leaning on the buttons, a power outage or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle could all interrupt the cycle and mean your machine doesn’t drain.

If you think this could be the case, or you feel it may be worthwhile checking start your dishwasher again on a quick program.

A number appliances could have an empty function meaning it’s worthwhile consulting your manual or checking online to find out.

Check the disposal

If your dishwasher is plumbed into your waste disposal examine this before you move on as an obstructed waste disposal will prevent your machine from emptying. Run the garbage disposal using fast running water to ensure there are no blockages.

If you do uncover an issue drain un-blocker or a natural alternative can be used to clear the blockage and this might resolve the issue.

Examine the sink for issues

If you sink is draining reluctantly this might indicate an issue with the pipes rather than an issue with your dishwasher.

In the case that the sink is emptying inefficiently you can attempt putting some bicarbonate of soda and vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a while, then rinsing it away with boiling water.

A plunger could also be utilized to attempt to shift the blockage.

This could be all you need to do to let the appliance to work again so start a short program now. If not you may manually get rid of the water using a jug as well as a towel and have a look at the next few possible issues.

At this point make sure you disconnect the machine to avoid electrocution.

If in the process of any of these examinations you suspect you may have found and fixed the problem there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just start an empty program to ensure your machine is once again emptying as it used to.

Examine and wash the filters

Popcorn, labels from containers, plastic film covers and smashed glass, as well as scraps of food, may all block the machine filter. Clear plastic lids may also be hard to see if you aren’t looking for it.

Take out the filter then give it a thorough scrub before putting it back in place. Not all filters are obvious and easy to remove so you might need to look at the instructions for this.

Is the drain pipe obstructed?

The next area to examine is the drain pipe. 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 can all prevent your dishwasher from draining.

Depending on the location of the waste hose (normally the ribbed one) you might be able to look at it by means of lifting away the kick plate alternatively you might need to move the machine out from under the counter.

Have a look at the hose first to see if it has been crushed or kinked. You could be able to fix these issues by hand which will most likely deal with the issue, however, be aware that when this has occurred it is much more likely to happen again so you may wish to order a replacement hose.

If you are unable to find anything you could take off the waste pipe from the dishwasher and blow into it to figure out if there are any blockages. Be sure to put down newspaper or towels first as there could still be waste water in the pipe.

If you can’t blow air through the waste pipe this might be the problem.

Take off the hose at the sink end and then give it a good clean to get rid of the obstruction. If you can’t dislodge the obstruction or the hose is slit or worn purchase a brand-new one. If you can clear the obstruction then put the hose back and run a quick cycle to check that you have repaired the problem.

You may also examine where the waste pipe attaches under your sink. This is a common place for blockages to occur so if you happen to remove the waste hose give this point a thorough scrub as well.

Examine the drain valve

You could inspect the drain valve by hand to ensure it hasn’t stopped working. The drain valve will often be situated at the base of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Check your owners manual if you can’t see it.

Pushing down on the valve or wiggling it a bit will likely be sufficient to tell you if it’s seized. If you can see an object stopping it from moving remove this. If you are unable to, this might be the right time to call a plumber unless you are happy in procuring and repairing the valve on your own.

Check your pump is not broken

Your water pump makes use of impellers that can become obstructed by broken glass or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t obstructed by removing the cover and making sure the impellers are free to move.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual noises

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

Call a repair person

If you have been through the above list and the issue persists, or you have reason to believe the pump, pump valve or motor are broken, it might be the right time to call for help.

At least having done your best to fix the problem yourself you have managed to avoid having to pay a hefty call-out charge for a blocked drain.