Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always irritating to open a machine and discover the machine is still full of water, don’t lose it just yet. You might have the means to figure out the issue by yourself, without having to call a plumber or acquire a new machine.

Standing water in your machine can be caused by a number of things a few of which can be simple to resolve. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service try this selection of potential components you could troubleshoot on your own. A few of which are not even a fault of the machine itself.

Check the dishwasher wasn’t interrupted mid-cycle

If you’re fortunate the standing water you have discovered may not be a problem at all. Rather, the program may have been interrupted.

The program might have been interrupted for multiple of reasons. Kids pressing buttons, accidentally pushing on the control panel, a power surge or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle could all interrupt the cycle and mean your machine doesn’t drain.

If you suspect this could be the case, or you think it might be worthwhile checking run your machine again on a short cycle.

A number dishwashers might have an empty program so it’s worthwhile having a look at your instruction manual or checking online to check.

Check the waste disposal

If you have a disposal inspect this before you move on as a blocked waste disposal will block your dishwasher from draining. Run the waste disposal with fast running water to ensure there are no issues.

If you do discover an issue drain cleaner or a plunger may be sought after to clear the blockage and so this may rectify the fault.

Examine the sink for clogs

If you sink is draining reluctantly this may suggest a plumbing issue instead of a problem with your dishwasher.

If the sink is emptying inefficiently you may attempt putting some bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a few minutes and subsequently washing it away with hot water.

A sink plunger could also be used to attempt to shift the obstruction.

This may be enough to let your machine to drain so start a short rinse and drain cycle at this point. If this hasn’t worked you may manually get rid of the dirty water using a cup and a towel and have a look at a few more areas.

At this point make certain to unplug the machine to stay safe.

If in the process of any one of these checks you suspect you may have discovered and solved the issue you don’t have to go through the remaining issues. Just complete an empty program to make sure your machine is repaired.

Inspect and scrub the filters

Corn Kernels, labels from containers, film covers and broken glass, as well as scraps of food, could all obstruct the dishwasher filter. Clear glass could also be difficult to see if you aren’t looking for it.

Remove the filter then clean it thoroughly before putting it back in place. Not all machines have their filter in the same place so you may need to refer to the instruction manual for this.

Is the drain pipe obstructed?

The next area to examine 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 may all stop your machine from emptying.

Contingent upon the location of the hose (normally the ribbed one) you might have the means to inspect it by lifting away the kick plate or you might be required to pull the machine away from under the counter.

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

If you can’t find any obvious kinks or obstructions you may take off the waste water pipe from the dishwasher and blow through it to figure out if there are any blockages. Be sure to line the floor with newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as there may still be water in the pipe.

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

Disconnect the hose at the sink end and give it a good flush through to clear the obstruction. If you are unable to get rid of the obstruction or the hose is slit or worn buy a brand-new one. If you may clear the obstruction then re-attach the hose and run a quick cycle to find out if you have solved the error.

You may also examine where the waste hose attaches to the sink. This is a common spot for debris to build up so if you happen to remove the waste hose give this connection a good clean as well.

Examine the drain valve

You may examine the drain valve by hand to ensure it isn’t stopped working. The drain valve will generally be located in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Examine your manual if you can’t see it.

Pushing down on the valve or wiggling it a bit will likely be sufficient to find out if it’s stuck. If you can see any debris stopping it from moving remove this. If you can’t, this could be the right time to get in touch with a repair person unless you are confident in procuring and repairing the valve on your own.

Examine your pump is not broken

Your water pump makes use of impellers that may become blocked by broken glass or other debris. Check your pump isn’t obstructed by removing the safety cover and ensuring that the impellers can be easily rotated.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s running

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

Call a repair person

If none of the above examinations has fixed the issue, or you have reason to believe the pump, pump valve or motor are not working, it may be the moment you need to call in the professionals.

At least having attempted to investigate what is wrong you have avoided needing to pay a hefty call-out fee for a blocked hose.