Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one is happy to open their dishwasher and discover standing water but, don’t panic just yet. You could have the means to solve the issue without having to call a repair person or acquire a new dishwasher.

Your dishwasher declining to drain may have any number of of causes a few of which are straightforward to figure out. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a lineup of possible things you could troubleshoot yourself. Some of which are not even a fault of the dishwasher itself.

Ensure the cycle wasn’t interrupted

It is possible that there is nothing stopping your machine from draining. Instead, the program could have been interrupted.

The program might have been interrupted for a number of of reasons. Little fingers pushing buttons, accidentally pushing on the buttons, a power cut or opening the machine mid-program could all stop the program from completing and mean your dishwasher doesn’t empty.

If you suspect this may be the case, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue run the machine again on a quick cycle.

A proportion dishwashers could have a drain function so it’s well worth consulting your instructions or checking online to make sure.

Check the disposal

If your dishwasher is plumbed into your garbage disposal inspect this first as an obstructed disposal will block your machine from emptying. Run the waste disposal using fast running water to check there are no blockages.

If you do uncover a blockage drain cleaner or a natural alternative can be employed to unclog the obstruction and so this may solve the problem.

Inspect the sink for blockages

If you kitchen sink is emptying inefficiently this could signify a plumbing issue instead of a problem with your dishwasher.

If the sink is draining inefficiently you can try putting some bicarb and white vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a while and subsequently rinsing it through with boiling water.

A sink plunger could also be utilized to try and shift the obstruction.

This could be all you need to do to permit the appliance to drain so run a short rinse and drain program now. If not you can manually remove the dirty water using a cup and also a towel and troubleshoot a few more possible issues.

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

If during any of these examinations you think you have found and repaired the problem you don’t need to go through the remaining steps. Just run an empty cycle to ensure the machine is repaired.

Check and clean the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including corn kernels, labels from tupperware, film covers and smashed glass. Clear film could also be difficult to spot if you don’t look carefully.

Take out the filter then wash it thoroughly before replacing it. Not all dishwashers have their filter in the same place so you could need to consult the instructions for this.

Is the drain pipe blocked?

The next place to inspect 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 can all impede your machine from draining.

Subject to the location of the hose (usually the corrugated one) you could manage look at it by lifting away the kick board alternatively you might be required to pull the dishwasher out from under the counter.

Look at the hose in the first instance to see if it has been squashed or kinked. You may be able to fix these issues by hand which should fix the issue, however, be aware that once this has occurred the chance of it happening again is significantly increased so you could wish to order a spare hose.

If you are unable to see anything you could take off the waste pipe from the dishwasher and blow through it to figure out if there are any blockages. Make sure you line the floor with newspaper or towels first as even if you have emptied the dishwasher there might still be waste water in the pipe.

If you can’t blow air through the waste hose this may be the issue.

Take off the other end of the hose in order to give it a good flush through to get rid of the blockage. If you are unable to remove the obstruction or the waste hose is split or degraded invest in a brand-new one. If you may clear the obstruction then re-attach the hose and run a short program to double check that you have solved the fault.

You can also check the point where the waste pipe attaches under your sink as well. This is a likely place for blockages to occur so if you happen to take off the waste pipe give this point a good scrub as well.

Examine the drain valve

You can manually examine the drain valve to ensure it isn’t stopped working. The drain valve will generally be located at the base of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Consult your instructions if you’re not sure.

Depressing the valve or wiggling it a bit will likely be sufficient to find out if it’s seized. If you can see any debris stopping it from moving get rid of this. If you can’t, this may be the right time to call a plumber unless you are undaunted by procuring and replacing the valve on your own.

Examine your pump is not broken

Your dishwasher pump uses impellers that may be blocked by broken china or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t obstructed by removing the cover and checking that the impellers can rotate freely.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual noises

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

Call a plumber

If you have been through the above list and the issue remains, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are broken, it may be the right time to call your local repair person.

At least having tried to investigate what is wrong you have avoided having to pay a big repair fee for a blocked drain.