Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one wants to open their machine and discover standing water but, don’t overreact just yet. You may manage deal with the error without having to call a plumber or invest in a brand-new dishwasher.

Standing water in your dishwasher may be caused by multiple things a proportion of which are easy to fix. So, before you call a dishwasher repair service try this selection of probable components you could troubleshoot yourself. Some of which aren’t even caused by the dishwasher itself.

Ensure the dishwasher wasn’t stopped mid-program

It is probable that there is nothing preventing your dishwasher from emptying. Rather, the cycle may have been stopped mid-way.

The cycle may have been stopped mid-way for a number of of reasons. Kids pushing controls, inadvertently leaning on the buttons, a power surge or opening the machine mid-cycle may all interrupt the program and mean your machine doesn’t drain.

If you think this may be the circumstance, or you feel it may be a good idea to check run the dishwasher again on a quick program.

A proportion machines may have a drain capacity meaning it’s well worth checking your instructions or doing a quick internet search to make sure.

Check the disposal

If your dishwasher is connected to the waste disposal inspect this first as an obstructed disposal will block the machine from emptying. Run the garbage disposal with plenty of water to make sure there are no issues.

If you do discover a blockage drain unclogger or a plunger can be sought after to unclog the blockage and so this might fix the error.

Check the sink waste for issues

If you sink is emptying slowly this could suggest a plumbing issue instead of a fault with your machine.

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

A plunger might also be employed to attempt to shift the blockage.

This might be enough to let your appliance to work again so run a quick cycle now. If not you can manually empty the dishwasher using a jug as well as a towel and have a look at the next few possible issues.

At this point make sure you unplug the dishwasher to stay safe.

If during any one of these examinations you believe you have detected and fixed the fault there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just run an empty program to ensure the dishwasher is now draining as it used to.

Inspect and clean the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including corn kernels, labels from food jars, film lids and smashed glass. Clear plastic lids could also be hard to spot if you aren’t looking for it.

Remove the filter then scrub it thoroughly before replacing it. Not all filters are obvious and straightforward to remove so you could need to refer to the manual for this.

Is the drain hose obstructed?

The next component to examine is the waste water hose. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose can all impede your dishwasher from draining.

Contingent upon the location of the hose (usually the corrugated one) you may be able to inspect it by removing the kick board alternatively you might have to pull the dishwasher out from under the counter.

Look at the pipe first to find out if it has been crushed or kinked. You could manage fix these issues by hand which is likely to solve the issue, however, it’s worth noting that once this has happened it is significantly more inclined to happen again so you may wish to order a new hose.

If you can’t see anything you may take off the waste water hose from the pump and blow through it to check for any blockages. Make sure you put down newspaper or towels first as even if you have emptied the dishwasher there could still be dirty water in the pipe.

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

Remove the other end of the hose and then give it a good clean to clear the blockage. If you are unable to get rid of the blockage or the pipe is slit or damaged acquire a new one. If you may remove the blockage then re-attach the hose and start a short program to make sure you have repaired the fault.

You may also inspect where the hose connects under your sink as well. This is a common spot for blockages to occur so if you do take off the hose give this point a good scrub as well.

Examine the drain valve

You may examine the drain valve by hand to ensure it hasn’t got stuck. The drain valve will most often be located in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Check your instruction manual if you’re unsure.

Depressing the valve or wiggling it a bit will likely be enough to let you know if it’s stuck. If you can see something blocking it carefully extract this. If you are unable to, this might be the right time to get in touch with a plumber unless you are confident in purchasing and replacing the part on your own.

Check your pump is not blocked

Your dishwasher pump uses impellers that can become blocked by pieces of 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 on

If it is making funny noises 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 error remains, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are broken, it could be a good time to call for help.

At least having done your best to fix the problem yourself you have prevented needing to pay a big repair charge for a blocked drain.