Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s never a pleasant sight to open your dishwasher and discover it is still full of water, don’t panic just yet. You might have the means to figure out the issue by yourself, without having to call a repair person or buy a brand-new machine.

Your dishwasher failing to drain can be induced by multiple things some of which are straightforward to rectify. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service try this lineup of probable components you can identify by yourself. A number of which are not even related to the dishwasher itself.

Ensure the dishwasher wasn’t interrupted mid-cycle

It is probable that there is nothing stopping your dishwasher from draining. Rather, the program could have been cut short.

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

If you believe this may be the circumstance, or you feel it might be worthwhile checking start the dishwasher again on a short program.

A number dishwashers may have a drain capacity so it’s worthwhile checking your instructions or checking online to find out.

Inspect the garbage disposal

If your dishwasher is connected to your disposal examine this first as an obstructed disposal will stop your dishwasher from draining. Turn on the garbage disposal using fast running water to ensure there are no obstructions.

If you do find an obstruction drain unclogger or a natural alternative could be used to unclog the obstruction and so this could fix the error.

Inspect the sink for clogs

If you sink is emptying slowly this may signify a plumbing issue rather than an issue with your dishwasher.

In the case that the sink is emptying inefficiently you could try putting a little bicarbonate of soda and vinegar down the drain, letting it sit for a while and subsequently rinsing it away with boiling water.

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

This could be enough to allow your dishwasher to drain so start a short cycle at this point. If this hasn’t solved the problem you could remove the water by hand using a cup as well as a sponge and check a few more likely causes.

At this point make certain to turn off the machine to stay safe.

If while you are carrying out any of these examinations you suspect you have discovered and fixed the problem you don’t have to go through the rest of the steps. Just complete an empty cycle to ensure your dishwasher is once again draining as it used to.

Inspect and rinse the filters

Corn Kernels, paper from jars, plastic film lids and broken glass, plus food debris, could all block the dishwasher filter. Clear glass may also be difficult to spot if you don’t look closely.

Take out the filter then scrub it thoroughly before putting it back in place. Not all machines have their filter in the same location so you could need to look at the manual for this.

Is the waste water hose obstructed?

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

Contingent upon the position of the waste pipe (usually the corrugated one) you may be able to view it by taking off the kick board or you may be required to move the dishwasher away from the wall.

Visually examine the hose first to see if it has been crushed or kinked. You may be able to fix these issues by hand which will most likely deal with the issue, however, be aware that when this has happened it is significantly more inclined to happen again so you could need to buy a spare hose.

If you can’t find any obvious kinks or obstructions you could take off 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 before you remove the hose as even if you have emptied the dishwasher there may still be dirty water in the pipe.

If you are unable to blow air through the hose this might be the problem.

Remove the hose at the sink end in order to give it a thorough flush through to remove the obstruction. If you are unable to dislodge the blockage or the waste hose is split or worn acquire a brand-new one. If you may clear the blockage then replace the hose and start a short cycle to find out if you have solved the error.

You may also check where the waste pipe connects under your sink. This is a common point for a build-up of gunk so if you happen to remove the pipe give this connection a thorough scrub as well.

Examine the drain valve

You may examine the drain valve by hand to ensure it isn’t got stuck. The drain valve will generally be found at the base of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Check your owners manual if you’re unsure.

Depressing the valve or giving it a wiggle will likely be sufficient to let you know if it’s seized. If you are able to see anything stopping it from moving get rid of this. If you can’t, this may be when you should get in touch with a plumber unless you are happy in procuring and repairing the part yourself.

Check your pump is not broken

Your water pump uses impellers that may be obstructed by pieces of china or other debris. Check your impellers aren’t obstructed by removing the cover and making sure the impellers are free to move.

Run your dishwasher and listen for any unusual sounds

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

Call a repair person

If you have been through the above list and the error persists, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are broken, it might be a good time to call your local repair person.

At least having tried to fix the problem yourself you have avoided having to pay a big repair charge for a clogged filter.

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