Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one wishes to open their dishwasher and discover it hasn’t emptied correctly but, try not to overreact just yet. You may be able to deal with the fault by yourself, without having to call a plumber or acquire a new dishwasher.

Your dishwasher refusing to empty could be induced by multiple components a number of which are easy to fix. So, before you call a dishwasher repair service try this lineup of probable things you could troubleshoot yourself. A number of which are not even a fault of the machine itself.

Ensure the dishwasher wasn’t stopped mid-cycle

It is probable that there is nothing stopping your dishwasher from draining. Alternatively, the program could have been stopped mid-way.

The cycle may have been stopped mid-way for a number of of reasons. Kids pushing buttons, accidentally leaning against the controls, a power outage or opening the dishwasher mid-program could all stop the cycle from completing and mean your dishwasher doesn’t drain.

If you suspect this may be the circumstance, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue start your dishwasher again on a quick cycle.

A proportion machines may have a drain cycle so it’s worth having a look at your instruction manual or checking online to find out.

Check the disposal

If your dishwasher is plumbed into a waste disposal inspect this before you do anything else as an obstructed garbage disposal will block your dishwasher from draining. Turn on the disposal with plenty of water to check there are no issues.

If you do discover an issue drain unclogger or a plunger could be sought after to clear the blockage and this might fix the issue.

Check the plumbing for issues

If you kitchen sink is draining slowly this may signify an issue with the drains rather than an error with your dishwasher.

In the case that the sink is emptying slowly you can try putting a little bicarbonate of soda and vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a few minutes, then flushing it away with boiling water.

A plunger could also be employed to try and dislodge the blockage.

This may be sufficient to let your dishwasher to drain so start a quick program at this point. If not you can remove the dirty water by hand using a cup and also a towel and check the next few possible issues.

At this point make certain to disconnect the dishwasher to avoid electrocution.

If during one of these examinations you think you have discovered and solved the issue there is no need to continue to the next step. Just complete an empty program to ensure the machine is once again emptying as it used to.

Examine and scrub the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including corn kernels, labels from containers, plastic 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 putting it back in place. Not all filters are obvious and straightforward to remove so you could need to consult the owners manual for this.

Is the waste hose blocked?

The next area to examine is the waste pipe. Many things could cause an obstruction 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 draining.

Contingent upon the position of the hose (normally the ribbed one) you could manage look at it simply by removing the base or you may have to move the machine out from the wall.

Have a look at the pipe first to discover if it has been squashed or kinked. You may have the means to fix these issues by hand which will most likely solve the issue, however, it’s worth noting that when this has happened it is significantly more likely to happen again so you may wish to order a new hose.

If you can’t find anything you can remove the waste water hose from the machine and blow into 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 machine there could still be dirty water in the hose.

If you can’t blow air through the hose this could be the problem.

Disconnect the hose at the sink end and give it a good clean to remove the blockage. If you are unable to remove the obstruction or the pipe is cracked or damaged buy a brand-new one. If you may remove the obstruction then put the hose back and start a quick program to find out if you have solved the error.

You could also check where the waste hose attaches under your sink. This is a typical place for a build-up of gunk so if you do remove the hose give this area a good scrub as well.

Check the drain valve

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

Depressing the valve or giving it a jiggle should be sufficient to find out if it’s stuck. If you are able to see something stopping it from moving get rid of this. If you can’t, this might be a good time to call a repair person unless you are undaunted by purchasing and replacing the part yourself.

Check your pump is not broken

Your dishwasher pump uses impellers that could become obstructed by broken glass or other debris. Check your pump isn’t broken by taking off the cover and ensuring that the impellers can be easily rotated.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual noises

If it doesn’t sound right your pump or motor might be damaged and need replacing.

Call a plumber

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

This way though you will at least manage give them more information and have prevented having to pay a hefty call-out fee for a blocked hose.

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