Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one is happy to open their dishwasher and discover standing water but, try not to panic just yet. You may manage figure out the issue without having to call a repair person or acquire a new machine.

Standing water in your machine may be caused by any number of things a number of which are simple to solve. Therefore, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service here is a lineup of probable things you can troubleshoot on your own. A proportion of which are not even a fault of the machine itself.

Check the cycle wasn’t interrupted

It is probable that there is nothing preventing your machine from draining. Alternatively, the program may have been interrupted.

The cycle may have been cut short for a number of of reasons. Kids pressing buttons, mistakenly pressing on the controls, a power surge or opening the machine mid-program could all interrupt the program and mean your machine doesn’t empty.

If you suspect this might be the situation, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue run the machine again on a short program.

A few dishwashers could have an empty function so it’s worth checking your instruction manual or checking online to make sure.

Check the garbage disposal

If your dishwasher is connected to a waste disposal check this first as an obstructed waste disposal will stop the dishwasher from emptying. Turn on the waste disposal using lots of water to make sure there are no issues.

If you do discover an issue drain un-blocker or a plunger can be sought after to remove the blockage and so this might solve the fault.

Inspect the plumbing for clogs

If you kitchen sink is emptying reluctantly this could indicate an issue with the pipes as opposed to an error with your dishwasher.

In the case that the sink is draining inefficiently you can attempt putting some bicarb and vinegar down the drain, letting it sit for a while and then washing it away with hot water.

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

This may be all you need to do to allow the appliance to empty so start a quick program to check. If this hasn’t sorted the issue you can remove the water by hand using a bowl as well as a sponge and check the next few possible issues.

Make sure you turn off the machine to prevent electrocution.

If during one of these investigations you believe you may have detected and fixed the issue you don’t have to go through the remaining steps. Just complete an empty cycle to ensure your dishwasher is once again draining as it used to.

Examine and wash the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including corn kernels, labels from tupperware, plastic film lids and broken glass. Clear glass may also be hard to see if you don’t look carefully.

Remove the filter and wash it thoroughly before putting it back in place. Not all filters are obvious and straightforward to remove so you may need to refer to the instructions for this.

Is the drain hose blocked?

The next place to inspect is the waste water pipe. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose can all stop your machine from draining.

Contingent upon the position of the hose (usually the corrugated one) you might manage look at it simply by taking off the kick board alternatively you could be required to move the machine away from the wall.

Visually inspect the hose in the first instance to see if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You might be able to fix these issues by hand which will most likely fix the issue, however, it’s worth noting that once this has occurred it is much more likely to happen again so you could need to purchase a replacement hose.

If you can’t find any obvious kinks or obstructions you could disconnect the waste water pipe from the pump and blow into 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 machine there could still be water in the pipe.

If you are unable to blow through the hose this could be the reason your machine isn’t draining.

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 pipe is split or worn invest in a brand-new one. If you can remove the blockage then put the hose back and start a quick cycle to check that you have fixed the problem.

You may also examine where the hose attaches to the waste disposal. This is a likely spot for blockages to occur so if you happen to remove the waste hose give this point a good scrub as well.

Examine the drain valve

You can inspect the drain valve by hand to check it hasn’t seized. The drain valve will often be found at the base of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Consult your manual if you’re unsure.

Depressing the valve or giving it a jiggle should be adequate to find out if it’s stuck. If you can see an object blocking it get rid of this. If you can’t, this might be when you should ring a repair person unless you are confident in procuring and repairing the part on your own.

Inspect your pump is not blocked

Your dishwasher pump uses impellers that can be blocked by broken china or other debris. Check your impellers aren’t blocked by taking off the safety cover and making sure the impellers can rotate freely.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s on

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

Call a plumber

If you have been through the above list and the error remains, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are not working, it could be time to call for help.

At least having tried to investigate what is wrong you have managed to avoid needing to pay a big repair charge for a blocked drain.