Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always irritating to open a machine and find out it hasn’t drained fully, don’t lose it just yet. You could manage figure out the fault before you have to call a plumber or buy a new machine.

Your dishwasher refusing to drain may be induced by a number of issues a number of which are easy to deal with. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a list of possible things you can troubleshoot yourself. A number of which aren’t even related to the machine itself.

Ensure the cycle wasn’t stopped mid-way

If you’re fortunate the fact your dishwasher hasn’t drained may not be a problem at all. Instead, the cycle might have been stopped mid-way.

The program could have been interrupted for multiple of reasons. Kids pressing controls, accidentally pushing on the control panel, a power surge or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle could all stop the cycle from completing and mean your machine doesn’t empty.

If you suspect this could be the case, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue start your machine again on a short program.

A number appliances could have an empty capacity meaning it’s worthwhile checking your manual or checking online to make sure.

Inspect the waste disposal

If you have a disposal check this before you do anything else as an obstructed disposal will prevent your dishwasher from draining. Turn on the garbage disposal using plenty of water to make sure there are no obstructions.

If you do find an issue drain cleaner or a natural alternative can be employed to remove the blockage and so this may deal with the problem.

Inspect the sink waste for clogs

If you kitchen sink is emptying reluctantly this may signify a plumbing issue rather than a fault with your dishwasher.

In the case that the kitchen sink is emptying inefficiently you may try putting some bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a while and subsequently rinsing it through with boiling water.

A sink plunger might also be used to try and shift the blockage.

This might be all you need to do to allow your dishwasher to drain so start a short cycle now. If not you may remove the dirty water by hand using a cup as well as a towel and troubleshoot a few more possible issues.

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

If in the process of any one of these examinations you suspect you have detected and repaired the fault you don’t have to go through the remaining issues. Just complete an empty program to make sure your machine is repaired.

Inspect and scrub the filters

Corn Kernels, labels from jars, film lids and broken glass, as well as food debris, can all block the dishwasher filter. Clear film may also be difficult to spot if you aren’t looking for it.

Remove the filter and give it a thorough wash before replacing it. Not all machines have their filter in the same location so you might need to look at the instructions for this.

Is the drain hose obstructed?

The next area to inspect is the waste water hose. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose can all prevent your dishwasher from draining.

Subject to the location of the waste pipe (generally the corrugated one) you could be able to look at it by means of removing the base or you may need to pull the machine away from under the counter.

Look at the hose first to discover if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You may have the means to manually fix any kinks which should deal with the issue, however, be aware that when this has happened the chance of it happening again is greatly increased so you may wish to order a new hose.

If you are unable to find any obvious kinks or obstructions you may disconnect the waste water pipe from the pump and blow through it to check for 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 water in the pipe.

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

Remove the other end of the hose and give it a thorough flush through to get rid of the blockage. If you are unable to dislodge the blockage or the hose is split or degraded buy a new one. If you may clear the obstruction then replace the hose and run a quick program to find out if you have repaired the problem.

You can also inspect where the waste hose attaches under your sink as well. This is a common place for a build-up of gunk so if you happen to take off the waste hose give this point a thorough scrub as well.

Check the drain valve

You could inspect the drain valve by hand to check it hasn’t stopped working. The drain valve will generally be found in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Examine your instructions if you’re unsure.

Pushing down on the valve or giving it a wiggle should be adequate to tell you if it’s seized. If you can see any debris stopping it from moving carefully extract this. If you can’t, this could be a good time to get in touch with a repair person unless you are confident in purchasing and repairing the valve yourself.

Examine your pump is not blocked

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

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 plumber

If you have been through the above list and the error persists, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it may be a good time to call a plumber.

At least having tried to troubleshoot you have managed to avoid needing to pay a big repair charge for a blocked drain.