Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always annoying to open a machine and realize it is still full of water, try not to panic just yet. You might be able to deal with the problem before you have to call a plumber or invest in a new machine.

Your dishwasher declining to drain could have any number of of causes a proportion of which can be simple to rectify. So, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service try this lineup of probable things you can identify on your own. A proportion of which are not even caused by the machine itself.

Ensure the cycle wasn’t cut short

If you’re fortunate the standing water you have discovered may not be an issue at all. Alternatively, the program might have been interrupted.

The program could have been interrupted for a number of of reasons. Children pushing controls, mistakenly pressing against the buttons, a power surge or opening the dishwasher mid-program could all prevent the cycle from completing and mean your machine doesn’t empty.

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

Some machines could have an empty function so it’s worth checking your manual or checking online to make sure.

Check the waste disposal

If your dishwasher is connected to a waste disposal inspect this before you do anything else as a blocked garbage disposal will block the machine from emptying. Run the disposal with plenty of water to check there are no issues.

If you do find a blockage drain unclogger or a natural alternative could be sought after to unclog the blockage and this could deal with the error.

Check the sink waste for clogs

If you kitchen sink is draining inefficiently this could suggest an issue with the pipes as opposed to an issue with your dishwasher.

If the kitchen sink is emptying slowly you may attempt putting some bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar down the drain, letting it sit for a few minutes and then washing it away with boiling water.

A sink plunger may also be used to try and remove the obstruction.

This might be all you need to do to let your appliance to work again so run a quick rinse and empty cycle now. If not you can manually empty the dishwasher using a jug and also a towel and troubleshoot a few more possible issues.

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

If during one of these investigations you think you may have detected and repaired the fault there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just complete an empty cycle to check the dishwasher is now emptying as it used to.

Inspect and rinse the filters

Corn Kernels, labels from food jars, plastic covers and broken glass, plus food debris, can all block the machine filter. Clear plastic lids can also be difficult to see if you don’t look carefully.

Take out the filter then give it a thorough clean before replacing it. Not all filters are obvious and easy to remove so you might need to consult the instructions for this.

Is the drain hose obstructed?

The next place to examine is the drain hose. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose could all stop your dishwasher from draining.

Subject to the position of the waste pipe (normally the ribbed one) you might be able to view it by removing the kick board or you may need to move the machine out from under the counter.

Look at the pipe in the first instance to discover if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You might manage manually remove any kinks which is likely to deal with the issue, however, be aware that when this has happened it is much more inclined to happen again so you could need to order a new hose.

If you are unable to find any obvious kinks or obstructions you could remove the drain hose from the dishwasher and blow through it to figure out if there are any blockages. Make sure you put down newspaper or towels first as there might still be dirty water in the hose.

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

Disconnect the other end of the hose and then give it a good flush through to remove the blockage. If you are unable to get rid of the obstruction or the waste hose is slit or damaged purchase a new one. If you could clear the blockage then put the hose back and start a short program to double check that you have fixed the issue.

You could also checkthe point where the waste pipe connects to the sink as well. This is a common place for blockages to occur so if you happen to remove the hose give this point a thorough clean as well.

Examine the drain valve

You may manually check the drain valve to ensure it isn’t stopped working. The drain valve will usually be located at the base of the machine on the valve bracket. Examine your owners manual if you’re not sure.

Pressing down on the valve or giving it a jiggle will likely be enough to let you know if it’s stuck. If you are able to see an object stopping it from moving remove this. If you are unable to, this might be the right time to ring a plumber unless you are happy in ordering and repairing the part yourself.

Inspect your pump is not broken

Your water pump makes use of impellers that could be obstructed by broken glass or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t blocked by taking off the cover and ensuring that the impellers are free to move.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s on

If your dishwasher sounds unusual your pump or motor could be broken and need to be repaired.

Call a repair person

If none of the above checks has fixed the fault, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it could be the right time to call for help.

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