Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one wants to open their dishwasher and discover it hasn’t drained properly but, don’t lose it just yet. You might manage solve the problem before you have to call a plumber or invest in a brand-new machine.

Your dishwasher declining to drain may have multiple of causes a few of which can be simple to deal with. So, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service try this selection of probable things you may correct yourself. Some of which are not even a fault of the dishwasher itself.

Check the dishwasher wasn’t stopped mid-cycle

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

The cycle could have been interrupted for any number of of reasons. Kids pressing buttons, inadvertently pressing on the control panel, a power surge or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle could all interrupt the program and mean your machine doesn’t empty.

If you believe this could be the situation, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue start the machine again on a short cycle.

A number machines might have an empty cycle so it’s worth checking your owners manual or consulting google to make sure.

Check the disposal

If you have a waste disposal check this first as a blocked garbage disposal will block your machine from emptying. Turn on the disposal with plenty of water to check there are no obstructions.

If you do discover an issue drain cleaner or a plunger could be used to unclog the blockage and so this may deal with the fault.

Examine the sink waste for issues

If you kitchen sink is draining reluctantly this may indicate a plumbing issue as opposed to an error with your machine.

If the sink is emptying inefficiently you could attempt putting a little bicarb and white vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a few minutes and then rinsing it through with hot water.

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

This might be sufficient to allow your appliance to work again so start a quick program now. If not you may remove the dirty water by hand using a cup and also a towel and troubleshoot the next few possible issues.

Make sure you unplug the dishwasher to avoid electrocution.

If during any one of these checks you think you have found and repaired the fault there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just start an empty cycle to ensure your machine is now emptying as it used to.

Check and rinse the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including popcorn, labels from jars, film lids and smashed glass. Clear film can also be hard to spot if you don’t look closely.

Remove the filter and clean it thoroughly before replacing it. Not all filters are obvious and simple to remove so you may need to refer to the owners manual for this.

Is the waste pipe blocked?

The next place to check is the drain hose. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose may all prevent your dishwasher from draining.

Contingent upon the location of the waste pipe (generally the corrugated one) you could manage look at it simply by taking off the base or you might need to move the dishwasher away from under the counter.

Look at the hose first to see if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You may have the means to fix these issues by hand which is likely to solve the issue, but it’s worth noting that once this has occurred it is significantly more likely to happen again so you could wish to buy a replacement hose.

If you can’t find an issue you could remove the waste water hose from the pump and blow into it to discover any blockages. Be sure to line the floor with newspaper or towels first as there may still be water in the hose.

If you are unable to blow air through the pipe this could be the reason your dishwasher isn’t emptying.

Take off the other end of the hose and give it a thorough clean to clear the obstruction. If you can’t shift the blockage or the pipe is slit or degraded purchase a new one. If you can clear the obstruction then put the hose back and run a quick program to find out if you have repaired the fault.

You may also inspect where the waste pipe attaches to the waste disposal. This is a common spot for blockages to occur so if you happen to remove the pipe give this point a thorough scrub as well.

Check the drain valve

You may examine the drain valve by hand to check it isn’t seized. The drain valve will generally be situated in the bottom of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Consult your instructions if you can’t see it.

Depressing the valve or wiggling it a bit should be sufficient to tell you if it’s seized. If you can see any debris blocking it get rid of this. If you are unable to, this may be a good time to call a repair person unless you are happy in ordering and repairing the component on your own.

Check your pump is not broken

Your appliance pump uses impellers that may be obstructed by pieces of glass or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t broken by removing the cover and checking that the impellers are free to move.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s on

If the dishwasher is making funny noises your dishwasher pump or motor could be faulty and need to be repaired.

Call a repair person

If you have been through the above list and the problem remains, or you have reason to believe the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it may be a good time to call a plumber.

This way though you will at least have the means to give them more information and have avoided needing to pay a hefty repair charge for a blocked drain.