Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one is happy to open their machine and discover standing water but, try not to panic just yet. You could be able to fix the problem without having to call a plumber or acquire a new machine.

Your machine refusing to drain could be induced by any number of components some of which can be simple to resolve. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service try this selection of possible components you can correct on your own. Some of which are not even a fault of the machine itself.

Ensure the dishwasher wasn’t stopped mid-program

If you’re lucky the standing water you have discovered may not be a problem at all. Rather, the cycle might have been cut short.

The cycle could have been stopped mid-way for multiple of reasons. Little fingers pressing buttons, accidentally pressing on the buttons, a power surge or opening the machine mid-program could all interrupt the cycle and mean your dishwasher doesn’t drain.

If you believe this might be the situation, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue run your dishwasher again on a quick program.

A few machines might have an empty cycle meaning it’s worthwhile checking your manual or checking online to make sure.

Examine the disposal

If you have a garbage disposal check this before you do anything else as an obstructed garbage disposal will block the dishwasher from draining. Run the waste disposal using fast running water to ensure there are no blockages.

If you do discover an issue drain un-blocker or a natural alternative can be used to remove the blockage and so this may resolve the fault.

Inspect the plumbing for blockages

If you sink is draining inefficiently this could suggest a plumbing issue rather than an issue with your dishwasher.

In the case that the sink is emptying reluctantly you can try putting some bicarb and vinegar down the drain, leaving it for a few minutes, then washing it through with boiling water.

A sink plunger could also be employed to attempt to dislodge the blockage.

This may be enough to permit your appliance to drain so start a short cycle now. If not you could manually remove the standing water using a bowl as well as a towel and troubleshoot the next few possible issues.

At this point make certain to unplug the machine to stay safe.

If during any one of these examinations you suspect you may have discovered and fixed the problem you don’t have to go through the rest of the steps. Just complete an empty program to ensure the dishwasher is fixed.

Check and scrub the filters

Corn Kernels, labels from containers, film covers and smashed glass, as well as scraps of food, can all block the machine filter. Clear plastic lids could also be difficult to see if you don’t look closely.

Remove the filter and give it a thorough clean before replacing it. Not all machines have their filter in the same place so you could need to consult the manual for this.

Is the drain hose blocked?

The next area to inspect is the waste water hose. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose could all stop your machine from emptying.

Depending on the position of the hose (usually the ribbed one) you could have the means to look at it by lifting away the base alternatively you could be required to move the machine away from the wall.

Look at the hose first to see if it has been crushed or kinked. You may have the means to fix these issues by hand which should solve the issue, however, it’s worth noting that once this has occurred the chance of it occurring again is significantly increased so you might need to purchase a new hose.

If you are unable to find an issue you could take off the waste hose from the dishwasher and blow through it to check for any blockages. Be sure to line the floor with newspaper or towels first as even if you have emptied the machine there could still be waste water in the pipe.

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

Remove the hose at the sink end and give it a good flush through to clear the obstruction. If you are unable to get rid of the obstruction or the hose is cracked or degraded invest in a brand-new one. If you can get rid of the blockage then put the hose back and start a quick program to make sure you have fixed the fault.

You can also check the point where the waste hose attaches under your sink. This is a typical place for debris to build up so if you do take off the hose give this area a thorough clean as well.

Inspect the drain valve

You may manually examine the drain valve to ensure it isn’t got stuck. The drain valve will generally be located in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Examine your owners manual if you can’t see it.

Depressing the valve or wiggling it a bit should be enough to find out if it’s stuck. If you are able to see something stopping it from moving get rid of this. If you are unable to, this could be when you should ring a repair person unless you are happy in procuring and replacing the part yourself.

Check your pump is not broken

Your water pump makes use of impellers that can be obstructed by broken china or other debris. Check your impellers aren’t blocked by removing the cover and ensuring that the impellers can be easily rotated.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s on

If your dishwasher sounds unusual your pump or motor may be faulty and need to be repaired.

Call a repair person

If you have been through the above list and the issue persists, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are broken, it may be time to call a plumber.

This way though you will at least be able to give them more information and have avoided needing to pay a hefty repair fee for a blocked hose.