Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one is happy to open their machine and discover standing water but, try not to overreact just yet. You might have the means to deal with the error before you have to call a plumber or purchase a new machine.

Your dishwasher failing to empty can have a number of of causes a proportion of which can be easy to figure out. So, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service try this lineup of probable issues you may correct yourself. A few of which are not even related to the machine itself.

Ensure the program wasn’t stopped mid-way

If you’re lucky the standing water you have discovered may not be a fault at all. Instead, the cycle could have been stopped mid-way.

The cycle might have been stopped mid-way for multiple of reasons. Children pressing controls, inadvertently leaning against the control panel, a power outage or opening the machine mid-cycle could all interrupt the program and mean your dishwasher doesn’t empty.

If you think this may be the situation, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue start the machine again on a quick program.

A proportion appliances might have an empty function meaning it’s well worth checking your instructions or doing a quick internet search to make sure.

Inspect the garbage disposal

If your dishwasher is plumbed into a waste disposal examine this before you move on as a blocked waste disposal will prevent the dishwasher from emptying. Turn on the garbage disposal using fast running water to check there are no obstructions.

If you do find an obstruction drain unclogger or a natural alternative may be used to remove the blockage and this may resolve the issue.

Inspect the plumbing for issues

If you sink is draining inefficiently this may indicate a plumbing issue instead of an issue with your machine.

In the case that the kitchen sink is emptying reluctantly you could attempt putting a little bicarb and white vinegar down the drain, letting it sit for a while, then flushing it through with hot water.

A plunger could also be utilized to try and shift the obstruction.

This could be sufficient to allow your machine to drain so start a quick rinse and drain program at this point. If this hasn’t sorted the issue you could remove the dirty water by hand using a jug and also a sponge and check a few more likely causes.

At this point make certain to disconnect the machine to prevent electrocution.

If during any of these checks you suspect you may have detected and fixed the issue there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just run an empty cycle to make sure your machine is fixed.

Inspect and scrub the filters

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

Take out the filter and clean it thoroughly before putting it back in place. Not all dishwashers have their filter in the same place so you might need to refer to the instruction manual for this.

Is the waste pipe obstructed?

The next place to examine is the drain pipe. Many things could cause a blockage including a build up of food debris, a kink in the hose, or a crushed hose. All of which can all prevent your dishwasher from emptying.

Depending on the location of the hose (normally the corrugated one) you may have the means to inspect it simply by lifting away the base alternatively you could have to pull the dishwasher away from under the counter.

Visually inspect the pipe in the first instance to find out if it has been squashed or kinked. You might have the means to fix these issues by hand which will most likely rectify the issue, however, be aware that when this has happened the chance of it happening again is greatly increased so you could wish to purchase a replacement hose.

If you can’t see anything you can remove the drain hose from the dishwasher and blow through it to discover any blockages. Be sure to put down newspaper or towels first as even if you have emptied the dishwasher there could still be dirty water in the hose.

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

Remove the other end of the hose and then give it a good clean to remove the obstruction. If you can’t get rid of the blockage or the waste pipe is slit or degraded purchase a brand-new one. If you could remove the obstruction then re-attach the hose and run a short program to find out if you have fixed the error.

You may also inspect where the waste pipe connects under your sink as well. This is a typical point for a build-up of gunk so if you do remove the waste pipe give this connection a good scrub as well.

Examine the drain valve

You may check the drain valve by hand to make sure it hasn’t stopped working. The drain valve will most often be situated at the base of the machine on the valve bracket. Consult your instruction manual if you’re not sure.

Depressing the valve or giving it a wiggle should be sufficient to find out if it’s seized. If you can see something stopping it from moving carefully extract this. If you can’t, this may be a good time to call a plumber unless you are undaunted by procuring and repairing the valve on your own.

Inspect your pump is not broken

Your dishwasher pump uses impellers that may become obstructed by broken china or other debris. Check your pump isn’t blocked by removing the cover and checking that the impellers are free to move.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s on

If it doesn’t sound right your dishwasher pump or motor might be broken and need to be repaired.

Call a repair person

If you have been through the above list and the fault remains, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it could be the right time to call your local repair person.

At least having tried to fix the problem yourself you have managed to avoid needing to pay a big repair charge for a blocked drain.