Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one wishes to open their dishwasher and discover standing water but, try not to lose it just yet. You may manage rectify the issue without having to call a plumber or buy a new machine.

Your dishwasher declining to empty could have any number of of causes some of which can be simple to solve. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service try this lineup of potential things you may correct on your own. A number of which are not even a fault of the machine itself.

Check the dishwasher wasn’t stopped mid-cycle

It is probable that there is nothing preventing your dishwasher from emptying. Rather, the program could have been interrupted.

The cycle may have been interrupted for multiple of reasons. Little fingers pushing buttons, accidentally leaning against the controls, a power cut or opening the dishwasher mid-program could all interrupt the cycle and mean your dishwasher doesn’t empty.

If you suspect this could be the circumstance, or you think it may be worthwhile checking run the dishwasher again on a short program.

A proportion appliances could have a drain function so it’s worth checking your instructions or checking online to check.

Inspect the disposal

If you have a waste disposal check this first as an obstructed garbage disposal will block your dishwasher from emptying. Turn on the disposal with lots of water to check there are no blockages.

If you do discover a blockage drain un-blocker or a plunger may be sought after to unclog the blockage and so this might fix the issue.

Check the sink for blockages

If you sink is draining inefficiently this might signify an issue with the drains instead of an issue with your dishwasher.

In the case that the sink is draining slowly you could try putting some bicarb and white vinegar down the drain, letting it sit for a few minutes and subsequently rinsing it away with boiling water.

A sink plunger may also be used to attempt to shift the obstruction.

This might be enough to let your machine to drain so start a quick cycle at this point. If not you may manually empty the dishwasher using a cup and a sponge and check the next few possible issues.

Make sure you disconnect the dishwasher to stay safe.

If during any of these checks you think you have discovered and repaired the fault you don’t need to go through the remaining steps. Just start an empty cycle to make sure the machine is once again draining as it should.

Examine and scrub the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including corn kernels, paper from tupperware, plastic lids and broken glass. Clear glass could also be hard to spot if you aren’t looking for it.

Take out the filter and give it a thorough clean before putting it back in place. Not all dishwashers have their filter in the same location so you may need to look at the instructions for this.

Is the waste water hose blocked?

The next place to check is the waste pipe. Many things could cause an obstruction including a build up of food debris, a kink in the hose, or a crushed hose. All of which could all stop your dishwasher from emptying.

Subject to the location of the waste hose (usually the ribbed one) you may be able to look at it simply by taking off the base or you may need to move the dishwasher away from under the counter.

Have a look at the hose first to find out if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You might be able to fix these issues by hand which should rectify the issue, however, be aware that when this has happened it is significantly more likely to happen again so you could wish to order a new hose.

If you can’t find any obvious kinks or obstructions you can disconnect the drain pipe from the dishwasher and blow through it to figure out if there are any blockages. Make sure you line the floor with newspaper or towels first as even if you have emptied the machine there could still be dirty water in the hose.

If you can’t blow through the hose this may be the reason your machine isn’t emptying.

Take off the hose at the sink end and then give it a thorough clean to get rid of the blockage. If you are unable to shift the blockage or the waste hose is slit or damaged invest in a new one. If you could get rid of the obstruction then put the hose back and start a short cycle to find out if you have repaired the fault.

You may also check where the hose connects to the waste disposal as well. This is a typical point for debris to build up so if you happen to take off the waste hose give this area a thorough clean as well.

Examine the drain valve

You could inspect the drain valve by hand to ensure it hasn’t seized. The drain valve will generally be situated in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Consult your instructions if you’re not sure.

Depressing the valve or wiggling it a bit will likely be adequate to find out if it’s seized. If you are able to see any debris blocking it carefully extract this. If you can’t, this might be when you should call a plumber unless you are happy in procuring and repairing the component yourself.

Check your pump is not broken

Your water pump makes use of impellers that can be blocked by pieces of china or other objects. Check your pump isn’t broken by taking off the safety cover and checking that the impellers are free to move.

Run your dishwasher and listen for any unusual noises

If your dishwasher doesn’t sound normal your pump or motor may be faulty and need replacing.

Call a repair person

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

At least having attempted to fix the problem yourself you have managed to avoid having to pay a big repair fee for a clogged filter.