Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always annoying to open a machine and find out the machine hasn’t emptied fully, try not to overreact just yet. You could have the means to figure out the problem before you have to call a repair person or invest in a new dishwasher.

Your dishwasher refusing to drain may have a number of of causes some of which are straightforward to fix. Therefore, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service here is a list of probable things you can troubleshoot yourself. Some of which are not even caused by the machine itself.

Check the program wasn’t stopped mid-way

If you’re fortunate the fact your dishwasher hasn’t emptied may not be an issue at all. Alternatively, the program may have been interrupted.

The cycle could have been cut short for a number of of reasons. Little fingers pressing buttons, mistakenly pressing against the controls, a power outage or opening the dishwasher mid-program might all interrupt the program and mean your dishwasher doesn’t drain.

If you believe this could be the situation, or you think it could be worthwhile checking run your dishwasher again on a short cycle.

A proportion dishwashers could have an empty capacity so it’s worth consulting your instruction manual or doing a quick internet search to find out.

Examine the garbage disposal

If you have a waste disposal inspect this before you do anything else as an obstructed disposal will prevent your machine from emptying. Run the disposal using plenty of water to make sure there are no obstructions.

If you do discover an issue drain unclogger or a plunger can be sought after to unclog the blockage and so this could rectify the problem.

Inspect the plumbing for clogs

If you kitchen sink is draining reluctantly this may indicate an issue with the drains instead of a fault with your dishwasher.

If the kitchen sink is emptying inefficiently you can attempt putting some bicarb and white vinegar down the drain, leaving it for a few minutes and subsequently flushing it away with boiling water.

A plunger might also be employed to attempt to remove the blockage.

This might be all you need to do to permit your machine to empty so start a quick cycle to check. If not you could remove the water by hand using a bowl and a sponge and have a look at the next few possible issues.

Make certain to unplug the dishwasher to stay safe.

If in the process of one of these checks you think you may have detected and solved the fault there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just complete an empty program to ensure your machine is fixed.

Inspect and clean the filters

Corn Kernels, paper from tupperware, plastic film covers and broken glass, as well as food debris, can all obstruct the machine filter. Clear film can also be hard to spot if you aren’t looking for it.

Remove the filter and wash it thoroughly before putting it back in place. Not all machines have their filter in the same place so you might need to refer to the owners manual for this.

Is the drain hose blocked?

The next area to check 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 may all impede your dishwasher from draining.

Contingent upon the location of the hose (generally the ribbed one) you might have the means to look at it simply by lifting away the kick board or you could need to move the machine away from under the counter.

Have a look at the pipe first to discover if it has been squashed or kinked. You may manage fix these issues by hand which is likely to resolve the issue, but be aware that once this has occurred the probability of it happening again is significantly increased so you may need to purchase a new hose.

If you can’t see any obvious kinks or obstructions you may remove the drain hose from the dishwasher and blow through it to discover any blockages. Make sure you put down newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as there may still be waste water in the pipe.

If you are unable to blow through the hose this may be the issue.

Take off the other end of the hose and then give it a thorough flush through to get rid of the obstruction. If you are unable to get rid of the blockage or the waste pipe is cracked or degraded invest in a new one. If you may remove the obstruction then put the hose back and start a quick program to check that you have solved the problem.

You can also check where the pipe connects to the waste disposal. This is a typical place for debris to build up so if you happen to take off the pipe give this point a thorough scrub as well.

Examine the drain valve

You can manually check the drain valve to make sure it isn’t got stuck. The drain valve will often be found at the base of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Check your manual if you’re unsure.

Depressing the valve or wiggling it a bit will likely be sufficient to tell you if it’s seized. If you can see anything blocking it get rid of this. If you can’t, this might be a good time to get in touch with a plumber unless you are undaunted by ordering and repairing the part on your own.

Examine your pump is not broken

Your water pump makes use of impellers that can be obstructed by pieces of glass or other debris. Check your pump isn’t blocked by taking off the cover and making sure the impellers can be easily rotated.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual noises

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

Call a plumber

If you have been through the above list and the problem persists, or you have reason to believe the pump, pump valve or motor are not working, it may be a good time to call in the professionals.

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