Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one wants to open their machine and discover it hasn’t drained correctly but, try not to lose it just yet. You might be able to rectify the problem by yourself, without having to call a plumber or acquire a brand-new dishwasher.

Standing water in your dishwasher may have any number of of causes a few of which can be easy to resolve. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service try this lineup of possible issues you may correct yourself. Some of which are not even related to the machine itself.

Ensure the dishwasher wasn’t interrupted mid-program

It is possible that there is nothing preventing your machine from emptying. Instead, the cycle could have been stopped mid-way.

The program may have been cut short for a number of of reasons. Kids pushing buttons, accidentally pressing on the control panel, a power surge or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle could all interrupt the program and mean your dishwasher doesn’t drain.

If you suspect this could be the situation, or you feel it might be a good idea to check run your machine again on a short program.

A proportion dishwashers might have an empty capacity meaning it’s well worth consulting your owners manual or doing a quick internet search to check.

Check the garbage disposal

If you have a garbage disposal check this before you do anything else as a blocked disposal will stop the machine from emptying. Turn on the disposal with lots of water to check there are no issues.

If you do uncover an issue drain cleaner or a natural alternative can be sought after to clear the obstruction and so this could solve the error.

Check the sink waste for blockages

If you sink is emptying inefficiently this might indicate an issue with the plumbing instead of a problem with your machine.

In the case that the kitchen sink is draining reluctantly you can try putting a little bicarb and vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a few minutes and then washing it through with hot water.

A plunger might also be used to try and remove the obstruction.

This might be all you need to do to permit your dishwasher to work again so start a quick rinse and drain program now. If not you could manually get rid of the water using a bowl as well as a towel and have a look at the next few possible issues.

Make sure you turn off the machine to avoid electrocution.

If while you are carrying out any of these examinations you think you may have found and solved the problem you don’t need to go through the rest of the issues. Just start an empty program to make sure your machine is fixed.

Check and clean the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including corn kernels, paper from food jars, plastic film lids and smashed glass. Clear plastic lids may also be hard to see if you aren’t looking for it.

Remove the filter and clean it thoroughly before replacing it. Not all machines have their filter in the same location so you could need to consult the instruction manual for this.

Is the waste water hose blocked?

The next area to check is the waste hose. 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 may all impede your dishwasher from emptying.

Depending on the location of the waste hose (usually the corrugated one) you might be able to inspect it by means of taking off the kick plate alternatively you could have to pull the dishwasher out from the wall.

Look at the hose in the first instance to discover if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You could be able to fix these issues by hand which should deal with the issue, however, be aware that once this has happened it is much more likely to happen again so you might need to buy a replacement hose.

If you can’t find any obvious kinks or obstructions you can remove the waste water hose from the machine and blow into it to discover any blockages. Be sure to line the floor with newspaper or towels first as even if you have emptied the dishwasher there may still be dirty water in the pipe.

If you are unable to blow air through the pipe this might be the problem.

Remove the hose at the sink end and then give it a thorough flush through to clear the blockage. If you are unable to get rid of the blockage or the pipe is cracked or damaged buy a brand-new one. If you may remove the obstruction then put the hose back and run a quick cycle to check that you have repaired the problem.

You can also check the point where the hose attaches under your sink. This is a likely place for debris to build up so if you happen to remove the pipe give this point a thorough clean as well.

Check the drain valve

You can manually inspect the drain valve to ensure it isn’t got stuck. The drain valve will usually be situated in the bottom of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Examine your manual if you’re unsure.

Depressing the valve or giving it a wiggle should be enough to find out if it’s stuck. If you are able to see an object stopping it from moving remove this. If you are unable to, this may be the right time to ring a plumber unless you are confident in procuring and swapping out the valve on your own.

Inspect your pump is not blocked

Your appliance pump uses impellers that may get blocked by broken glass or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t broken by taking off the cover and ensuring that the impellers can rotate freely.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual sounds

If it doesn’t sound normal your dishwasher pump or motor could be damaged and need replacing.

Call a repair person

If none of the above checks has solved the fault, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it might be the moment you need to get the professionals.

This way though you will at least have the means to give them more information and have prevented needing to pay a big call-out charge for a clogged filter.