Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one wishes to open their dishwasher and discover it hasn’t emptied fully but, don’t panic just yet. You might manage solve the problem before you have to call a plumber or purchase a new dishwasher.

Your machine refusing to empty can have a number of of causes a proportion of which are easy to resolve. So, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service here is a lineup of possible issues you may identify by yourself. Some of which are not even related to the dishwasher itself.

Check the dishwasher wasn’t interrupted mid-cycle

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

The cycle might have been interrupted for multiple of reasons. Kids pressing controls, accidentally leaning against the buttons, a power outage or opening the machine mid-cycle could all interrupt the cycle and mean your dishwasher doesn’t empty.

If you suspect this might be the circumstance, or you think it could be worthwhile checking start the machine again on a quick cycle.

A number machines could have a drain program so it’s well worth checking your instruction manual or checking online to make sure.

Check the garbage disposal

If you have a disposal check this first as a blocked waste disposal will block your machine from draining. Turn on the garbage disposal with lots of water to ensure there are no issues.

If you do discover a blockage drain unclogger or a plunger may be sought after to unclog the blockage and this could rectify the fault.

Inspect the plumbing for blockages

If you sink is draining slowly this might signify a plumbing issue as opposed to an issue with your dishwasher.

If the kitchen sink is emptying slowly you may attempt putting some bicarb and white vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a while, then washing it away with boiling water.

A plunger might also be employed to try and dislodge the blockage.

This might be sufficient to allow your dishwasher to empty so start a short cycle at this point. If this hasn’t solved the problem you could manually remove the water using a jug and also a sponge and have a look at a few more areas.

Make certain to turn off the machine to prevent electrocution.

If in the process of any one of these investigations you think you have detected and repaired the issue there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just start an empty cycle to ensure the dishwasher is repaired.

Inspect and wash the filters

Popcorn, labels from jars, plastic film lids and broken glass, plus food debris, could all obstruct the dishwasher filter. Clear film can also be difficult to spot if you aren’t looking for it.

Take out the filter and give it a good wash before putting it back in place. Not all filters are obvious and straightforward to remove so you may need to look at the owners manual for this.

Is the waste water hose obstructed?

The next area to check is the waste hose. 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 could all prevent your machine from emptying.

Depending on the position of the hose (generally the corrugated one) you might have the means to view it simply by lifting away the base or you may have to pull the dishwasher away from the wall.

Visually inspect the hose in the first instance to find out if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You may be able to fix these issues by hand which should rectify the issue, however, it’s worth noting that when this has happened it is much more likely to happen again so you could wish to purchase a new hose.

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

If you can’t blow through the pipe this could be the issue.

Remove the other end of the hose and then give it a thorough flush through to remove the blockage. If you are unable to shift the obstruction or the waste pipe is slit or worn purchase a new one. If you could remove the obstruction then put the hose back and run a short cycle to check that you have repaired the error.

You may also inspect the point where the hose attaches under your sink. This is a likely place for blockages to occur so if you do remove the waste pipe give this connection a thorough clean as well.

Examine the drain valve

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

Depressing the valve or giving it a jiggle should be sufficient to tell you if it’s stuck. If you are able to see something blocking it get rid of this. If you are unable to, this could be when you should call a repair person unless you are confident in purchasing and repairing the component yourself.

Examine your pump is not blocked

Your appliance pump makes use of impellers that may become obstructed by broken china or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t blocked by taking off the safety cover and making sure the impellers are free to move.

Run your dishwasher and listen for any unusual sounds

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

Call a plumber

If none of the above examinations has solved the error, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it might be time to call for help.

This way though you will at least manage give them more information and have managed to avoid having to pay a hefty repair charge for a blocked drain.