Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always irritating to open the dishwasher and realize it is still full of water, don’t overreact just yet. You may be able to rectify the fault by yourself, without having to call a plumber or invest in a new machine.

Your machine failing to empty may have any number of of causes a few of which are simple to deal with. So, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a list of potential issues you could identify by yourself. A proportion of which are not even related to the dishwasher itself.

Check the program wasn’t interrupted

It is probable that there is nothing stopping your dishwasher from emptying. Instead, the program may have been stopped mid-way.

The cycle might have been interrupted for any number of of reasons. Little fingers pushing controls, mistakenly leaning against the controls, a power surge or opening the machine mid-program might all interrupt the program and mean your machine doesn’t empty.

If you suspect this could be the case, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue start your machine again on a short program.

A few machines might have a drain program so it’s well worth having a look at your instructions or consulting google to check.

Check the waste disposal

If you have a waste disposal examine this before you move on as a blocked garbage disposal will stop your machine from emptying. Turn on the garbage disposal with lots of water to make sure there are no issues.

If you do discover an issue drain cleaner or a plunger may be employed to remove the obstruction and so this might deal with the error.

Check the sink for blockages

If you sink is emptying reluctantly this may indicate a plumbing issue instead of a problem with your machine.

If the kitchen sink is emptying reluctantly you can try putting some bicarb and white vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a while, then rinsing it through with hot water.

A sink plunger could also be utilized to attempt to dislodge the blockage.

This might be all you need to do to allow the dishwasher to work again so start a quick rinse and empty program at this point. If not you could remove the water by hand using a jug and a towel and have a look at the next few possible issues.

At this point make certain to unplug the dishwasher to prevent electrocution.

If while you are carrying out any one of these investigations you think you may have detected and fixed the error there is no need to continue to the next step. Just complete an empty cycle to make sure the dishwasher is now draining as it should.

Check and rinse the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including popcorn, paper from tupperware, film lids and broken glass. Clear plastic lids may also be difficult to see if you aren’t looking for it.

Remove the filter then clean it thoroughly before replacing it. Not all filters are obvious and simple to remove so you might need to look at the manual for this.

Is the drain pipe obstructed?

The next place to inspect 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 stop your machine from draining.

Contingent upon the position of the waste pipe (usually the ribbed one) you may have the means to view it by taking off the kick board alternatively you might need to pull the dishwasher out from under the counter.

Visually inspect the pipe first to find out if it has been squashed or kinked. You may have the means to fix these issues by hand which will most likely fix the issue, but it’s worth noting that once this has occurred it is much more inclined to happen again so you might need to purchase a spare hose.

If you are unable to see anything you may take off the waste water hose from the pump and blow through it to figure out if there are any blockages. Make sure you line the floor with newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as even if you have emptied the dishwasher there could still be waste water in the hose.

If you can’t blow air through the hose this could be the reason your machine isn’t draining.

Remove the hose at the sink end in order to give it a good flush through to remove the obstruction. If you can’t shift the blockage or the hose is slit or damaged acquire a brand-new one. If you may remove the blockage then replace the hose and run a short cycle to check that you have fixed the issue.

You may also examine where the waste pipe connects to the sink as well. This is a likely place for debris to build up so if you do remove the waste pipe give this point a good clean as well.

Examine the drain valve

You could manually check the drain valve to ensure it isn’t got stuck. The drain valve will usually be situated in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Examine your instructions if you can’t see it.

Depressing the valve or giving it a jiggle will likely be sufficient to tell you if it’s stuck. If you are able to see something stopping it from moving remove this. If you can’t, this could be a good time to get in touch with a plumber unless you are undaunted by procuring and replacing the valve yourself.

Inspect your pump is not broken

Your appliance pump makes use of impellers that could be blocked by broken china or other objects. Check your pump isn’t obstructed by removing the cover and checking that the impellers can be easily rotated.

Run your dishwasher and listen for any unusual sounds

If your dishwasher sounds unusual your pump or motor could be damaged and need to be repaired.

Call a plumber

If you have been through the above list and the issue remains, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it may be the moment you need to get the professionals.

At least having done your best to fix the problem yourself you have managed to avoid needing to pay a hefty call-out charge for a blocked hose.