Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one is happy to open their machine and discover it hasn’t drained correctly but, don’t panic just yet. You could manage rectify the issue without having to call a repair person or acquire a brand-new dishwasher.

Your dishwasher refusing to drain may be induced by a number of issues a few of which are easy to rectify. So, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a list of probable issues you can correct by yourself. A few of which aren’t even a fault of the dishwasher itself.

Check the cycle wasn’t interrupted

It is probable that there is nothing stopping your dishwasher from draining. Alternatively, the cycle might have been stopped mid-way.

The program could have been cut short for a number of of reasons. Kids pressing buttons, inadvertently pressing against the buttons, a power surge or opening the machine mid-cycle might all interrupt the cycle and mean your machine doesn’t drain.

If you think this might be the case, or you feel it could be worthwhile checking run the machine again on a quick cycle.

A few appliances may have an empty cycle so it’s well worth checking your instructions or consulting google to find out.

Inspect the waste disposal

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

If you do find an obstruction drain unclogger or a plunger can be employed to remove the obstruction and this may resolve the issue.

Inspect the plumbing for blockages

If you sink is emptying inefficiently this may indicate an issue with the drains as opposed to a problem with your machine.

In the case that the kitchen sink is emptying inefficiently you could try putting some bicarb and vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a few minutes and then flushing it away with hot water.

A sink plunger may also be utilized to try and shift the obstruction.

This could be sufficient to allow the dishwasher to empty so run a quick rinse and empty program now. If this hasn’t worked you may remove the standing water by hand using a bowl and a sponge and check the next few possible issues.

At this point make certain to disconnect the dishwasher to stay safe.

If during any of these examinations you suspect you have found and solved the error you don’t have to go through the rest of the steps. Just complete an empty cycle to make sure the dishwasher is repaired.

Check and clean the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including corn kernels, labels from tupperware, film covers and broken glass. Clear film may also be difficult to see if you don’t look closely.

Remove the filter then wash it thoroughly before putting it back in place. Not all dishwashers have their filter in the same place so you may need to look at the instructions for this.

Is the drain hose obstructed?

The next component to examine is the drain hose. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose may all stop your dishwasher from emptying.

Subject to the location of the waste hose (normally the ribbed one) you may be able to view it by means of removing the kick board or you may be required to move the machine out from the wall.

Look at the pipe first to see if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You could be able to fix these issues by hand which should fix the issue, however, it’s worth noting that once this has happened the probability of it occurring again is greatly increased so you may wish to order a new hose.

If you can’t find any obvious kinks or obstructions you could disconnect the waste hose from the machine and blow through it to discover any blockages. Make sure you line the floor with newspaper or towels first as there might still be water in the hose.

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

Take off the hose at the sink end in order to give it a good clean to get rid of the obstruction. If you are unable to get rid of the obstruction or the pipe is split or worn acquire a new one. If you can remove the obstruction then put the hose back and start a short cycle to double check that you have fixed the fault.

You could also examine where the waste pipe connects to the sink. This is a typical place for debris to build up so if you happen to remove the pipe give this point a thorough clean as well.

Inspect the drain valve

You may inspect the drain valve by hand to make sure it isn’t seized. The drain valve will generally be located at the base of the machine on the valve bracket. Examine your instruction manual if you can’t see it.

Depressing the valve or wiggling it a bit will likely be adequate to let you know if it’s seized. If you are able to see something blocking it remove this. If you can’t, this may be the right time to get in touch with a plumber unless you are undaunted by ordering and repairing the part yourself.

Inspect your pump is not blocked

Your dishwasher pump makes use of impellers that could become blocked by broken china or other debris. Check your impellers aren’t blocked by taking off the cover and making sure the impellers are free to move.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s running

If it sounds unusual your dishwasher pump or motor might be faulty and need replacing.

Call a repair person

If you have been through the above list and the fault persists, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it may be a good time to call in the professionals.

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

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