Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always irritating to open the dishwasher and find out it hasn’t emptied properly, don’t lose it just yet. You could manage deal with the issue by yourself, without having to call a repair person or purchase a brand-new machine.

Standing water in your machine could have a number of of causes a proportion of which can be straightforward to rectify. So, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a lineup of potential things you may troubleshoot yourself. A number of which aren’t even related to the machine itself.

Check the dishwasher wasn’t stopped mid-cycle

If you’re lucky the fact your dishwasher hasn’t emptied may not be an issue at all. Alternatively, the cycle could have been stopped mid-way.

The cycle could have been stopped mid-way for any number of of reasons. Children pushing buttons, accidentally pushing against the buttons, a power cut or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle might all interrupt the cycle and mean your dishwasher doesn’t empty.

If you think this might be the circumstance, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue start your dishwasher again on a quick program.

A few machines might have an empty program so it’s worth having a look at your instruction manual or doing a quick internet search to check.

Check the waste disposal

If you have a garbage disposal examine this before you move on as an obstructed garbage disposal will stop your dishwasher from draining. Turn on the disposal with fast running water to make sure there are no issues.

If you do uncover a blockage drain un-blocker or a natural alternative could be used to remove the blockage and this might resolve the fault.

Check the plumbing for clogs

If you sink is emptying inefficiently this may signify a plumbing issue as opposed to an issue with your dishwasher.

If the sink is emptying inefficiently you could try putting some bicarb and vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a few minutes and subsequently washing it through with boiling water.

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

This might be enough to allow the machine to work again so run a quick program at this point. If not you can remove the standing water by hand using a bowl and also a towel and troubleshoot a few more areas.

Make sure you disconnect the dishwasher to stay safe.

If while you are carrying out any one of these examinations you believe you may have discovered and fixed the issue you don’t need to go through the rest of the steps. Just start an empty program to check the dishwasher is now emptying as it should.

Inspect and clean the filters

Corn Kernels, labels from tupperware, plastic film lids and smashed glass, as well as food debris, can all obstruct the machine filter. Clear plastic lids can also be difficult to see if you aren’t looking for it.

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

Is the waste pipe blocked?

The next place to examine is the waste hose. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose could all stop your machine from draining.

Subject to the position of the waste pipe (usually the corrugated one) you may be able to inspect it simply by lifting away the kick plate alternatively you may have to pull the dishwasher out from under the counter.

Visually examine the hose first to see if it has been crushed or kinked. You may have the means to manually fix any kinks which is likely to fix the issue, but be aware that once this has happened it is much more inclined to happen again so you may need to buy a spare hose.

If you can’t find anything you could disconnect the waste water pipe from the dishwasher and blow through it to discover any blockages. Be sure to put down newspaper or towels first as there could still be waste water in the pipe.

If you can’t blow through the waste hose this could be the problem.

Remove the hose at the sink end and then give it a thorough flush through to clear the blockage. If you can’t shift the blockage or the pipe is cracked or damaged purchase a new one. If you could remove the blockage then put the hose back and run a quick program to find out if you have repaired the issue.

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

Inspect the drain valve

You could examine the drain valve by hand to make sure it isn’t seized. The drain valve will usually be found in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Consult your instructions if you can’t see it.

Depressing the valve or wiggling it a bit will likely be adequate to find out if it’s stuck. If you are able to see anything blocking it remove this. If you are unable to, this may be the right time to call a plumber unless you are undaunted by purchasing and repairing the component on your own.

Check your pump is not blocked

Your dishwasher pump uses impellers that can be obstructed by broken glass or other objects. Check your pump isn’t blocked by taking off the safety cover and making sure the impellers can be easily rotated.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s on

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

Call a plumber

If you have been through the above list and the issue persists, or you have reason to believe the pump, pump valve or motor are broken, it may be a good 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 big repair charge for a blocked hose.