Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one wishes to open their dishwasher and discover standing water but, don’t lose it just yet. You might manage deal with the error without having to call a plumber or acquire a new machine.

Your machine declining to empty could have multiple of causes a proportion of which are easy to figure out. So, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service here is a list of probable components you could correct on your own. Some of which are not even a fault of the machine itself.

Ensure the cycle wasn’t interrupted

It is probable that there is nothing stopping your dishwasher from emptying. Alternatively, the cycle could have been cut short.

The cycle could have been stopped mid-way for multiple of reasons. Kids pushing controls, mistakenly pressing against the buttons, a power cut or opening the dishwasher mid-program could all stop the cycle from completing and mean your machine doesn’t empty.

If you believe this could be the circumstance, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue run your machine again on a quick program.

A few appliances may have a drain function so it’s worth checking your owners manual or checking online to find out.

Check the waste disposal

If your dishwasher is connected to the disposal check this first as an obstructed waste disposal will stop your machine from emptying. Run the disposal using lots of water to ensure there are no issues.

If you do uncover an obstruction drain un-blocker or a plunger may be employed to unclog the blockage and this could resolve the fault.

Inspect the sink waste for blockages

If you kitchen sink is emptying reluctantly this could indicate an issue with the drains instead of an issue with your machine.

If the kitchen sink is emptying inefficiently you can attempt putting a little bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a while, then rinsing it away with hot water.

A plunger could also be employed to attempt to shift the obstruction.

This could be all you need to do to allow your dishwasher to drain so run a short rinse and drain program to check. If this hasn’t sorted the issue you may manually remove the dirty water using a bowl and also a towel and troubleshoot a few more areas.

At this point make sure you unplug the dishwasher to stay safe.

If in the process of any one of these examinations you think you may have discovered and repaired the issue there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just run an empty program to check your machine is fixed.

Inspect and scrub the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including popcorn, paper from food jars, plastic lids and smashed glass. Clear film can also be difficult to see if you don’t look closely.

Take out the filter and wash it thoroughly before putting it back in place. Not all filters are obvious and simple to remove so you may need to refer to the owners manual for this.

Is the waste pipe obstructed?

The next component 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 can all impede your dishwasher from emptying.

Subject to the position of the waste pipe (normally the corrugated one) you might be able to view it by lifting away the kick board or you might be required to move the dishwasher away from under the counter.

Have a look at 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 should deal with the issue, but it’s worth noting that once this has happened the probability of it happening again is significantly increased so you may wish to order a new hose.

If you are unable to see anything you may disconnect the waste pipe from the machine and blow into it to check for any blockages. Make sure you put down newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as even if you have emptied the machine there might still be water in the hose.

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

Take off the other end of the hose and then give it a thorough clean to clear the blockage. If you are unable to get rid of the obstruction or the pipe is split or degraded purchase a brand-new one. If you may clear the blockage then re-attach the hose and start a quick program to check that you have repaired the issue.

You could also inspect the point where the pipe connects to the sink as well. This is a common spot for debris to build up so if you happen to remove the pipe give this area a thorough scrub as well.

Check the drain valve

You could check the drain valve by hand to check it isn’t got stuck. The drain valve will usually be found in the bottom of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Check your manual if you’re unsure.

Pushing down on the valve or giving it a wiggle will likely be enough to tell you if it’s stuck. If you are able to see something stopping it from moving carefully extract this. If you are unable to, this could be a good time to ring a repair person unless you are happy in purchasing and repairing the valve yourself.

Check your pump is not broken

Your water pump uses impellers that may be obstructed by broken china or other objects. Check your pump isn’t obstructed by removing the safety cover and ensuring that the impellers can be easily rotated.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual noises

If it sounds unusual your dishwasher pump or motor could be broken and need replacing.

Call a plumber

If you have been through the above list and the fault remains, or you have reason to believe the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it may be a good time to get the professionals.

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