Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always irritating to open the machine and realize the machine is still full of water, don’t panic just yet. You might be able to deal with the fault before you have to call a repair person or invest in a brand-new dishwasher.

Standing water in your machine could have multiple of causes some of which are easy to deal with. Therefore, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service try this lineup of probable issues you could correct by yourself. A few of which are not even caused by the machine itself.

Check the program wasn’t stopped mid-way

If you’re lucky the standing water you have discovered may not be a fault at all. Alternatively, the cycle could have been cut short.

The program might have been stopped mid-way for multiple of reasons. Kids pushing controls, mistakenly pressing against the control panel, a power surge or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle may all prevent the cycle from completing and mean your machine doesn’t drain.

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

A number dishwashers could have an empty program so it’s well worth having a look at your instructions or checking online to find out.

Check the garbage disposal

If your dishwasher is plumbed into the disposal inspect this before you do anything else as a blocked disposal will block your machine from emptying. Turn on the garbage disposal with plenty of water to check there are no blockages.

If you do discover an obstruction drain cleaner or a natural alternative may be employed to unclog the blockage and this might fix the issue.

Inspect the sink waste for clogs

If you sink is emptying inefficiently this could signify an issue with the drains rather than a fault with your dishwasher.

If the kitchen sink is draining inefficiently you can try putting a little bicarb and vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a few minutes, then rinsing it away with hot water.

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

This might be all you need to do to let your appliance to work again so run a quick program at this point. If this hasn’t solved the problem you may remove the standing water by hand using a cup and also a sponge and check a few more possible issues.

At this point make sure you disconnect the machine to stay safe.

If during any of these investigations you believe you may have detected and repaired the problem there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just start an empty cycle to check the machine is fixed.

Inspect and rinse the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including popcorn, labels from tupperware, plastic film lids and broken glass. Clear film can also be difficult to spot if you don’t look closely.

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

Is the waste pipe blocked?

The next place to check is the drain pipe. 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 could all stop your dishwasher from draining.

Depending on the position of the hose (normally the corrugated one) you could be able to inspect it simply by taking off the kick board alternatively you might be required to pull the dishwasher away from under the counter.

Visually examine the pipe first to find out if it has been squashed or kinked. You could manage manually remove any kinks which will most likely solve the issue, but be aware that when this has happened the probability of it happening again is massively increased so you could wish to buy a replacement hose.

If you are unable to see an issue you could take off the waste pipe from the machine and blow into it to figure out if there are any blockages. Be sure to put down newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as even if you have emptied the machine there might still be dirty water in the hose.

If you can’t blow air through the waste hose this may be the reason your dishwasher isn’t emptying.

Disconnect the other end of the hose and then give it a thorough clean to clear the blockage. If you are unable to shift the blockage or the pipe is split or damaged invest in a new one. If you can clear the blockage then put the hose back and run a quick program to check that you have fixed the fault.

You may also examine where the waste pipe connects to the waste disposal as well. This is a common point for debris to build up so if you do take off the hose give this point a good clean 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 located in the bottom of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Consult your owners manual if you’re not sure.

Depressing the valve or wiggling it a bit will likely be adequate to let you know if it’s stuck. If you can see something stopping it from moving get rid of this. If you can’t, this could be the right time to call a repair person unless you are confident in procuring and repairing the component on your own.

Examine your pump is not blocked

Your water pump uses impellers that may be obstructed by broken china or other debris. Check your pump isn’t obstructed by taking off the safety cover and checking that the impellers can rotate freely.

Run your dishwasher and listen for any unusual noises

If it sounds unusual your pump or motor might be broken and need to be repaired.

Call a plumber

If you have been through the above list and the problem persists, or you have reason to believe the pump, pump valve or motor are not working, it might be a good time to call in the professionals.

This way though you will at least be able to give them more information and have avoided having to pay a big call-out fee for a clogged filter.