Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one is happy to open their dishwasher and discover it hasn’t emptied correctly but, don’t lose it just yet. You could be able to deal with the error by yourself, without having to call a plumber or buy a new machine.

Your dishwasher failing to empty may be bought about by multiple things a proportion of which can be straightforward to resolve. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a selection of possible issues you could troubleshoot yourself. A number of which aren’t even caused by the dishwasher itself.

Ensure the program wasn’t stopped mid-way

If you’re fortunate the fact your dishwasher hasn’t emptied may not be a problem at all. Alternatively, the program might have been interrupted.

The program could have been cut short for a number of of reasons. Children pushing controls, inadvertently pressing against the buttons, a power surge or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle could all prevent the cycle from completing and mean your machine doesn’t empty.

If you believe this could be the situation, or you think it could be a good idea to check run your dishwasher again on a quick cycle.

A proportion appliances might have a drain cycle so it’s worthwhile checking your instruction manual or checking online to find out.

Check the disposal

If your dishwasher is attached to the disposal inspect this before you move on as an obstructed disposal will block the machine from draining. Turn on the waste disposal with plenty of water to ensure there are no obstructions.

If you do find a blockage drain cleaner or a natural alternative can be sought after to unclog the blockage and so this could fix the problem.

Check the sink waste for blockages

If you sink is emptying slowly this might signify an issue with the pipes instead of a problem with your machine.

In the case that the sink is draining reluctantly you can try putting some bicarb and white vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a few minutes, then washing it away with boiling water.

A sink plunger could also be employed to attempt to dislodge the obstruction.

This may be sufficient to allow the machine to empty so run a short program now. If not you can remove the dirty water by hand using a bowl and a towel and have a look at a few more possible issues.

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

If during any of these investigations you think you may have detected and solved the issue there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just start an empty program to make sure the machine is now emptying as it should.

Check and rinse the filters

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

Take out the filter and give it a thorough scrub before putting it back in place. Not all dishwashers have their filter in the same location so you could need to refer to the owners manual for this.

Is the waste water hose blocked?

The next component to check is the drain hose. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose could all stop your machine from emptying.

Contingent upon the location of the hose (usually the corrugated one) you may manage inspect it by means of lifting away the base alternatively you might need to pull the dishwasher out from under the counter.

Have a look at the hose in the first instance to see if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You could have the means to fix these issues by hand which will most likely fix the issue, however, it’s worth noting that when this has happened the chance of it happening again is greatly increased so you could wish to purchase a replacement hose.

If you can’t see anything you can take off the waste pipe from the dishwasher and blow through it to check for any blockages. Be sure to line the floor with newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as even if you have emptied the machine there may still be dirty water in the pipe.

If you are unable to blow through the waste hose this may be the reason your machine isn’t draining.

Take off the hose at the sink end in order to give it a thorough flush through to clear the blockage. If you can’t remove the obstruction or the waste pipe is cracked or damaged invest in a new one. If you may clear the obstruction then replace the hose and start a quick program to make sure you have repaired the issue.

You can also inspect where the waste pipe connects under your sink as well. This is a common point for debris to build up so if you happen to remove the waste pipe give this area a good clean as well.

Check the drain valve

You can manually check the drain valve to ensure it hasn’t stopped working. The drain valve will often be found at the base of the machine on the valve bracket. Check your owners manual if you can’t see it.

Pressing down on the valve or giving it a wiggle should be adequate to tell you if it’s seized. If you are able to see anything blocking it carefully extract this. If you can’t, this may be the right time to ring a plumber unless you are undaunted by procuring and replacing the part on your own.

Check your pump is not broken

Your water pump makes use of impellers that could become blocked by pieces of china or other debris. Check your pump isn’t blocked by taking off the safety cover and checking that the impellers can rotate freely.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual sounds

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

Call a repair person

If none of the above investigations has repaired the error, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it could be time to call in the professionals.

This way though you will at least have the means to give them more information and have prevented having to pay a hefty repair fee for a clogged filter.