Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always irritating to open a machine and find out it hasn’t emptied fully, try not to overreact just yet. You could manage figure out the fault by yourself, without having to call a repair person or invest in a brand-new dishwasher.

Your machine refusing to drain can be caused by multiple issues a proportion of which can be simple to rectify. Therefore, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service here is a selection of probable components you may correct on your own. Some of which are not even caused by the dishwasher itself.

Ensure the program wasn’t interrupted

If you’re lucky the fact your dishwasher hasn’t drained may not be an issue at all. Alternatively, the program could have been cut short.

The cycle might have been stopped mid-way for any number of of reasons. Kids pushing buttons, mistakenly pressing on the control panel, a power cut or opening the machine mid-cycle might all interrupt the program and mean your dishwasher doesn’t empty.

If you believe this may be the circumstance, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue start your machine again on a short cycle.

A number appliances could have a drain function meaning it’s well worth having a look at your instructions or consulting google to make sure.

Check the waste disposal

If you have a waste disposal inspect this before you do anything else as an obstructed disposal will stop your dishwasher from emptying. Turn on the waste disposal with fast running water to make sure there are no blockages.

If you do discover an issue drain cleaner or a natural alternative could be used to remove the blockage and so this may fix the fault.

Check the plumbing for clogs

If you sink is emptying reluctantly this might indicate a plumbing issue rather than a problem with your machine.

In the case that the kitchen sink is draining reluctantly you could try putting some bicarb and white vinegar down the drain, letting it sit for a few minutes, then flushing it through with hot water.

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

This may be enough to permit the dishwasher to drain so run a short program to check. If this hasn’t solved the problem you can remove the standing water by hand using a cup and a sponge and check a few more likely causes.

At this point make certain to unplug the machine to avoid electrocution.

If in the process of one of these examinations you think you have found and solved the fault you don’t need to go through the remaining steps. Just complete an empty cycle to ensure your machine is repaired.

Examine and clean the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including popcorn, paper from food jars, plastic lids and smashed glass. Clear film could also be hard to spot if you aren’t looking for it.

Take out the filter and wash it thoroughly before replacing it. Not all machines have their filter in the same location so you might need to consult the owners manual for this.

Is the waste water pipe blocked?

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

Depending on the position of the waste pipe (usually the ribbed one) you may manage inspect it by lifting away the kick plate or you may have to pull the dishwasher out from the wall.

Have a look at the pipe in the first instance to discover if it has been squashed or kinked. You could be able to manually remove any kinks which will most likely deal with the issue, however, it’s worth noting that when this has happened it is much more inclined to happen again so you may need to buy a replacement hose.

If you can’t find any obvious kinks or obstructions you may disconnect the waste water pipe from the pump and blow into it to discover any blockages. Be sure to put down newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as even if you have emptied the dishwasher there might still be waste water in the hose.

If you are unable to blow through the pipe this could be the problem.

Remove the hose at the sink end and then give it a good flush through to clear the obstruction. If you are unable to dislodge the blockage or the waste hose is cracked or damaged acquire a new one. If you can get rid of the blockage then put the hose back and run a quick program to find out if you have fixed the error.

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

Check the drain valve

You may manually inspect the drain valve to ensure it hasn’t stopped working. The drain valve will often be located in the bottom of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Check your instructions if you can’t see it.

Depressing the valve or wiggling it a bit should be enough to tell you if it’s seized. If you are able to see anything blocking it get rid of this. If you can’t, this may be a good time to ring a repair person unless you are undaunted by purchasing and replacing the valve on your own.

Examine your pump is not broken

Your dishwasher pump uses impellers that may get obstructed by broken china or other objects. Check your pump isn’t blocked by removing the safety cover and making sure the impellers can rotate freely.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s running

If your dishwasher doesn’t sound normal your dishwasher pump or motor could be faulty and need to be repaired.

Call a plumber

If you have been through the above list and the error persists, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it might be the moment you need to get the professionals.

At least having done your best to troubleshoot you have avoided having to pay a hefty repair fee for a blocked drain.

More Dishwasher Problems: