Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always irritating to open a machine and realize the machine is still full of water, try not to overreact just yet. You could have the means to fix the fault by yourself, without having to call a repair person or purchase a brand-new machine.

Your dishwasher declining to drain may have a number of of causes some of which are simple to fix. So, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a selection of potential issues you could identify on your own. A number of which aren’t even caused by the dishwasher itself.

Ensure 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 might have been stopped mid-way.

The program might have been cut short for multiple of reasons. Little fingers pressing buttons, inadvertently pushing on the buttons, a power outage or opening the machine mid-program could all interrupt the cycle and mean your dishwasher doesn’t drain.

If you suspect this might be the situation, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue start the machine again on a quick program.

A proportion machines might have a drain cycle meaning it’s worthwhile consulting your manual or doing a quick internet search to find out.

Inspect the waste disposal

If you have a disposal check this before you do anything else as an obstructed waste disposal will prevent your machine from emptying. Run the waste disposal using plenty of water to ensure there are no issues.

If you do uncover an obstruction drain unclogger or a plunger can be employed to remove the blockage and this could solve the fault.

Inspect the sink for clogs

If you kitchen sink is draining slowly this might indicate an issue with the pipes instead of a fault with your dishwasher.

If the sink is emptying slowly you could try putting a little bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar down the drain, leaving it for a while and then flushing it through with hot water.

A sink plunger could also be utilized to try and shift the blockage.

This could be all you need to do to allow your dishwasher to work again so start a quick rinse and drain cycle now. If this hasn’t solved the problem you may remove the water by hand using a cup and a sponge and check the next few possible issues.

Make certain to turn off the dishwasher to avoid electrocution.

If in the process of any one of these investigations you think you have found and fixed the problem you don’t have to go through the remaining issues. Just run an empty program to ensure the machine is repaired.

Check and wash the filters

Corn Kernels, paper from containers, plastic lids and smashed glass, plus food debris, may all block the machine filter. Clear plastic lids may also be hard to see if you don’t look carefully.

Remove the filter then give it a good scrub before putting it back in place. Not all machines have their filter in the same place so you could need to consult the owners manual for this.

Is the waste pipe blocked?

The next place to check is the waste pipe. Many things could cause a blockage including a build up of food debris, a kink in the hose, or a crushed hose. All of which can all impede your machine from draining.

Depending on the location of the hose (generally the ribbed one) you might have the means to view it simply by taking off the kick board alternatively you might have to move the dishwasher out from the wall.

Have a look at the hose first to find out if it has been crushed or kinked. You may manage fix these issues by hand which is likely to rectify the issue, but it’s worth noting that once this has occurred it is much more likely to happen again so you may need to purchase a new hose.

If you are unable to see anything you could take off the drain pipe from the machine and blow into it to discover any blockages. Make sure you line the floor with newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as there may still be waste water in the pipe.

If you can’t blow through the waste pipe this might be the problem.

Remove the hose at the sink end in order to give it a good flush through to remove the obstruction. If you are unable to get rid of the obstruction or the pipe is split or worn buy a new one. If you may clear the blockage then put the hose back and run a quick cycle to check that you have fixed the problem.

You can also inspect where the waste hose attaches under your sink as well. This is a common spot for debris to build up so if you do take off the hose give this area a good clean as well.

Inspect the drain valve

You could manually examine the drain valve to ensure it isn’t seized. The drain valve will most often be located in the bottom of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Examine your owners manual if you can’t see it.

Pressing down on the valve or giving it a jiggle should be adequate to tell you if it’s seized. If you are able to see anything blocking it remove this. If you are unable to, this may be when you should call a plumber unless you are happy in ordering and swapping out the part yourself.

Check your pump is not broken

Your dishwasher pump makes use of impellers that may become blocked by pieces of china or other debris. Check your impellers aren’t obstructed by taking off the safety cover and making sure the impellers can rotate freely.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual sounds

If it sounds unusual your dishwasher pump or motor could be broken 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 broken, it might be time to call for help.

At least having done your best to fix the problem yourself you have avoided having to pay a big repair fee for a blocked drain.