Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one is happy to open their dishwasher and discover standing water but, try not to overreact just yet. You could manage rectify the problem before you have to call a repair person or purchase a new dishwasher.

Your dishwasher declining to drain could have multiple of causes a number of which are easy to deal with. Therefore, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service here is a selection of probable components you could correct on your own. A number of which aren’t even caused by the dishwasher itself.

Check the cycle wasn’t interrupted

It is probable that there is nothing stopping your machine from draining. Alternatively, the program may have been stopped mid-way.

The cycle might have been interrupted for a number of of reasons. Children pushing buttons, inadvertently pressing against the controls, a power surge or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle may all interrupt the cycle and mean your machine doesn’t drain.

If you think this may be the situation, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue start your dishwasher again on a quick cycle.

A number appliances could have an empty capacity meaning it’s worth consulting your instruction manual or checking online to make sure.

Examine the disposal

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

If you do uncover a blockage drain un-blocker or a plunger could be used to remove the blockage and this might resolve the fault.

Check the plumbing for blockages

If you sink is emptying slowly this may signify a plumbing issue as opposed to an error with your dishwasher.

In the case that the sink is emptying inefficiently you can attempt putting a little bicarb and white vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a while and subsequently rinsing it away with hot water.

A sink plunger might also be utilized to try and shift the obstruction.

This might be all you need to do to allow the appliance to empty so run a quick rinse and drain cycle now. If not you can remove the dirty water by hand using a jug and also a sponge and check the next few possible issues.

Make sure you turn off the machine to stay safe.

If in the process of any of these investigations you think you have detected and repaired the error you don’t need to go through the rest of the issues. Just run an empty cycle to ensure your machine is repaired.

Examine and wash the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including popcorn, labels from jars, plastic covers and smashed glass. Clear glass could also be difficult to see if you aren’t looking for it.

Take out the filter then clean it thoroughly before putting it back in place. Not all filters are obvious and straightforward to remove so you may need to consult the instructions for this.

Is the waste pipe blocked?

The next area to inspect is the drain pipe. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose can all prevent your dishwasher from draining.

Contingent upon the location of the waste pipe (normally the corrugated one) you might be able to inspect it simply by removing the kick board alternatively you might have to pull the dishwasher out from the wall.

Have a look at the pipe first to see if it has been squashed or kinked. You might be able to manually fix any kinks which is likely to resolve the issue, but be aware that when this has occurred it is much more inclined to happen again so you might need to buy a spare hose.

If you can’t see anything you can take off the waste water pipe from the machine and blow through it to discover any blockages. Make sure you line the floor with newspaper or towels first as even if you have emptied the machine there may still be waste water in the pipe.

If you are unable to blow air through the waste hose this might be the reason your dishwasher isn’t draining.

Take off the hose at the sink end in order to give it a good clean to get rid of the obstruction. If you can’t get rid of the blockage or the pipe is cracked or worn buy a new one. If you may clear the obstruction then put the hose back and run a quick cycle to check that you have fixed the issue.

You may also examine the point where the waste hose connects under your sink as well. This is a typical spot for debris to build up so if you do take off the waste hose give this area a good clean as well.

Inspect the drain valve

You can inspect the drain valve by hand to check it hasn’t seized. The drain valve will most often be located at the base of the machine on the valve bracket. Consult your manual if you can’t see it.

Pushing down on the valve or wiggling it a bit should be enough to find out if it’s seized. If you are able to see an object stopping it from moving carefully extract this. If you are unable to, this may be the right time to ring a plumber unless you are confident in purchasing and swapping out the component on your own.

Check your pump is not blocked

Your appliance pump makes use of impellers that can be obstructed by pieces of china or other debris. Check your impellers aren’t blocked by removing the safety cover and ensuring that the impellers can rotate freely.

Run your dishwasher and listen for any unusual noises

If the dishwasher sounds unusual your dishwasher pump or motor could be faulty and need to be repaired.

Call a repair person

If you have been through the above list and the fault remains, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are not working, it could be time to get the professionals.

At least having attempted to investigate what is wrong you have avoided needing to pay a big repair fee for a blocked hose.