Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s never a welcome sight to open the dishwasher and find out the machine hasn’t drained fully, don’t overreact just yet. You might have the means to fix the fault by yourself, without having to call a plumber or purchase a brand-new machine.

Standing water in your dishwasher may be bought about by any number of things a proportion of which can be simple to resolve. So, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a lineup of potential components you can correct on your own. Some of which are not even related to the machine itself.

Check the dishwasher wasn’t interrupted mid-program

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

The program may have been stopped mid-way for any number of of reasons. Little fingers pressing buttons, accidentally pushing against the controls, a power surge or opening the dishwasher mid-program may all interrupt the program and mean your machine doesn’t empty.

If you think this might be the circumstance, or you think it may be a good idea to check start the dishwasher again on a quick cycle.

A proportion machines may have a drain cycle so it’s well worth having a look at your owners manual or consulting google to make sure.

Examine the disposal

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

If you do find a blockage drain cleaner or a plunger may be used to unclog the blockage and this may deal with the issue.

Check the sink waste for issues

If you kitchen sink is emptying slowly this may suggest a plumbing issue rather than an error with your machine.

If the kitchen sink is draining slowly you may attempt putting a little bicarb and white vinegar down the drain, leaving it for a few minutes and subsequently flushing it away with boiling water.

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

This may be all you need to do to let the dishwasher to work again so run a quick program to check. If this hasn’t worked you may manually remove the water using a jug as well as a towel and have a look at a few more areas.

Make sure you turn off the dishwasher to stay safe.

If during any one of these checks you believe you have detected and repaired the problem there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just run an empty cycle to ensure the dishwasher is fixed.

Check and clean the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including corn kernels, paper from jars, plastic lids and broken glass. Clear glass could also be difficult to see if you aren’t looking for it.

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

Is the waste water hose obstructed?

The next component to inspect is the drain hose. 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 can all stop your machine from draining.

Depending on the location of the waste hose (generally the ribbed one) you could manage inspect it by taking off the base or you may be required to move the machine away from under the counter.

Visually examine the pipe first to find out if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You might be able to manually straighten out any kinks which is likely to solve the issue, but it’s worth noting that when this has occurred it is much more likely to happen again so you may need to purchase a spare hose.

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

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

Take off the hose at the sink end and then give it a good flush through to clear the blockage. If you are unable to dislodge the obstruction or the pipe is slit or degraded acquire a new one. If you may get rid of the blockage then put the hose back and run a short program to make sure you have repaired the problem.

You could also check where the waste hose connects to the sink. This is a common place for debris to build up so if you do take off the waste hose give this connection a thorough clean as well.

Inspect the drain valve

You could examine the drain valve by hand to ensure it hasn’t seized. The drain valve will generally be found in the bottom of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Consult your owners manual if you can’t see it.

Pressing down on the valve or wiggling it a bit should be sufficient to let you know if it’s stuck. If you can see anything blocking it remove this. If you are unable to, this might be the right time to get in touch with a plumber unless you are confident in purchasing and swapping out the part on your own.

Check your pump is not blocked

Your water pump uses impellers that could get obstructed by pieces of china or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t blocked by taking off the cover and checking that the impellers can rotate freely.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s running

If it doesn’t sound normal your pump or motor might be damaged and need to be repaired.

Call a repair person

If you have been through the above list and the issue persists, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it may be the right time to get the professionals.

At least having done your best to investigate what is wrong you have managed to avoid having to pay a hefty call-out charge for a blocked hose.