Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s never a welcome sight to open a machine and realize the machine hasn’t emptied fully, try not to lose it just yet. You might be able to deal with the fault without having to call a repair person or invest in a new machine.

Your dishwasher failing to empty could be caused by multiple things a proportion of which can be simple to solve. So, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service here is a list of probable things you could identify by yourself. A number of which are not even a fault of the dishwasher itself.

Check the dishwasher wasn’t interrupted mid-cycle

It is possible that there is nothing stopping your dishwasher from draining. Instead, the program could have been stopped mid-way.

The program may have been stopped mid-way for any number of of reasons. Children pressing controls, mistakenly pushing on the controls, a power outage or opening the machine mid-cycle might all interrupt the program and mean your machine doesn’t drain.

If you think this might be the circumstance, or you feel it could be a good idea to check start your machine again on a quick program.

Some appliances may have an empty function meaning it’s worthwhile checking your owners manual or consulting google to make sure.

Check the garbage disposal

If you have a waste disposal check this before you move on as a blocked waste disposal will stop the dishwasher from emptying. Run the waste disposal using lots of water to make sure there are no blockages.

If you do uncover an obstruction drain un-blocker or a natural alternative may be used to unclog the blockage and so this could solve the fault.

Inspect the plumbing for issues

If you kitchen sink is draining inefficiently this may suggest a plumbing issue rather than an error with your dishwasher.

If the kitchen sink is emptying inefficiently you could try putting some bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a while and then rinsing it away with boiling water.

A sink plunger might also be employed to attempt to shift the blockage.

This may be enough to permit the dishwasher to drain so start a quick cycle to check. If not you can manually remove the dirty water using a cup and a towel and have a look at a few more possible issues.

At this point make sure you unplug the dishwasher to stay safe.

If in the process of any of these checks you believe you have discovered and fixed the issue you don’t need to go through the rest of the steps. Just run an empty program to make sure the machine is now draining as it should.

Inspect and wash the filters

Corn Kernels, paper from jars, plastic film lids and broken glass, plus food debris, could all block the dishwasher filter. Clear plastic lids can also be hard to see if you aren’t looking for it.

Take out the filter and wash it thoroughly before replacing it. Not all filters are obvious and straightforward to remove so you may need to consult the manual for this.

Is the drain pipe blocked?

The next component to check is the waste water pipe. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose may all impede your machine from draining.

Subject to the location of the waste pipe (generally the corrugated one) you might have the means to view it by removing the kick plate or you could have to pull the dishwasher out from under the counter.

Visually examine the hose first to see if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You could manage manually straighten out any kinks which will most likely solve the issue, however, be aware that when this has occurred the probability of it happening again is massively increased so you might wish to purchase a new hose.

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

If you can’t blow air through the hose this might be the issue.

Disconnect the other end of the hose and give it a thorough flush through to get rid of the blockage. If you are unable to dislodge the blockage or the hose is cracked or degraded acquire a brand-new one. If you can remove the blockage then replace the hose and start a short program to check that you have fixed the error.

You can also inspectthe point where the waste pipe connects to the waste disposal as well. This is a typical spot for a build-up of gunk so if you happen to remove the pipe give this point a thorough clean as well.

Check the drain valve

You can manually check the drain valve to ensure it isn’t stopped working. The drain valve will generally be located at the base of the machine on the valve bracket. Examine your instructions if you can’t see it.

Pushing down on the valve or giving it a wiggle should be adequate to let you know if it’s seized. If you are able to see something blocking it get rid of this. If you are unable to, this might be a good time to ring a plumber unless you are confident in procuring and swapping out the part on your own.

Examine your pump is not broken

Your dishwasher pump makes use of impellers that could be obstructed by broken glass or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t blocked by taking off the cover and ensuring that the impellers are free to move.

Run your dishwasher and listen for any unusual noises

If your dishwasher doesn’t sound right your pump or motor may be broken and need replacing.

Call a repair person

If none of the above investigations has repaired the fault, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are broken, it may be the right time to call for help.

This way though you will at least manage give them more information and have prevented needing to pay a hefty repair charge for a blocked drain.