Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one wants to open their dishwasher and discover standing water but, try not to overreact just yet. You could be able to fix the error without having to call a repair person or buy a brand-new dishwasher.

Standing water in your machine can have multiple of causes a few of which are straightforward to solve. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a lineup of possible things you may identify by yourself. A proportion of which are not even a fault of the dishwasher itself.

Ensure the dishwasher wasn’t stopped mid-cycle

It is probable that there is nothing stopping your machine from draining. Rather, the program might have been interrupted.

The program might have been stopped mid-way for multiple of reasons. Little fingers pushing controls, inadvertently pressing against the controls, a power cut or opening the dishwasher mid-program may all stop the cycle from completing and mean your dishwasher doesn’t empty.

If you suspect this may be the case, or you feel it might be a good idea to check start your dishwasher again on a quick cycle.

A number appliances could have an empty program so it’s worth having a look at your instructions or doing a quick internet search to check.

Check the garbage disposal

If your dishwasher is connected to a disposal inspect this first as an obstructed disposal will block your dishwasher from emptying. Run the waste disposal using fast running water to check there are no issues.

If you do discover a blockage drain cleaner or a plunger can be employed to unclog the blockage and this may resolve the error.

Inspect the sink waste for clogs

If you kitchen sink is draining reluctantly this might suggest a plumbing issue instead of a fault with your machine.

In the case that the kitchen sink is emptying slowly you can try putting a little bicarbonate of soda and vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a while and then washing it away with hot water.

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

This could be sufficient to allow the appliance to drain so run a short rinse and empty cycle now. If this hasn’t sorted the issue you may manually remove the water using a bowl as well as a towel and check the next few possible issues.

Make certain to unplug the dishwasher to stay safe.

If during one of these investigations you believe you have detected and repaired the issue there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just complete an empty program to ensure your machine is fixed.

Examine and rinse the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including corn kernels, paper from tupperware, plastic covers and smashed glass. Clear film could also be hard to see if you aren’t looking for it.

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

Is the drain pipe blocked?

The next place to inspect is the waste water hose. 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 could all stop your dishwasher from emptying.

Depending on the position of the waste hose (normally the ribbed one) you might be able to look at it by removing the kick board alternatively you might have to move the machine away from under the counter.

Look at the pipe in the first instance to see if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You might manage fix these issues by hand which is likely to solve the issue, however, be aware that once this has happened it is much more inclined to happen again so you may need to buy a new hose.

If you can’t find an issue you could remove the drain hose from the pump and blow into it to discover any blockages. Make sure you line the floor with newspaper or towels first as there might still be waste water in the hose.

If you are unable to blow through the hose this might be the issue.

Take off the hose at the sink end and then give it a thorough clean to clear the obstruction. If you can’t get rid of the blockage or the pipe is cracked or damaged acquire a brand-new one. If you can get rid of the blockage then re-attach the hose and start a short cycle to make sure you have repaired the error.

You can also examine where the waste hose connects to the sink as well. This is a common point for blockages to occur so if you do remove the waste pipe give this area a good scrub as well.

Inspect the drain valve

You can examine the drain valve by hand to ensure it isn’t stopped working. The drain valve will generally be situated in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Consult your owners manual if you’re unsure.

Pressing down on the valve or giving it a jiggle will likely be sufficient to let you know if it’s stuck. If you are able to see an object stopping it from moving carefully extract this. If you are unable to, this may be a good time to call a plumber unless you are confident in purchasing and replacing the part yourself.

Inspect your pump is not blocked

Your water pump uses impellers that may get blocked by pieces of glass or other debris. Check your impellers aren’t broken by removing the safety cover and ensuring that the impellers can rotate freely.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual noises

If the dishwasher 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 fault persists, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it could be a good time to get the professionals.

This way though you will at least be able to give them more information and have avoided needing to pay a big repair charge for a blocked hose.