Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one wants to open their machine and discover standing water but, don’t lose it just yet. You could be able to figure out the error before you have to call a plumber or acquire a brand-new machine.

Standing water in your machine could be caused by a number of components a proportion of which can be straightforward to figure out. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service try this lineup of potential issues you may troubleshoot by yourself. A number of which aren’t even a fault of the dishwasher itself.

Ensure the program wasn’t interrupted

It is possible that there is nothing stopping your machine from draining. Rather, the program could have been cut short.

The cycle could have been cut short for multiple of reasons. Children pressing controls, inadvertently pushing on the control panel, a power surge or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle might all stop the program from completing and mean your machine doesn’t drain.

If you think this may be the case, or you think it could be a good idea to check start your machine again on a short cycle.

A number appliances might have an empty program so it’s worthwhile consulting your manual or consulting google to find out.

Inspect the disposal

If your dishwasher is connected to the disposal inspect this first as a blocked waste disposal will stop your dishwasher from draining. Turn on the garbage disposal using plenty of water to make sure there are no blockages.

If you do discover an issue drain cleaner or a natural alternative could be employed to remove the blockage and this could rectify the issue.

Check the sink waste for issues

If you sink is draining inefficiently this could signify a plumbing issue rather than an error with your dishwasher.

In the case that the kitchen sink is draining reluctantly you could try putting a little bicarb and vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a few minutes and then washing it through with hot water.

A plunger could also be employed to attempt to shift the blockage.

This might be all you need to do to permit your dishwasher to empty so start a short rinse and empty cycle to check. If this hasn’t sorted the issue you could manually get rid of the standing water using a bowl and a sponge and check a few more areas.

At this point make certain to disconnect the machine to stay safe.

If during any of these examinations you believe you may have detected and repaired the error you don’t have to go through the remaining issues. Just start an empty program to ensure the machine is fixed.

Inspect and clean the filters

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

Remove the filter and clean it thoroughly before putting it back in place. Not all filters are obvious and easy to remove so you may need to look at the instruction manual for this.

Is the waste pipe blocked?

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

Contingent upon the location of the hose (generally the ribbed one) you might have the means to inspect it by means of lifting away the kick plate alternatively you could be required to pull the machine away from under the counter.

Visually examine the pipe in the first instance to see if it has been squashed or kinked. You might manage fix these issues by hand which should resolve the issue, but be aware that once this has happened the chance of it happening again is greatly increased so you might wish to buy a spare hose.

If you can’t see an issue you can disconnect the drain pipe from the machine and blow through it to figure out if there are any blockages. Make sure you line the floor with newspaper or towels first as there might still be water in the hose.

If you are unable to blow through the hose this may be the problem.

Remove the other end of the hose in order to give it a thorough flush through to remove the blockage. If you can’t remove the obstruction or the pipe is split or damaged acquire a brand-new one. If you may clear the obstruction then put the hose back and run a short program to make sure you have fixed the issue.

You can also inspect where the waste pipe attaches under your sink as well. This is a likely point for blockages to occur so if you happen to remove the hose give this connection a thorough scrub as well.

Examine the drain valve

You can check the drain valve by hand to make sure it hasn’t seized. The drain valve will most often be located in the bottom of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Check your owners manual if you’re unsure.

Pressing down on the valve or wiggling it a bit should be sufficient to tell you if it’s stuck. If you can see something stopping it from moving carefully extract this. If you are unable to, this could be when you should ring a repair person unless you are happy in purchasing and repairing the valve yourself.

Inspect your pump is not broken

Your water pump uses impellers that could become obstructed by broken glass or other debris. Check your impellers aren’t broken by taking off the safety cover and making sure the impellers are free to move.

Run your dishwasher and listen for any unusual noises

If the dishwasher is making funny noises your dishwasher pump or motor may be damaged and need to be repaired.

Call a plumber

If none of the above checks has solved the error, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are not working, it may be time to call for help.

This way though you will at least manage give them more information and have avoided having to pay a big call-out fee for a blocked drain.