Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one wants to open their dishwasher and discover standing water but, don’t overreact just yet. You could be able to fix the problem before you have to call a plumber or invest in a brand-new machine.

Standing water in your dishwasher can have any number of of causes a number of which can be simple to figure out. So, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a list of possible components you can identify on your own. A proportion of which are not even caused by the machine itself.

Check the cycle wasn’t interrupted

It is possible that there is nothing stopping your dishwasher from draining. Alternatively, the cycle could have been interrupted.

The cycle may have been stopped mid-way for multiple of reasons. Kids pressing buttons, accidentally leaning on the buttons, a power cut or opening the machine mid-cycle may all prevent the cycle from completing and mean your dishwasher doesn’t drain.

If you believe this could be the situation, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue run the machine again on a short program.

A few dishwashers could have a drain program meaning it’s worth having a look at your instructions or doing a quick internet search to make sure.

Inspect the garbage disposal

If your dishwasher is connected to a disposal inspect this first as an obstructed disposal will block the dishwasher from draining. Turn on the waste disposal with fast running water to make sure there are no blockages.

If you do uncover an issue drain cleaner or a natural alternative may be sought after to unclog the obstruction and this may resolve the problem.

Examine the sink waste for issues

If you sink is draining inefficiently this might suggest a plumbing issue rather than an issue with your machine.

In the case that the kitchen sink is draining reluctantly you can try putting a little bicarbonate of soda and vinegar down the drain, leaving it for a few minutes and then flushing it through with boiling water.

A plunger might also be used to attempt to remove the blockage.

This may be sufficient to allow the dishwasher to drain so start a quick rinse and empty program to check. If not you could manually remove the water using a cup as well as a sponge and have a look at the next few possible issues.

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

If while you are carrying out any one of these investigations you suspect you may have discovered and fixed the issue there is no need to continue to the next step. Just start an empty cycle to ensure your machine is once again emptying as it used to.

Check and scrub the filters

Popcorn, labels from jars, plastic film lids and smashed glass, as well as food debris, can all obstruct the machine filter. Clear film can also be difficult to see if you aren’t looking for it.

Take out the filter then give it a thorough wash before putting it back in place. Not all machines have their filter in the same place so you may need to look at the instructions for this.

Is the waste water hose obstructed?

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

Contingent upon the location of the waste hose (generally the corrugated one) you could be able to view it by removing the base alternatively you might have to move the dishwasher out from under the counter.

Look at the hose in the first instance to discover if it has been crushed or kinked. You may be able to fix these issues by hand which should fix the issue, however, it’s worth noting that once this has occurred it is significantly more likely to happen again so you may wish to order a replacement hose.

If you can’t find anything you could disconnect the waste water pipe from the pump and blow into it to check for any blockages. Make sure you line the floor with newspaper or towels first as even if you have emptied the machine there could still be water in the hose.

If you can’t blow through the waste hose this may be the reason your machine isn’t emptying.

Remove the other end of the hose and give it a good clean to remove the obstruction. If you can’t remove the obstruction or the waste hose is cracked or worn acquire a new one. If you may remove the blockage then re-attach the hose and run a short program to make sure you have repaired the fault.

You could also check where the waste pipe connects under your sink as well. This is a typical spot for debris to build up so if you do remove the pipe give this area a thorough clean as well.

Check the drain valve

You may manually examine the drain valve to make sure it hasn’t got stuck. The drain valve will generally be located at the base of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Check your manual if you’re unsure.

Depressing the valve or giving it a wiggle should be sufficient to find out if it’s stuck. If you are able to see any debris stopping it from moving remove this. If you are unable to, this could be the right time to get in touch with a plumber unless you are happy in ordering and replacing the valve on your own.

Check your pump is not blocked

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

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s on

If it sounds unusual your dishwasher pump or motor could be damaged and need replacing.

Call a plumber

If you have been through the above list and the fault persists, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are not working, it may be time to call your local repair person.

At least having tried to fix the problem yourself you have managed to avoid having to pay a big repair fee for a blocked hose.