Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one is happy to open their dishwasher and discover it hasn’t emptied fully but, don’t panic just yet. You could have the means to deal with the fault without having to call a plumber or invest in a new machine.

Your machine failing to drain could be bought about by any number of issues a proportion of which can be easy to rectify. So, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a lineup of potential things you can identify on your own. A proportion of which aren’t even caused by the machine itself.

Check the cycle wasn’t interrupted

If you’re fortunate the standing water you have discovered may not be a problem at all. Rather, the program could have been interrupted.

The program may have been cut short for any number of of reasons. Little fingers pressing controls, accidentally pushing on the buttons, a power outage or opening the machine mid-cycle could all prevent the program from completing and mean your machine doesn’t empty.

If you believe this may be the circumstance, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue run your dishwasher again on a short cycle.

A number machines may have an empty program meaning it’s worthwhile having a look at your manual or checking online to check.

Check the garbage disposal

If you have a disposal inspect this before you move on as a blocked disposal will prevent the machine from emptying. Run the garbage disposal using lots of water to make sure there are no blockages.

If you do discover a blockage drain un-blocker or a plunger can be employed to clear the obstruction and this might fix the problem.

Inspect the plumbing for clogs

If you sink is emptying inefficiently this might suggest an issue with the drains rather than an issue with your machine.

In the case that the kitchen sink is draining slowly you could attempt putting some bicarbonate of soda and vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a while, then flushing it through with boiling water.

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

This may be enough to permit the dishwasher to empty so start a quick cycle now. If not you may remove the water by hand using a cup and a sponge and troubleshoot the next few possible issues.

Make certain to turn off the machine to stay safe.

If while you are carrying out any of these checks you think you have found and solved the issue there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just start an empty cycle to ensure the dishwasher is fixed.

Examine and scrub the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including corn kernels, paper from containers, film covers and broken glass. Clear glass could also be difficult to spot if you don’t look closely.

Remove the filter and clean it thoroughly before putting it back in place. Not all dishwashers have their filter in the same place so you might need to look at the instructions for this.

Is the waste water hose blocked?

The next component to inspect is the waste water pipe. 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 may all stop your dishwasher from emptying.

Contingent upon the position of the waste hose (generally the corrugated one) you might be able to look at it by means of taking off the base alternatively you might need to move the dishwasher out from the wall.

Visually examine the pipe first to find out if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You could have the means to manually fix any kinks which is likely to rectify the issue, but it’s worth noting that when this has occurred it is significantly more likely to happen again so you may need to buy a spare hose.

If you can’t find an issue you can take off the drain hose from the dishwasher and blow into it to figure out if there are any blockages. Make sure you put down newspaper or towels first as there could still be dirty water in the pipe.

If you are unable to blow air through the waste pipe this may be the problem.

Disconnect the hose at the sink end and then give it a thorough flush through to remove the obstruction. If you can’t get rid of the obstruction or the waste pipe is slit or worn acquire a brand-new one. If you can get rid of the obstruction then replace the hose and start a short cycle to make sure you have fixed the error.

You could also check the point where the hose connects under your sink. This is a typical spot for a build-up of gunk so if you happen to take off the waste hose give this area a good clean as well.

Examine the drain valve

You may check the drain valve by hand to check it hasn’t stopped working. The drain valve will often be situated in the bottom of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Consult your instructions if you’re not sure.

Pushing down on the valve or wiggling it a bit should be adequate to find out if it’s seized. If you can see something stopping it from moving remove this. If you can’t, this could be a good time to get in touch with a plumber unless you are happy in procuring and repairing the part on your own.

Inspect your pump is not broken

Your appliance pump makes use of impellers that can be obstructed by pieces of glass or other debris. Check your impellers aren’t blocked by taking off the cover and making sure the impellers are free to move.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s on

If the dishwasher is making funny noises your dishwasher pump or motor might be broken and need replacing.

Call a repair person

If you have been through the above list and the error remains, or you have reason to believe the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it could be the right time to get the professionals.

At least having tried to fix the problem yourself you have prevented needing to pay a hefty call-out charge for a blocked drain.