Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one is happy to open their dishwasher and discover it hasn’t emptied fully but, try not to lose it just yet. You could manage figure out the problem by yourself, without having to call a plumber or invest in a brand-new dishwasher.

Your machine refusing to drain may have multiple of causes a few of which can be straightforward to figure out. Therefore, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service here is a selection of probable issues you can troubleshoot yourself. A proportion of which aren’t even caused by the machine itself.

Check the cycle wasn’t stopped mid-way

If you’re fortunate the standing water you have discovered may not be a fault at all. Rather, the cycle could have been cut short.

The program might have been interrupted for multiple of reasons. Children pressing buttons, mistakenly pressing against the controls, a power cut or opening the machine mid-cycle may all prevent the cycle from completing and mean your machine doesn’t drain.

If you think this may be the case, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue start the machine again on a short cycle.

A number appliances may have a drain cycle meaning it’s worth consulting your manual or consulting google to check.

Examine the disposal

If you have a waste disposal examine this first as a blocked disposal will stop your machine from emptying. Turn on the waste disposal using fast running water to ensure there are no issues.

If you do discover an issue drain cleaner or a plunger could be employed to unclog the blockage and so this might solve the issue.

Examine the plumbing for blockages

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

If the sink is draining inefficiently you can try putting some bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a while and then washing it away with hot water.

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

This might be enough to allow the dishwasher to empty so run a quick program to check. If not you can remove the water by hand using a bowl and a sponge and troubleshoot the next few possible issues.

At this point make certain to disconnect the machine to avoid electrocution.

If while you are carrying out any one of these checks you think you may have found and repaired the issue there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just run an empty program to ensure the machine is repaired.

Inspect and clean the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including corn kernels, labels from jars, plastic film covers and broken glass. Clear film can also be hard to spot if you don’t look carefully.

Remove the filter then wash it thoroughly before replacing it. Not all filters are obvious and simple to remove so you could need to look at the instructions for this.

Is the waste pipe blocked?

The next component to examine is the waste hose. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose can all stop your dishwasher from emptying.

Subject to the position of the waste pipe (generally the corrugated one) you may have the means to view it by means of lifting away the kick plate or you may be required to pull the machine out from under the counter.

Visually inspect the pipe first to discover if it has been squashed or kinked. You may have the means to fix these issues by hand which should rectify the issue, but it’s worth noting that when this has happened it is significantly more inclined to happen again so you could wish to buy a new hose.

If you can’t see anything you could disconnect the drain hose from the machine and blow through it to discover any blockages. Be sure to put down newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as even if you have emptied the machine there might still be water in the pipe.

If you can’t blow through the waste pipe this could be the issue.

Remove the other end of the hose and then give it a good flush through to get rid of the obstruction. If you are unable to shift the obstruction or the waste hose is cracked or damaged purchase a new one. If you can clear the blockage then put the hose back and run a short cycle to find out if you have solved the error.

You could also inspect the point where the hose connects to the waste disposal. This is a likely spot for a build-up of gunk so if you happen to remove the hose give this point a good clean as well.

Inspect the drain valve

You could manually inspect the drain valve to ensure it isn’t got stuck. The drain valve will often be situated at the base of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Check your manual if you’re not sure.

Pressing down on the valve or giving it a wiggle should be sufficient to tell you if it’s stuck. If you are able to see something blocking it remove this. If you can’t, this might be a good time to get in touch with a plumber unless you are confident in ordering and swapping out the part yourself.

Examine your pump is not broken

Your dishwasher pump makes use of impellers that could get obstructed by broken china or other debris. Check your impellers aren’t obstructed by taking off the cover and checking that the impellers are free to move.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s running

If the dishwasher sounds unusual your dishwasher pump or motor may be faulty and need replacing.

Call a plumber

If none of the above checks has solved the issue, or you have reason to believe the pump, pump valve or motor are broken, it might be the moment you need to call in the professionals.

At least having attempted to investigate what is wrong you have avoided having to pay a big call-out charge for a blocked drain.

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