Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always irritating to open your machine and find out it is still full of water, don’t panic just yet. You could have the means to rectify the fault by yourself, without having to call a plumber or buy a new dishwasher.

Your machine declining to drain could have any number of of causes a number of which are simple to resolve. So, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a list of potential issues you may identify yourself. Some of which aren’t even related to the machine itself.

Check the dishwasher wasn’t stopped mid-program

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

The program may have been stopped mid-way for any number of of reasons. Kids pushing buttons, mistakenly pushing on the controls, a power outage or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle could all interrupt the program and mean your dishwasher doesn’t empty.

If you suspect this could be the case, or you feel it may be a good idea to check run your machine again on a quick cycle.

A proportion appliances might have a drain cycle meaning it’s well worth consulting your instruction manual or doing a quick internet search to make sure.

Examine the disposal

If you have a garbage disposal examine this before you move on as an obstructed garbage disposal will stop the machine from emptying. Turn on the disposal with plenty of water to make sure there are no obstructions.

If you do discover a blockage drain unclogger or a plunger may be employed to unclog the blockage and so this might deal with the fault.

Inspect the sink for blockages

If you sink is emptying inefficiently this could signify an issue with the pipes rather than an error with your dishwasher.

If the sink is emptying inefficiently you could try putting a little bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a while and subsequently flushing it through with hot water.

A plunger might also be employed to attempt to shift the obstruction.

This may be sufficient to let the appliance to drain so run a short program to check. If not you may manually drain the dishwasher using a cup and a sponge and troubleshoot a few more likely causes.

Make sure you disconnect the machine to stay safe.

If during any of these examinations you believe you have detected and repaired the fault there is no need to continue to the next step. Just complete an empty cycle to make sure the machine is fixed.

Examine and scrub the filters

Popcorn, paper from tupperware, plastic film covers and smashed glass, as well as scraps of food, could all obstruct the dishwasher filter. Clear glass can also be difficult to spot if you aren’t looking for it.

Take out the filter and scrub it thoroughly before putting it back in place. Not all filters are obvious and easy to remove so you might need to refer to the instruction manual for this.

Is the waste water hose obstructed?

The next area to inspect is the waste pipe. Many things could cause an obstruction 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.

Depending on the position of the waste hose (normally the ribbed one) you might have the means to look at it by taking off the base alternatively you might have to pull the machine out from the wall.

Have a look at the hose first to see if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You could manage manually remove any kinks which is likely to deal with the issue, however, be aware that when this has happened it is much more likely to happen again so you may need to purchase a new hose.

If you are unable to see any obvious kinks or obstructions you can disconnect the waste water hose from the machine and blow into it to discover any blockages. Make sure you line the floor with newspaper or towels first as there could still be waste water in the pipe.

If you can’t blow through the waste hose this may be the issue.

Disconnect the other end of the hose and give it a good clean to remove the blockage. If you are unable to shift the obstruction or the hose is slit or worn invest in a brand-new one. If you could clear the blockage then replace the hose and run a short program to check that you have fixed the problem.

You may also examine where the hose attaches to the sink as well. This is a likely point for debris to build up so if you do remove the pipe give this area a thorough clean as well.

Examine the drain valve

You can manually examine the drain valve to make sure it isn’t seized. The drain valve will often be situated in the bottom of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Examine your instructions if you’re not sure.

Depressing the valve or giving it a jiggle should be enough to let you know if it’s stuck. If you can see something blocking it get rid of this. If you can’t, this could be a good time to ring a repair person unless you are happy in ordering and swapping out the component on your own.

Inspect your pump is not broken

Your water pump makes use of impellers that can get blocked by pieces of china or other debris. Check your pump isn’t obstructed by removing the safety cover and ensuring that the impellers can be easily rotated.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s on

If the dishwasher sounds unusual your dishwasher pump or motor might be broken and need to be repaired.

Call a plumber

If you have been through the above list and the issue persists, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are broken, it could be time to call a plumber.

At least having attempted to fix the problem yourself you have avoided needing to pay a big call-out fee for a blocked hose.