Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always irritating to open a dishwasher and realize it hasn’t emptied properly, don’t overreact just yet. You might manage figure out the fault without having to call a plumber or buy a new machine.

Your machine declining to empty could be caused by a number of issues some of which can be straightforward to figure out. So, before you call a dishwasher repair service try this list of probable components you may identify by yourself. A proportion of which are not even caused by the machine itself.

Check the dishwasher wasn’t interrupted mid-cycle

If you’re lucky the fact your dishwasher hasn’t emptied may not be an issue at all. Alternatively, the program could have been interrupted.

The cycle could have been interrupted for multiple of reasons. Kids pressing controls, inadvertently pressing on the buttons, a power surge or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle could all interrupt the cycle and mean your dishwasher doesn’t empty.

If you believe this might be the circumstance, or you feel it may be worthwhile checking start your dishwasher again on a short cycle.

A proportion machines might have a drain function so it’s well worth consulting your instructions or doing a quick internet search to make sure.

Examine the garbage disposal

If your dishwasher is connected to your garbage disposal check this before you move on as an obstructed garbage disposal will block your dishwasher from draining. Run the waste disposal with lots of water to ensure there are no blockages.

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

Examine the sink for clogs

If you kitchen sink is emptying reluctantly this might indicate a plumbing issue instead of an issue with your machine.

If the sink is emptying slowly you could attempt putting some bicarb and vinegar down the drain, leaving it for a few minutes, then flushing it away with boiling water.

A plunger could also be employed to attempt to dislodge the obstruction.

This might be sufficient to permit your appliance to drain so start a quick cycle at this point. If not you may remove the water by hand using a jug and a sponge and check the next few possible issues.

Make sure you unplug the dishwasher to stay safe.

If in the process of any one of these examinations you think you have found and repaired the error there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just run an empty program to check your machine is repaired.

Check and rinse the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including popcorn, labels from jars, plastic lids and broken glass. Clear plastic lids can also be hard to spot if you don’t look closely.

Remove the filter then give it a good scrub before putting it back in place. Not all filters are obvious and easy to remove so you might need to consult the manual for this.

Is the waste pipe obstructed?

The next component to inspect is the drain hose. 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 draining.

Subject to the location of the waste hose (usually the ribbed one) you could be able to inspect it by removing the kick plate or you might be required to pull the machine out from the wall.

Have a look at the pipe first to discover if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You could manage manually remove any kinks which should deal with the issue, however, it’s worth noting that once this has happened it is much more likely to happen again so you could need to purchase a replacement hose.

If you are unable to see anything you could take off the drain pipe from the dishwasher and blow through it to discover any blockages. Make sure you put down newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as even if you have emptied the machine there may still be dirty water in the pipe.

If you are unable to blow through the waste hose this could be the reason your machine isn’t draining.

Take off the hose at the sink end and then give it a thorough flush through to clear the blockage. If you are unable to get rid of the obstruction or the waste pipe is slit or damaged buy a new one. If you may clear the obstruction then replace the hose and run a short program to find out if you have repaired the error.

You can also examine the point where the waste hose attaches under your sink. This is a common point for debris to build up so if you do take off the pipe give this point a good scrub as well.

Check the drain valve

You could check the drain valve by hand to make sure it isn’t got stuck. The drain valve will often be found in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Consult your instructions if you’re not sure.

Depressing the valve or giving it a jiggle will likely be adequate to find out if it’s seized. If you are able to see anything blocking it get rid of this. If you are unable to, this could be a good time to call a repair person unless you are undaunted by procuring and repairing the part yourself.

Examine your pump is not blocked

Your dishwasher pump uses impellers that can be blocked by broken glass or other debris. Check your pump isn’t blocked by removing the cover and ensuring that the impellers can rotate freely.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s on

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

Call a plumber

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 not working, it could be time to call in the professionals.

This way though you will at least have the means to give them more information and have avoided having to pay a hefty call-out fee for a clogged filter.

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