Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always irritating to open a machine and find out the machine is still full of water, don’t lose it just yet. You could manage rectify the fault before you have to call a plumber or buy a new dishwasher.

Standing water in your machine could have multiple of causes some of which can be simple to solve. Therefore, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service try this lineup of possible components you can correct on your own. Some of which are not even a fault of the dishwasher itself.

Ensure the cycle wasn’t cut short

It is possible that there is nothing preventing your machine from draining. Rather, the program could have been stopped mid-way.

The cycle may have been cut short for any number of of reasons. Children pressing buttons, accidentally leaning on the buttons, a power outage or opening the machine mid-cycle may all interrupt the program and mean your machine doesn’t empty.

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

A proportion appliances may have a drain program meaning it’s worth checking your manual or doing a quick internet search to make sure.

Check the waste disposal

If your dishwasher is plumbed into your garbage disposal examine this before you move on as a blocked garbage disposal will block the dishwasher from draining. Turn on the disposal with fast running water to check there are no blockages.

If you do find an issue drain cleaner or a natural alternative can be used to clear the blockage and this could fix the error.

Examine the sink waste for issues

If you sink is draining slowly this may signify a plumbing issue as opposed to a problem with your dishwasher.

In the case that the kitchen sink is emptying reluctantly you could try putting some bicarbonate of soda and vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a while and then washing it through with hot water.

A plunger could also be utilized to try and dislodge the blockage.

This may be sufficient to allow the appliance to empty so run a short program to check. If not you could remove the standing water by hand using a bowl and also a sponge and troubleshoot a few more likely causes.

Make certain to disconnect the dishwasher to stay safe.

If in the process of any one of these checks you believe you may have discovered and fixed the problem there is no need to continue to the next step. Just run an empty cycle to check your dishwasher is now emptying as it should.

Inspect and rinse the filters

Corn Kernels, labels from tupperware, film covers and broken glass, plus food debris, can all block the dishwasher filter. Clear film could also be difficult to see if you aren’t looking for it.

Remove 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 consult the owners manual for this.

Is the waste hose obstructed?

The next area to inspect is the drain hose. 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 could all stop your dishwasher from emptying.

Subject to the position of the hose (normally the corrugated one) you may be able to look at it by means of lifting away the kick plate alternatively you might be required to move the machine away from the wall.

Visually inspect the pipe in the first instance to discover if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You may have the means to fix these issues by hand which is likely to resolve the issue, but it’s worth noting that once this has happened it is significantly more likely to happen again so you could wish to order a new hose.

If you can’t see any obvious kinks or obstructions you could take off 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 dirty water in the hose.

If you are unable to blow through the waste hose this may be the issue.

Disconnect the hose at the sink end and then give it a thorough clean to get rid of the blockage. If you can’t dislodge the blockage or the waste hose is slit or degraded acquire a brand-new one. If you may clear the obstruction then put the hose back and start a short cycle to make sure you have fixed the error.

You can also examine where the waste hose connects under your sink as well. This is a likely point for blockages to occur so if you do remove the pipe give this connection a thorough clean as well.

Check the drain valve

You could examine the drain valve by hand to check it isn’t stopped working. The drain valve will most often be located in the bottom of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Consult your instructions if you’re unsure.

Pressing down on the valve or wiggling it a bit should be sufficient to let you know if it’s seized. If you can see any debris stopping it from moving remove this. If you can’t, this might be the right time to call a plumber unless you are undaunted by purchasing and repairing the part on your own.

Examine your pump is not blocked

Your water pump makes use of impellers that may get blocked by pieces of glass or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t obstructed by taking off the safety cover and ensuring that the impellers can rotate freely.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s on

If it doesn’t sound right your dishwasher pump or motor may be damaged and need to be repaired.

Call a repair person

If you have been through the above list and the error remains, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are not working, it may be a good time to call for help.

This way though you will at least have the means to give them more information and have managed to avoid needing to pay a big repair charge for a blocked hose.