Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one wants to open their machine and discover it hasn’t drained fully but, try not to lose it just yet. You might be able to solve the problem without having to call a plumber or acquire a brand-new machine.

Your machine declining to empty could have multiple of causes a few of which are simple to deal with. Therefore, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service try this selection of possible issues you could troubleshoot on your own. A proportion of which are not even caused by the dishwasher itself.

Check the program wasn’t cut short

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

The cycle may have been interrupted for any number of of reasons. Children pressing controls, inadvertently leaning on the controls, a power outage or opening the machine mid-cycle could all prevent the program from completing and mean your machine doesn’t drain.

If you think this may be the situation, or you think it might be worthwhile checking start the machine again on a quick program.

A few machines might have a drain capacity so it’s worth checking your manual or consulting google to find out.

Inspect the disposal

If you have a waste disposal check this first as a blocked disposal will stop the dishwasher from draining. Run the waste disposal with plenty of water to make sure there are no blockages.

If you do uncover an issue drain unclogger or a plunger may be employed to clear the blockage and this could fix the problem.

Check the sink for clogs

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

In the case that the sink is draining slowly you could attempt putting a little bicarbonate of soda and vinegar down the drain, letting it sit for a while and subsequently flushing it through with hot water.

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

This may be enough to permit the appliance to drain so start a short rinse and drain program at this point. If this hasn’t worked you may manually remove the dirty water using a jug and a towel and have a look at the next few possible issues.

At this point make sure you turn off the dishwasher to stay safe.

If in the process of one of these investigations you suspect you may have found and solved the issue there is no need to continue to the next step. Just start an empty cycle to make sure the machine is fixed.

Check and wash the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including popcorn, labels from jars, film lids and smashed glass. Clear glass could also be difficult to see if you don’t look closely.

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

Is the waste hose blocked?

The next place to check is the waste hose. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose may all impede your machine from emptying.

Depending on the location of the waste hose (generally the ribbed one) you could be able to look at it by means of lifting away the base alternatively you might need to move the machine away from the wall.

Have a look at the pipe in the first instance to find out if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You could have the means to fix these issues by hand which is likely to rectify the issue, however, it’s worth noting that when this has occurred it is much more likely to happen again so you might need to order a new hose.

If you are unable to find any obvious kinks or obstructions you can disconnect the waste hose from the dishwasher and blow through it to check for any blockages. Be sure to line the floor with newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as even if you have emptied the machine there may still be dirty water in the hose.

If you can’t blow air through the waste pipe this might be the reason your machine isn’t emptying.

Disconnect the other end of the hose and then give it a good clean to get rid of the blockage. If you can’t shift the blockage or the pipe is slit or damaged purchase a brand-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 fault.

You may also examine the point where the waste pipe connects to the waste disposal. This is a typical spot for a build-up of gunk so if you happen to take off the pipe give this connection a good clean as well.

Inspect the drain valve

You could examine the drain valve by hand to check it isn’t stopped working. The drain valve will usually be found in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Examine your instructions if you’re not sure.

Depressing the valve or wiggling it a bit will likely be enough to tell you if it’s seized. If you can see an object blocking it get rid of this. If you can’t, this may be a good time to get in touch with a repair person unless you are happy in purchasing and repairing the component yourself.

Examine your pump is not blocked

Your dishwasher pump uses impellers that can become blocked by broken china or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t blocked by removing the cover and making sure the impellers are free to move.

Run your dishwasher and listen for any unusual sounds

If it doesn’t sound right your dishwasher pump or motor may be faulty and need replacing.

Call a plumber

If none of the above examinations has solved the issue, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are broken, it could be the moment you need to get the professionals.

This way though you will at least manage give them more information and have prevented needing to pay a hefty repair fee for a clogged filter.