Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one is happy to open their machine and discover it hasn’t drained properly but, try not to panic just yet. You may have the means to deal with the issue without having to call a repair person or buy a brand-new dishwasher.

Your machine failing to drain may have a number of of causes a few of which can be simple to solve. So, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service try this list of possible issues you can correct by yourself. Some of which are not even related to the dishwasher itself.

Check the cycle wasn’t stopped mid-way

It is possible that there is nothing stopping your dishwasher from emptying. Alternatively, the cycle could have been cut short.

The program might have been interrupted for any number of of reasons. Little fingers pressing buttons, accidentally leaning on the buttons, a power cut or opening the dishwasher mid-program might all prevent the cycle from completing and mean your machine doesn’t drain.

If you think this might be the case, or you think it may be a good idea to check start your dishwasher again on a short program.

A number appliances could have an empty cycle so it’s worthwhile consulting your instruction manual or consulting google to make sure.

Examine the garbage disposal

If your dishwasher is connected to the garbage disposal examine this first as a blocked disposal will stop the machine from emptying. Run the disposal using lots of water to check there are no blockages.

If you do find an obstruction drain unclogger or a natural alternative can be sought after to remove the blockage and so this may solve the fault.

Check the plumbing for clogs

If you sink is draining reluctantly this might signify an issue with the plumbing instead of a fault with your machine.

If the sink is draining inefficiently you can attempt putting a little bicarb and vinegar down the drain, leaving it for a few minutes and then washing it through with hot water.

A plunger may also be utilized to try and remove the obstruction.

This might be all you need to do to let the appliance to work again so start a quick cycle to check. If not you can manually empty the dishwasher using a cup and also a towel and have a look at the next few possible issues.

Make certain to turn off the machine to stay safe.

If in the process of one of these investigations you suspect you may have detected and fixed the issue you don’t need to go through the rest of the steps. Just run an empty cycle to check your machine is repaired.

Examine and wash the filters

Popcorn, paper from jars, film lids and broken glass, as well as food debris, could all obstruct the dishwasher filter. Clear glass can also be difficult to spot if you don’t look carefully.

Take out the filter and give it a thorough clean before replacing it. Not all filters are obvious and simple to remove so you may need to refer to the instruction manual for this.

Is the waste water hose obstructed?

The next place to inspect is the waste hose. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose can all stop your dishwasher from draining.

Subject to the position of the waste hose (usually the ribbed one) you might have the means to inspect it simply by removing the kick plate or you may be required to pull the dishwasher out from under the counter.

Have a look at the hose first to discover if it has been squashed or kinked. You might manage fix these issues by hand which should fix the issue, however, it’s worth noting that when this has happened the probability of it occurring again is greatly increased so you may need to buy a replacement hose.

If you can’t find anything you may disconnect the waste hose from the dishwasher and blow into it to check for any blockages. Make sure you line the floor with newspaper or towels first as there might still be water in the pipe.

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

Remove the hose at the sink end and then give it a thorough flush through to get rid of the obstruction. If you can’t shift the obstruction or the waste hose is cracked or worn invest in a brand-new one. If you could get rid of the blockage then replace the hose and start a short cycle to check that you have repaired the fault.

You could also inspect where the waste hose connects to the waste disposal as well. This is a common spot for a build-up of gunk so if you do take off the waste hose give this connection a good scrub as well.

Inspect the drain valve

You could manually inspect the drain valve to make sure it hasn’t stopped working. The drain valve will often be situated at the base of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Consult your manual if you’re not sure.

Depressing the valve or giving it a wiggle should be enough to tell you if it’s stuck. If you are able to see something blocking it carefully extract this. If you are unable to, this could be when you should ring a repair person unless you are undaunted by ordering and swapping out the component yourself.

Inspect your pump is not blocked

Your appliance pump makes use of impellers that can get blocked by broken china or other debris. Check your pump isn’t blocked by taking off the safety cover and ensuring that the impellers are free to move.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s on

If your dishwasher is making funny noises your dishwasher pump or motor could be damaged and need to be repaired.

Call a plumber

If none of the above checks has solved the fault, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it might be the moment you need to call a plumber.

At least having attempted to investigate what is wrong you have managed to avoid having to pay a big repair fee for a clogged filter.