Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s never a pleasant sight to open the dishwasher and discover the machine is still full of water, don’t overreact just yet. You might be able to rectify the problem without having to call a plumber or buy a new machine.

Your dishwasher refusing to empty can be bought about by a number of issues a few of which are straightforward to resolve. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service try this list of possible things you could identify yourself. A number of which are not even a fault of the machine itself.

Check the cycle wasn’t stopped mid-way

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

The cycle could have been interrupted for multiple of reasons. Kids pressing buttons, mistakenly leaning against the buttons, a power surge or opening the machine mid-cycle could all interrupt the program and mean your machine doesn’t drain.

If you suspect this may be the circumstance, or you feel it might be worthwhile checking start the machine again on a short program.

A proportion appliances might have a drain cycle meaning it’s worthwhile consulting your instruction manual or checking online to find out.

Inspect the waste disposal

If you have a garbage disposal inspect this first as a blocked garbage disposal will stop your dishwasher from draining. Run the disposal using plenty of water to ensure there are no issues.

If you do find a blockage drain unclogger or a plunger may be sought after to clear the obstruction and this could fix the fault.

Inspect the sink waste for blockages

If you kitchen sink is emptying slowly this could suggest an issue with the plumbing instead of an error with your dishwasher.

In the case that the kitchen sink is draining inefficiently you could try putting a little bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar down the drain, leaving it for a while, then rinsing it away with hot water.

A sink plunger could also be used to attempt to remove the obstruction.

This could be sufficient to let the dishwasher to empty so run a quick cycle to check. If this hasn’t worked you can manually get rid of the water using a jug as well as a sponge and troubleshoot the next few possible issues.

At this point make sure you unplug the machine to stay safe.

If while you are carrying out any one of these investigations you believe you have discovered and fixed the error there is no need to continue to the next step. Just start an empty program to make sure your dishwasher is repaired.

Examine and rinse the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including popcorn, labels from tupperware, plastic film covers and smashed glass. Clear glass may also be hard to spot if you aren’t looking for it.

Take out the filter and give it a good wash before putting it back in place. Not all machines have their filter in the same place so you might need to refer to the instructions for this.

Is the waste water pipe blocked?

The next component to examine 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 may all stop your dishwasher from draining.

Subject to the location of the waste pipe (normally the corrugated one) you might manage look at it by removing the base alternatively you could have to move the machine out from under the counter.

Visually examine the hose in the first instance to find out if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You could be able to fix these issues by hand which will most likely resolve the issue, but it’s worth noting that when this has occurred it is much more likely to happen again so you might need to purchase a replacement hose.

If you can’t see any obvious kinks or obstructions you could remove the waste hose from the machine and blow through it to check for any blockages. Make sure you put down newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as there could still be waste water in the hose.

If you can’t blow through the hose this could be the reason your machine isn’t emptying.

Remove the hose at the sink end in order to give it a good flush through to get rid of the blockage. If you can’t shift the obstruction or the waste hose is cracked or degraded invest in a brand-new one. If you could clear the obstruction then put the hose back and start a short program to find out if you have repaired the error.

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

Check the drain valve

You may manually inspect the drain valve to check it isn’t stopped working. The drain valve will often be found at the base of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Examine your instructions if you’re unsure.

Depressing the valve or wiggling it a bit will likely be sufficient to tell you if it’s seized. If you are able to see anything stopping it from moving carefully extract this. If you are unable to, this may be the right time to ring a repair person unless you are confident in ordering and repairing the part on your own.

Check your pump is not blocked

Your dishwasher pump makes use of impellers that may be blocked by pieces of glass or other debris. Check your pump isn’t blocked by taking off the safety cover and making sure the impellers are free to move.

Run your dishwasher and listen for any unusual noises

If the dishwasher sounds unusual your dishwasher pump or motor could be faulty and need to be repaired.

Call a repair person

If none of the above examinations has repaired the error, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it might be time to call in the professionals.

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