Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s never a welcome sight to open a dishwasher and find out it hasn’t emptied properly, don’t panic just yet. You may be able to rectify the error without having to call a repair person or buy a new dishwasher.

Standing water in your machine could have multiple of causes some of which are simple to figure out. Therefore, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service here is a list of probable things you can identify yourself. Some of which aren’t even related to the machine itself.

Ensure the cycle wasn’t stopped mid-way

It is possible that there is nothing stopping your dishwasher from draining. Instead, the program might have been cut short.

The cycle could have been interrupted for a number of of reasons. Little fingers pushing buttons, accidentally leaning against the controls, a power cut or opening the machine mid-program may all interrupt the program and mean your machine doesn’t empty.

If you think this might be the case, or you think it might be a good idea to check run the machine again on a short cycle.

A proportion machines could have an empty cycle meaning it’s worth consulting your instruction manual or doing a quick internet search to find out.

Inspect the garbage disposal

If you have a waste disposal inspect this before you do anything else as a blocked garbage disposal will prevent your machine from emptying. Turn on the disposal using fast running water to ensure there are no blockages.

If you do discover a blockage drain un-blocker or a natural alternative can be used to unclog the blockage and this could rectify the problem.

Check the plumbing for blockages

If you kitchen sink is draining reluctantly this might indicate an issue with the plumbing as opposed to an issue with your dishwasher.

If the kitchen sink is draining slowly you can attempt putting a little bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar down the drain, letting it sit for a few minutes, then flushing it away with boiling water.

A sink plunger could also be utilized to attempt to shift the blockage.

This may be sufficient to let the machine to empty so run a short rinse and drain program at this point. If not you could manually remove the standing water using a bowl and also a sponge and check a few more likely causes.

At this point make sure you turn off the dishwasher to avoid electrocution.

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

Examine and scrub the filters

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

Remove the filter and scrub it thoroughly before putting it back in place. Not all machines have their filter in the same location so you could need to refer to the owners manual for this.

Is the waste hose obstructed?

The next area to check is the waste 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 prevent your machine from draining.

Depending on the position of the hose (normally the ribbed one) you might be able to inspect it simply by removing the kick board or you could need to move the dishwasher away from the wall.

Have a look at the pipe in the first instance to see if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You might have the means to fix these issues by hand which should fix the issue, however, it’s worth noting that once this has occurred it is significantly more inclined to happen again so you might need to purchase a replacement hose.

If you can’t see an issue you could remove the waste water hose from the machine and blow through it to figure out if there are any blockages. Be sure to put down newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as even if you have emptied the dishwasher there could still be dirty water in the pipe.

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

Remove the other end of the hose and give it a good flush through to clear the blockage. If you can’t get rid of the blockage or the hose is cracked or damaged purchase a brand-new one. If you could remove the obstruction then put the hose back and start a quick program to double check that you have repaired the problem.

You could also examine where the waste pipe attaches to the sink. This is a likely place for blockages to occur so if you happen to remove the waste pipe give this point a thorough scrub as well.

Examine the drain valve

You may check the drain valve by hand to ensure it hasn’t seized. The drain valve will most often be situated in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Examine your owners manual if you can’t see it.

Depressing the valve or wiggling it a bit will likely be enough to find out if it’s stuck. If you are able to see an object stopping it from moving remove this. If you can’t, this might be the right time to get in touch with a repair person unless you are undaunted by ordering and repairing the part on your own.

Check your pump is not blocked

Your dishwasher pump uses impellers that may be blocked by pieces of glass or other debris. Check your pump isn’t blocked by taking off the cover and ensuring that the impellers can rotate freely.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s on

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

Call a plumber

If none of the above investigations has repaired the error, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are not working, it could be the moment you need to call for help.

At least having tried to investigate what is wrong you have avoided having to pay a hefty call-out fee for a blocked hose.