Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining? | College Station Appliance Repair

No-one is happy to open their dishwasher and discover standing water but, try not to lose it just yet. You might be able to figure out the issue without having to call a repair person or invest in a brand-new dishwasher.

Your dishwasher declining to drain may have any number of of causes a number of which can be easy to rectify. So, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a lineup of potential issues you could identify yourself. A number of which are not even related to the dishwasher itself.

Check the program wasn’t stopped mid-way

It is probable that there is nothing preventing your machine from draining. Alternatively, the cycle may have been stopped mid-way.

The program could have been cut short for a number of of reasons. Kids pushing controls, accidentally pushing on the controls, a power cut or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle may all interrupt the cycle and mean your dishwasher doesn’t empty.

If you think this might be the situation, or you think it could be a good idea to check run your machine again on a short program.

A proportion dishwashers may have a drain program so it’s worthwhile having a look at your owners manual or consulting google to make sure.

Check the disposal

If your dishwasher is connected to your garbage disposal check this before you do anything else as an obstructed garbage disposal will prevent the dishwasher from emptying. Turn on the disposal with plenty of water to check there are no obstructions.

If you do find an issue drain un-blocker or a natural alternative may be used to clear the obstruction and this could rectify the problem.

Inspect the sink waste for clogs

If you kitchen sink is draining inefficiently this may signify an issue with the drains rather than a fault with your dishwasher.

In the case that the kitchen sink is draining slowly you could attempt putting a little bicarb and white vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a few minutes, then washing it through with boiling water.

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

This could be enough to allow your appliance to work again so start a quick rinse and empty cycle now. If not you can remove the water by hand using a cup and also a towel and have a look at the next few possible issues.

Make sure you unplug the machine to avoid electrocution.

If during any one of these investigations you suspect you have found and solved the issue you don’t have to go through the rest of the steps. Just run an empty cycle to make sure the dishwasher is now emptying as it should.

Check and clean the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including popcorn, paper from containers, film lids and smashed glass. Clear glass can also be hard to see if you aren’t looking for it.

Take out the filter then give it a thorough clean before putting it back in place. Not all filters are obvious and simple to remove so you could need to consult the owners manual for this.

Is the waste water pipe blocked?

The next place to examine is the waste pipe. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose could all stop your machine from emptying.

Depending on the location of the waste hose (normally the ribbed one) you might manage look at it by means of lifting away the kick board or you may be required to pull the machine away from the wall.

Look at the pipe in the first instance to see if it has been squashed or kinked. You may have the means to fix these issues by hand which will most likely solve the issue, however, be aware that once this has occurred the probability of it occurring again is greatly increased so you could wish to order a spare hose.

If you can’t find anything you could take off the waste hose from the dishwasher 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 can’t blow air through the waste pipe this may be the issue.

Disconnect the hose at the sink end and then give it a good flush through to get rid of the blockage. If you can’t get rid of the obstruction or the waste pipe is split or damaged buy a brand-new one. If you can remove the blockage then put the hose back and start a short program to make sure you have solved the problem.

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

Check the drain valve

You may manually inspect the drain valve to make sure it isn’t seized. The drain valve will often be located at the base of the machine on the valve bracket. Check your instruction manual if you’re not sure.

Pushing down on the valve or wiggling it a bit should be adequate to let you know if it’s stuck. If you are able to see something stopping it from moving get rid of this. If you can’t, this might be a good time to call a repair person unless you are confident in ordering and repairing the valve yourself.

Inspect your pump is not blocked

Your water pump makes use of impellers that may become blocked by broken china or other debris. Check your impellers aren’t obstructed by taking off the safety cover and ensuring that the impellers are free to move.

Run your dishwasher and listen for any unusual noises

If it sounds unusual your pump or motor may be damaged and need replacing.

Call a repair person

If none of the above checks has repaired the issue, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are broken, it may be time to call your local repair person.

At least having done your best to troubleshoot you have prevented needing to pay a big repair fee for a blocked drain.