Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one is happy to open their dishwasher and discover it hasn’t drained fully but, don’t lose it just yet. You could have the means to solve the error without having to call a plumber or buy a new machine.

Your dishwasher refusing to drain could have multiple of causes some of which can be straightforward to fix. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a selection of potential components you can troubleshoot by yourself. A number of which aren’t even related to the dishwasher itself.

Check the dishwasher wasn’t interrupted mid-cycle

It is possible that there is nothing preventing your machine from draining. Rather, the cycle might have been cut short.

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

If you think this may be the case, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue run your machine again on a quick program.

A few dishwashers might have a drain function meaning it’s worth having a look at your manual or checking online to make sure.

Examine the waste disposal

If your dishwasher is plumbed into a disposal inspect this before you do anything else as an obstructed waste disposal will stop the machine from draining. Run the garbage disposal with fast running water to make sure there are no issues.

If you do discover a blockage drain unclogger or a plunger may be used to clear the blockage and so this may rectify the error.

Examine the sink waste for blockages

If you kitchen sink is emptying inefficiently this could signify an issue with the pipes as opposed to an issue with your dishwasher.

If the sink is draining reluctantly you can try putting some bicarbonate of soda 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 utilized to try and dislodge the obstruction.

This may be enough to permit your dishwasher to drain so start a short cycle now. If this hasn’t sorted the issue you can manually remove the water using a jug and a towel and have a look at a few more possible issues.

Make certain to turn off the machine to stay safe.

If in the process of any of these investigations you suspect you may have found and repaired the error there is no need to continue to the next step. Just complete an empty cycle to make sure the dishwasher is fixed.

Inspect and wash the filters

Popcorn, labels from food jars, plastic lids and smashed glass, plus food debris, could all obstruct the dishwasher filter. Clear plastic lids can also be hard to see if you don’t look carefully.

Take out the filter and give it a good scrub before putting it back in place. Not all filters are obvious and easy to remove so you may need to look at the instructions for this.

Is the waste hose obstructed?

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

Depending on the location of the waste hose (generally the ribbed one) you could manage view it by means of lifting away the kick board alternatively you may need to move the machine away from the wall.

Visually inspect the pipe first to find out if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You might have the means to fix these issues by hand which is likely to fix the issue, but it’s worth noting that when this has occurred the chance of it happening again is significantly increased so you may wish to purchase a replacement hose.

If you can’t find an issue you could remove the drain pipe from the pump and blow into it to check for any blockages. Make sure you line the floor with newspaper or towels first as even if you have emptied the machine there might still be water in the hose.

If you can’t blow air through the waste pipe this may be the issue.

Disconnect the other end of the hose and then give it a good clean to get rid of the obstruction. If you are unable to shift the obstruction or the waste pipe is split or degraded acquire a brand-new one. If you can get rid of the blockage then replace the hose and run a quick cycle to make sure you have repaired the error.

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

Examine the drain valve

You can check the drain valve by hand to make sure it isn’t got stuck. The drain valve will often be found at the base of the machine on the valve bracket. Examine your instructions if you’re unsure.

Pressing down on the valve or wiggling it a bit should be adequate to tell you if it’s seized. If you can see something blocking it remove this. If you are unable to, this could be when you should get in touch with a plumber unless you are undaunted by procuring and replacing the component yourself.

Check your pump is not blocked

Your appliance pump uses impellers that could get obstructed by pieces of glass or other debris. Check your pump isn’t blocked by taking off the safety cover and checking that the impellers can be easily rotated.

Run your dishwasher and listen for any unusual noises

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

Call a repair person

If none of the above investigations has fixed the problem, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it may be time to call your local repair person.

This way though you will at least be able to give them more information and have avoided having to pay a hefty call-out fee for a blocked hose.