Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always irritating to open the dishwasher and find out the machine hasn’t emptied properly, don’t lose it just yet. You may manage solve the problem without having to call a repair person or purchase a new dishwasher.

Your dishwasher declining to drain can have multiple of causes a proportion of which are straightforward to resolve. So, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service here is a selection of probable things you may troubleshoot on your own. Some of which are not even related to the dishwasher itself.

Check the program wasn’t interrupted

If you’re lucky the fact your dishwasher hasn’t emptied may not be an issue at all. Instead, the cycle might have been interrupted.

The program might have been stopped mid-way for any number of of reasons. Children pushing controls, accidentally pushing on the buttons, a power cut or opening the machine mid-program may all interrupt the cycle and mean your machine doesn’t empty.

If you suspect this might be the situation, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue run the dishwasher again on a short cycle.

A few dishwashers could have an empty capacity so it’s worthwhile having a look at your instructions or consulting google to check.

Inspect the garbage disposal

If you have a waste disposal inspect this before you move on as an obstructed garbage disposal will stop your machine from draining. Run the disposal with lots of water to check there are no obstructions.

If you do uncover a blockage drain cleaner or a plunger could be employed to remove the obstruction and this could solve the issue.

Examine the sink waste for issues

If you sink is draining slowly this might suggest an issue with the plumbing as opposed to a problem with your dishwasher.

In the case that the kitchen sink is draining inefficiently you may try putting some bicarb and white vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a few minutes and then flushing it away with boiling water.

A sink plunger might also be used to try and remove the blockage.

This could be sufficient to allow your machine to empty so run a quick rinse and drain program at this point. If this hasn’t solved the problem you could remove the water by hand using a jug as well as a towel and have a look at the next few possible issues.

Make sure you turn off the machine to stay safe.

If while you are carrying out any of these investigations you think you may have discovered and repaired the issue there is no need to continue to the next step. Just complete an empty cycle to check your machine is fixed.

Examine and clean the filters

Corn Kernels, paper from jars, plastic covers and smashed glass, plus food debris, could all block the dishwasher filter. Clear film may also be difficult 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 dishwashers have their filter in the same location so you may need to consult the manual for this.

Is the waste water pipe blocked?

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

Depending on the location of the waste pipe (normally the ribbed one) you may be able to look at it simply by removing the kick board or you could have to pull the machine out from under the counter.

Visually examine the pipe first to see if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You may manage manually fix any kinks which will most likely resolve the issue, but be aware that when this has occurred the chance of it happening again is significantly increased so you might need to buy a replacement hose.

If you are unable to see anything you may take off the drain pipe from the machine and blow through it to discover any blockages. Be sure to line the floor with newspaper or towels first as there could still be water in the hose.

If you are unable to blow air through the waste pipe this may be the reason your dishwasher isn’t draining.

Remove the other end of the hose and give it a good flush through to clear the blockage. If you are unable to dislodge the obstruction or the waste hose is slit or worn invest in a brand-new one. If you could remove the blockage then put the hose back and run a quick program to check that you have fixed the fault.

You could also examine where the waste pipe attaches under your sink. This is a common place for debris to build up so if you do take off the waste pipe give this area a good clean as well.

Inspect the drain valve

You could manually check the drain valve to ensure it hasn’t seized. The drain valve will generally be located in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Examine your manual if you’re unsure.

Depressing the valve or giving it a jiggle should be sufficient to find out if it’s stuck. If you can see any debris blocking it remove this. If you can’t, this might be the right time to call a repair person unless you are confident in purchasing and repairing the part yourself.

Inspect your pump is not broken

Your dishwasher pump uses impellers that can become blocked by pieces of glass or other debris. Check your pump isn’t obstructed by removing the safety cover and checking that the impellers can be easily rotated.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s running

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

Call a repair person

If none of the above examinations has solved the problem, or you have reason to believe the pump, pump valve or motor are broken, it could be the moment you need to call in the professionals.

This way though you will at least manage give them more information and have prevented needing to pay a hefty call-out charge for a blocked drain.