Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining? | Lawton Appliance Repair

No-one wishes to open their machine and discover standing water but, don’t panic just yet. You might be able to deal with the issue without having to call a repair person or acquire a brand-new machine.

Your dishwasher failing to drain can have multiple of causes a few of which are straightforward to solve. So, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service here is a selection of potential components you can correct by yourself. A few of which aren’t even caused by the dishwasher itself.

Check the program wasn’t interrupted

It is probable that there is nothing stopping your dishwasher from emptying. Rather, the program might have been stopped mid-way.

The program might have been stopped mid-way for a number of of reasons. Little fingers pushing buttons, inadvertently pressing on the buttons, a power cut or opening the dishwasher mid-program may all prevent the cycle from completing and mean your machine doesn’t drain.

If you suspect this could be the case, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue start your machine again on a short cycle.

A number appliances may have an empty program meaning it’s worth consulting your instruction manual or consulting google to check.

Examine the disposal

If you have a garbage disposal inspect this before you do anything else as an obstructed waste disposal will stop your machine from emptying. Run the garbage disposal using fast running water to check there are no obstructions.

If you do uncover an obstruction drain cleaner or a plunger could be sought after to clear the obstruction and this could resolve the error.

Check the sink for issues

If you sink is draining reluctantly this could suggest an issue with the plumbing as opposed to a problem with your machine.

If the kitchen sink is draining inefficiently you may try putting some bicarb and white vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a while, then rinsing it through with boiling water.

A plunger might also be used to attempt to dislodge the obstruction.

This might be sufficient to permit the machine to empty so run a quick cycle now. If this hasn’t worked you can manually get rid of the dirty water using a jug and a towel and have a look at a few more possible issues.

Make certain to unplug the dishwasher to prevent electrocution.

If during one of these investigations you suspect you may have found and fixed the issue you don’t have to go through the remaining steps. Just run an empty program to check your machine is now draining as it used to.

Inspect and wash the filters

Corn Kernels, paper from tupperware, film lids and broken glass, plus food debris, could all obstruct the dishwasher filter. Clear glass may also be difficult to see if you aren’t looking for it.

Remove the filter and give it a good clean before replacing it. Not all dishwashers have their filter in the same place so you might need to refer to the manual for this.

Is the waste water pipe blocked?

The next component to inspect is the waste water hose. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose may all impede your dishwasher from emptying.

Subject to the location of the waste hose (generally the corrugated one) you could manage inspect it by lifting away the base or you may have to move the machine out from under the counter.

Have a look at the pipe first to find out if it has been squashed or kinked. You may manage fix these issues by hand which is likely to deal with the issue, however, be aware that when this has happened the chance of it happening again is greatly increased so you could wish to purchase a replacement hose.

If you are unable to find any obvious kinks or obstructions you can disconnect the waste pipe from the pump and blow into it to check for any blockages. Be sure to line the floor with newspaper or towels first as there could still be dirty water in the pipe.

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

Take off the other end of the hose and give it a thorough clean to remove the blockage. If you are unable to remove the obstruction or the hose is split or damaged purchase a new one. If you may remove the obstruction then put the hose back and run a short program to find out if you have solved the error.

You may also inspect where the hose connects under your sink. This is a likely place for blockages to occur so if you happen to remove the pipe give this area a good clean as well.

Examine the drain valve

You can manually inspect the drain valve to check it isn’t seized. The drain valve will generally be situated in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Consult your instruction manual if you can’t see it.

Depressing the valve or giving it a jiggle should be sufficient to find out if it’s stuck. If you can see an object blocking it remove this. If you can’t, this could be a good time to call a repair person unless you are happy in purchasing and swapping out the component on your own.

Examine your pump is not broken

Your appliance pump uses impellers that could be blocked by broken glass or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t blocked by removing the cover and ensuring that the impellers are free to move.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual sounds

If your dishwasher sounds unusual your dishwasher pump or motor might be broken and need to be repaired.

Call a repair person

If you have been through the above list and the error remains, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are not working, it may be a good time to get the professionals.

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