Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining? | Spokane Valley Appliance Repair

No-one wants to open their machine and discover it hasn’t drained correctly but, try not to overreact just yet. You might manage figure out the problem without having to call a plumber or invest in a new machine.

Standing water in your dishwasher could be induced by a number of things a proportion of which can be easy to fix. So, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service try this lineup of probable things you may correct yourself. Some of which are not even a fault of the machine itself.

Check the cycle wasn’t cut short

It is probable that there is nothing preventing your machine from draining. Rather, the cycle may have been interrupted.

The cycle may have been stopped mid-way for multiple of reasons. Little fingers pushing controls, inadvertently leaning on the buttons, a power surge or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle may all stop the cycle from completing and mean your dishwasher doesn’t drain.

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

A number machines may have an empty cycle so it’s worthwhile consulting your owners manual or consulting google to make sure.

Check the garbage disposal

If your dishwasher is plumbed into your waste disposal inspect this before you move on as an obstructed disposal will block your machine from draining. Run the waste disposal with plenty of water to make sure there are no blockages.

If you do discover an obstruction drain cleaner or a plunger may be sought after to remove the blockage and so this may rectify the error.

Inspect the sink waste for clogs

If you sink is emptying inefficiently this may indicate a plumbing issue instead of a problem with your machine.

If the kitchen sink is draining reluctantly you may attempt putting some bicarb and white vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a few minutes and then flushing it through with hot water.

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

This may be sufficient to permit your dishwasher to empty so run a quick rinse and drain program to check. If not you can remove the water by hand using a cup and also a towel and have a look at a few more likely causes.

Make sure you turn off the dishwasher to stay safe.

If during any of these investigations you suspect you have discovered and repaired the problem there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just start an empty program to ensure your machine is repaired.

Inspect and scrub the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including corn kernels, labels from containers, film covers and smashed glass. Clear glass could also be hard to spot if you don’t look carefully.

Remove the filter and give it a thorough clean before putting it back in place. Not all filters are obvious and simple to remove so you might need to look at the manual for this.

Is the waste pipe blocked?

The next place to check is the waste hose. Many things could cause an obstruction including a build up of food debris, a kink in the hose, or a crushed hose. All of which could all stop your dishwasher from draining.

Contingent upon the location of the waste pipe (normally the ribbed one) you might have the means to look at it by lifting away the kick board or you might need to pull the machine away from the wall.

Have a look at the pipe in the first instance to find out if it has been crushed or kinked. You may be able to fix these issues by hand which should deal with the issue, however, it’s worth noting that when this has happened the probability of it occurring again is massively increased so you might need to buy a replacement hose.

If you are unable to find any obvious kinks or obstructions you can remove the waste water pipe from the machine and blow through it to check for any blockages. Be sure to line the floor with newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as even if you have emptied the dishwasher there might still be water in the pipe.

If you can’t blow through the hose this could be the problem.

Remove the other end of the hose and give it a thorough clean to clear the blockage. If you are unable to shift the blockage or the waste hose is split or worn buy a brand-new one. If you may get rid of the obstruction then re-attach the hose and start a short cycle to find out if you have fixed the problem.

You can also inspect where the waste pipe attaches to the sink as well. This is a common place for blockages to occur so if you do remove the hose give this point a thorough scrub as well.

Examine the drain valve

You could manually examine the drain valve to check it isn’t stopped working. The drain valve will generally be found at the base of the machine on the valve bracket. Check your instruction manual if you’re not sure.

Depressing the valve or giving it a jiggle should be sufficient to let you know if it’s stuck. If you are able to see an object blocking it carefully extract this. If you are unable to, this could be a good time to get in touch with a repair person unless you are undaunted by purchasing and repairing the valve on your own.

Examine your pump is not broken

Your dishwasher pump makes use of impellers that could get blocked by pieces of glass or other debris. Check your pump isn’t broken by taking off the cover and checking that the impellers can be easily rotated.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual sounds

If it is making funny noises your dishwasher pump or motor might be faulty and need replacing.

Call a repair person

If you have been through the above list and the issue remains, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are broken, it could be the right time to call for help.

This way though you will at least manage give them more information and have avoided needing to pay a hefty repair fee for a blocked hose.