Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining? | Lynn Appliance Repair

No-one wants to open their dishwasher and discover it hasn’t emptied fully but, try not to panic just yet. You might be able to rectify the problem by yourself, without having to call a repair person or invest in a new machine.

Your machine declining to empty can have a number of of causes a few of which are simple to resolve. So, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a selection of possible issues you can correct on your own. A few of which aren’t even caused by the dishwasher itself.

Ensure the dishwasher wasn’t interrupted mid-cycle

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

The cycle may have been cut short for a number of of reasons. Kids pressing buttons, mistakenly pushing on the buttons, a power outage or opening the machine mid-program may all interrupt the cycle and mean your dishwasher doesn’t drain.

If you believe this may be the circumstance, or you think it could be worthwhile checking start the dishwasher again on a quick program.

A few dishwashers may have a drain cycle meaning it’s worthwhile having a look at your instructions or consulting google to check.

Inspect the waste disposal

If your dishwasher is attached to the waste disposal inspect this before you move on as an obstructed disposal will prevent the dishwasher from draining. Turn on the garbage disposal using fast running water to make sure there are no blockages.

If you do find a blockage drain cleaner or a natural alternative could be sought after to remove the blockage and so this may fix the problem.

Check the plumbing for issues

If you kitchen sink is draining reluctantly this may signify a plumbing issue as opposed to an error with your machine.

If the kitchen sink is emptying slowly you can attempt putting some bicarbonate of soda and vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a while, then washing it through with hot water.

A plunger may also be utilized to attempt to shift the blockage.

This could be all you need to do to permit your machine to drain so run a quick rinse and empty cycle now. If this hasn’t sorted the issue you could manually get rid of the standing water using a bowl and also a towel and check a few more possible issues.

At this point make sure you turn off the dishwasher to stay safe.

If in the process of any one of these examinations you think you may have discovered and fixed the problem you don’t have to go through the remaining steps. Just run an empty program to make sure the machine is now draining as it used to.

Examine and wash the filters

Popcorn, paper from food jars, plastic lids and smashed glass, plus scraps of food, can all obstruct the dishwasher filter. Clear film could also be hard to see if you aren’t looking for it.

Take out the filter then clean it thoroughly before putting it back in place. Not all filters are obvious and simple to remove so you may need to look at the owners manual for this.

Is the waste water hose obstructed?

The next component to inspect 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 impede your machine from draining.

Contingent upon the location of the hose (usually the ribbed one) you could be able to view it by means of removing the base or you may be required to pull the machine out from under the counter.

Visually examine the pipe first to discover if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You may be able to fix these issues by hand which should deal with the issue, but be aware that when this has occurred it is significantly more inclined to happen again so you may need to order a spare hose.

If you can’t find any obvious kinks or obstructions you can remove the waste water pipe from the dishwasher and blow through it to discover any blockages. Make sure you line the floor with newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as there could still be waste water in the hose.

If you can’t blow through the pipe this might be the reason your machine isn’t draining.

Take off the hose at the sink end and then give it a good clean to remove the obstruction. If you can’t get rid of the obstruction or the pipe is slit or degraded purchase a new one. If you could get rid of the obstruction then replace the hose and start a short cycle to find out if you have solved the issue.

You may also examine the point where the waste hose connects under your sink as well. This is a typical spot for debris to build up so if you do remove the waste pipe give this connection a good clean as well.

Examine the drain valve

You may manually examine the drain valve to ensure it hasn’t seized. The drain valve will usually be found at the base of the machine on the valve bracket. Consult your instruction manual if you’re unsure.

Depressing the valve or wiggling it a bit should be sufficient to tell you if it’s stuck. If you are able to see an object stopping it from moving carefully extract this. If you are unable to, this may be when you should call a plumber unless you are undaunted by ordering and replacing the component yourself.

Examine your pump is not broken

Your dishwasher pump makes use of impellers that may become obstructed by pieces of glass or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t broken by removing the cover and checking that the impellers can rotate freely.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s on

If it is making funny noises your pump or motor may be broken and need to be repaired.

Call a repair person

If none of the above checks has repaired the error, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are not working, it might be time to get the professionals.

This way though you will at least have the means to give them more information and have prevented needing to pay a big repair fee for a clogged filter.