Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one wishes to open their dishwasher and discover standing water but, try not to overreact just yet. You may have the means to solve the problem before you have to call a plumber or buy a brand-new dishwasher.

Standing water in your dishwasher could be induced by multiple components a proportion of which are easy to solve. Therefore, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair Atlanta here is a list of probable issues you could troubleshoot on your own. A proportion of which aren’t even a fault of the dishwasher itself.

Check the program wasn’t interrupted

If you’re fortunate the fact your dishwasher hasn’t emptied may not be a problem at all. Instead, the cycle could have been cut short.

The program might have been interrupted for multiple of reasons. Little fingers pushing buttons, inadvertently pushing on the controls, a power surge or opening the dishwasher mid-program might all interrupt the program and mean your machine doesn’t drain.

If you believe this might be the circumstance, or you feel it might be worthwhile checking start the machine again on a quick cycle.

Some dishwashers might have a drain capacity meaning it’s worth consulting your owners manual or checking online to check.

Inspect the disposal

If you have a disposal inspect this before you move on as an obstructed waste disposal will prevent the dishwasher from emptying. Run the garbage disposal with fast running water to ensure there are no issues.

If you do discover an obstruction drain cleaner or a plunger can be used to clear the obstruction and this could fix the error.

Inspect the sink for issues

If you sink is draining inefficiently this could signify an issue with the plumbing as opposed to a problem with your dishwasher.

If the sink is emptying slowly you can try putting a little bicarbonate of soda and vinegar down the drain, leaving it for a while and subsequently washing it away with boiling water.

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

This may be enough to let the appliance to work again so start a short cycle to check. If this hasn’t worked you may manually empty the dishwasher using a jug and a sponge and have a look at the next few possible issues.

Make sure you turn off the dishwasher to avoid electrocution.

If during one of these checks you think you may have discovered and repaired the error there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just run an empty cycle to make sure your dishwasher is repaired.

Inspect and scrub the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including corn kernels, paper from jars, film covers and broken glass. Clear film can also be difficult to see if you don’t look carefully.

Take out the filter then wash it thoroughly before replacing it. Not all filters are obvious and straightforward to remove so you could need to look at the instructions for this.

Is the drain hose blocked?

The next place to examine is the drain pipe. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose could all impede your dishwasher from draining.

Subject to the location of the waste pipe (usually the corrugated one) you may manage look at it simply by lifting away the base alternatively you may have to move the machine away from under the counter.

Have a look at the hose first to see if it has been crushed or kinked. You might manage manually straighten out any kinks which will most likely fix the issue, however, be aware that when this has happened the probability of it happening again is significantly increased so you might need to buy a new hose.

If you are unable to see any obvious kinks or obstructions you may take off the drain hose from the pump and blow into it to figure out if there are any blockages. Be sure to line the floor with newspaper or towels first as even if you have emptied the machine there could still be water in the pipe.

If you are unable to blow through the waste pipe this might be the problem.

Remove the hose at the sink end in order to give it a good clean to get rid of the blockage. If you can’t dislodge the blockage or the pipe is slit or damaged acquire a new one. If you may clear the obstruction then replace the hose and run a quick cycle to find out if you have solved the issue.

You may also check the point where the hose attaches under your sink as well. This is a likely point for a build-up of gunk so if you do remove the pipe give this point a good scrub as well.

Examine the drain valve

You could examine the drain valve by hand to ensure it hasn’t got stuck. The drain valve will usually be found at the base of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Check your owners manual if you’re not sure.

Depressing the valve or giving it a jiggle should be adequate to let you know if it’s seized. If you can see any debris stopping it from moving remove this. If you can’t, this could be the right time to ring a repair person unless you are undaunted by procuring and replacing the valve on your own.

Check your pump is not blocked

Your water pump makes use of impellers that may get obstructed by pieces of china or other objects. Check your pump isn’t blocked by removing the cover and checking that the impellers can be easily rotated.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual noises

If the dishwasher is making funny noises your pump or motor may be damaged and need replacing.

Call for Appliance Repair

If none of the above examinations has repaired the error, or you have reason to believe the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it could be a good time to call a dishwasher repair for a professional opinion on why the dishwasher won’t drain.

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