Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining? | Rockford Appliance Repair

Although it’s always irritating to open your machine and find out it is still full of water, don’t overreact just yet. You may manage fix the problem before you have to call a repair person or acquire a brand-new machine.

Your machine declining to empty could be caused by multiple things some of which can be easy to solve. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service try this selection of potential issues you may troubleshoot on your own. Some of which are not even caused by the machine itself.

Check the dishwasher wasn’t stopped mid-cycle

It is possible that there is nothing stopping your dishwasher from draining. Alternatively, the cycle might have been interrupted.

The program might have been cut short for multiple of reasons. Kids pressing controls, mistakenly leaning on the control panel, a power surge or opening the machine mid-program could all interrupt the program and mean your machine doesn’t drain.

If you think this may be the case, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue run the machine again on a short program.

A few dishwashers could have a drain program meaning it’s worth consulting your owners manual or checking online to find out.

Check the waste disposal

If your dishwasher is connected to a disposal examine this before you move on as an obstructed garbage disposal will stop your machine from draining. Turn on the disposal with lots of water to make sure there are no blockages.

If you do find an issue drain un-blocker or a natural alternative can be used to clear the blockage and so this may solve the fault.

Check the plumbing for clogs

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

If the kitchen sink is emptying reluctantly you can attempt putting some bicarb and vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a few minutes and then washing it through with boiling water.

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

This may be all you need to do to let the dishwasher to work again so run a short cycle now. If not you can remove the standing water by hand using a bowl and a towel and troubleshoot the next few possible issues.

Make certain to turn off the machine to avoid electrocution.

If in the process of one of these investigations you suspect you have discovered and fixed the problem you don’t need to go through the rest of the steps. Just run an empty program to check your machine is fixed.

Examine and clean the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including popcorn, labels from food jars, film lids and broken glass. Clear plastic lids could also be hard to spot if you don’t look carefully.

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

Is the waste water hose blocked?

The next place to check is the waste hose. 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 can all stop your dishwasher from draining.

Contingent upon the position of the waste pipe (normally the ribbed one) you might have the means to view it by removing the kick board or you could be required to pull the dishwasher away from the wall.

Have a look at the hose first to see if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You could be able to manually remove any kinks which should solve the issue, however, be aware that when this has occurred the probability of it occurring again is significantly increased so you might wish to purchase a replacement hose.

If you can’t find any obvious kinks or obstructions you could disconnect the drain pipe from the dishwasher and blow into it to figure out if there are any blockages. Be sure to line the floor with newspaper or towels first as there may still be waste water in the pipe.

If you can’t blow through the waste pipe this might be the problem.

Disconnect the hose at the sink end and then give it a thorough clean to remove the obstruction. If you are unable to shift the blockage or the hose is slit or damaged buy a new one. If you could get rid of the obstruction then replace the hose and run a short program to check that you have fixed the error.

You can also examine the point where the hose attaches to the sink as well. This is a likely spot for a build-up of gunk so if you happen to remove the pipe give this connection a good scrub as well.

Examine the drain valve

You could manually examine the drain valve to check it hasn’t stopped working. The drain valve will often be located 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 enough to let you know if it’s seized. If you are able to see any debris blocking it get rid of this. If you can’t, this could be when you should ring a plumber unless you are confident in purchasing and repairing the valve on your own.

Inspect your pump is not broken

Your appliance pump makes use of impellers that can get obstructed by broken china or other debris. Check your pump isn’t obstructed by removing the safety cover and ensuring that the impellers can rotate freely.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s running

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

Call a plumber

If none of the above checks has solved the error, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are broken, it could be the right time to call in the professionals.

At least having done your best to troubleshoot you have prevented needing to pay a hefty call-out charge for a blocked drain.