Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining? | Nashua Appliance Repair

No-one wants to open their machine and discover it hasn’t emptied fully but, try not to lose it just yet. You may be able to rectify the error by yourself, without having to call a plumber or buy a brand-new dishwasher.

Standing water in your machine can be bought about by a number of issues some of which are simple to rectify. Therefore, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service here is a lineup of potential things you can identify by yourself. Some of which are not even related to the dishwasher itself.

Ensure the dishwasher wasn’t interrupted mid-cycle

It is probable that there is nothing preventing your machine from emptying. Rather, the cycle could have been cut short.

The cycle might have been cut short for multiple of reasons. Kids pressing controls, inadvertently pressing on the controls, a power cut or opening the machine mid-program may all interrupt the cycle and mean your dishwasher doesn’t drain.

If you believe this could be the circumstance, or you think it might be worthwhile checking start the machine again on a short program.

A proportion dishwashers could have a drain cycle so it’s worthwhile consulting your manual or consulting google to check.

Inspect the garbage disposal

If you have a garbage disposal examine this before you do anything else as an obstructed waste disposal will prevent your machine from draining. Run the disposal using lots of water to ensure there are no issues.

If you do uncover an issue drain cleaner or a plunger may be employed to remove the blockage and this might deal with the fault.

Inspect the sink for blockages

If you sink is emptying reluctantly this may signify an issue with the pipes as opposed to a problem with your machine.

If the sink is draining reluctantly you could attempt putting some bicarb and vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a few minutes and then washing it through with boiling water.

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

This could be sufficient to let your machine to empty so run a quick rinse and drain program at this point. If this hasn’t sorted the issue you may manually get rid of the water using a jug and also a sponge and troubleshoot a few more likely causes.

At this point make sure you turn off the dishwasher to avoid electrocution.

If during one of these examinations you believe you may have detected and solved the issue you don’t need to go through the rest of the steps. Just start an empty program to make sure the machine is repaired.

Inspect and wash the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including popcorn, paper from containers, film lids and smashed glass. Clear film can also be hard to see if you aren’t looking for it.

Remove the filter then give it a good scrub before replacing it. Not all filters are obvious and straightforward to remove so you may need to refer to the owners manual for this.

Is the waste pipe obstructed?

The next place to examine 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 can all impede your machine from emptying.

Subject to the location of the hose (normally the corrugated one) you might have the means to inspect it by removing the base alternatively you might have to pull the machine away from the wall.

Look at the hose first to see if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You could manage manually fix any kinks which will most likely solve the issue, however, be aware that once this has happened it is much more inclined to happen again so you could need to purchase a spare hose.

If you are unable to see an issue you could take off the waste pipe from the pump and blow through it to check for any blockages. Make sure you put down newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as there may still be dirty water in the pipe.

If you can’t blow through the waste pipe this may be the issue.

Disconnect the other end of the hose and give it a good clean to clear the blockage. If you can’t get rid of the blockage or the pipe is cracked or degraded invest in a new one. If you can get rid of the obstruction then put the hose back and start a short cycle to make sure you have repaired the error.

You can also examine the point where the hose attaches to the sink. This is a typical point for blockages to occur so if you happen to take off the waste hose give this area a thorough scrub as well.

Check the drain valve

You can examine the drain valve by hand to make sure it hasn’t got stuck. The drain valve will most often be located at the base of the machine on the valve bracket. Check your instruction manual if you can’t see it.

Pressing down on the valve or giving it a jiggle should be adequate to let you know if it’s stuck. If you are able to see anything blocking it carefully extract this. If you are unable to, this might be a good time to ring a plumber unless you are undaunted by procuring and replacing the part yourself.

Check your pump is not broken

Your water pump makes use of impellers that could be blocked by pieces of glass or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t broken by removing the safety cover and ensuring that the impellers are free to move.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s running

If your dishwasher doesn’t sound right your dishwasher pump or motor may be damaged and need replacing.

Call a repair person

If you have been through the above list and the fault persists, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are broken, it could be the right time to get the professionals.

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