No-one is happy to open their machine and discover standing water but, don’t lose it just yet. You might be able to fix the fault without having to call a plumber or invest in a brand-new dishwasher.
Your machine declining to drain could be induced by multiple components some of which can be easy to fix. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service try this lineup of probable issues you can correct yourself. Some of which aren’t even related to the machine itself.
It is probable that there is nothing stopping your machine from draining. Instead, the program might have been cut short.
The program might have been stopped mid-way for any number of of reasons. Children pushing controls, mistakenly pushing against the control panel, a power surge or opening the machine mid-program could all interrupt the program and mean your dishwasher doesn’t drain.
If you believe this may be the situation, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue start the machine again on a quick program.
Some machines might have a drain capacity meaning it’s worthwhile consulting your instructions or consulting google to make sure.
If your dishwasher is plumbed into your disposal check this first as an obstructed garbage disposal will prevent the machine from emptying. Run the garbage disposal using lots of water to check there are no blockages.
If you do discover a blockage drain unclogger or a natural alternative can be employed to remove the obstruction and so this might deal with the issue.
If you kitchen sink is emptying inefficiently this might signify an issue with the pipes as opposed to a fault with your machine.
In the case that the sink is emptying slowly you can try putting a little bicarb and vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a while and then washing it through with hot water.
A sink plunger may also be utilized to try and dislodge the obstruction.
This might be all you need to do to permit the machine to empty so run a quick rinse and empty program to check. If not you could manually remove the dirty water using a jug and a sponge and check the next few possible issues.
At this point make sure you turn off the dishwasher to stay safe.
If while you are carrying out any of these checks you think you have discovered and fixed the error there is no need to continue to the next step. Just start an empty cycle to check the machine is fixed.
Corn Kernels, labels from tupperware, plastic covers and broken glass, plus food debris, can all block the machine filter. Clear film can also be hard to see if you don’t look closely.
Take out the filter then give it a thorough clean before replacing it. Not all machines have their filter in the same place so you may need to refer to the manual for this.
The next component to inspect is the drain pipe. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose could all prevent your machine from draining.
Depending on the position of the waste hose (normally the ribbed one) you may be able to look at it simply by lifting away the base alternatively you might need to pull the machine out from the wall.
Have a look at the pipe in the first instance to see if it has been crushed or kinked. You might manage manually remove any kinks which will most likely rectify the issue, but it’s worth noting that when this has occurred it is significantly more inclined to happen again so you could need to purchase a replacement hose.
If you are unable to find any obvious kinks or obstructions you may remove the waste hose from the dishwasher and blow through it to check for any blockages. Be sure to put down newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as even if you have emptied the dishwasher there could still be water in the pipe.
If you are unable to blow air through the pipe this might be the issue.
Remove the other end of the hose and give it a thorough flush through to remove the obstruction. If you can’t remove the obstruction or the pipe is split or worn acquire a brand-new one. If you may clear the blockage then put the hose back and start a quick program to check that you have repaired the fault.
You could also check where the waste hose connects to the waste disposal as well. This is a likely place for debris to build up so if you happen to remove the waste hose give this connection a good clean as well.
You could manually check the drain valve to check it isn’t stopped working. The drain valve will generally be found in the bottom of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Consult your instruction manual if you’re unsure.
Pushing down on the valve or wiggling it a bit will likely be sufficient to find out if it’s seized. If you are able to see any debris stopping it from moving remove this. If you are unable to, this could be when you should get in touch with a plumber unless you are happy in purchasing and repairing the component on your own.
Your water pump uses impellers that could get obstructed by broken glass or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t broken by taking off the cover and making sure the impellers can be easily rotated.
If the dishwasher doesn’t sound right your pump or motor could be broken and need to be repaired.
If none of the above investigations has repaired the issue, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it could be a good time to call for help.
At least having done your best to fix the problem yourself you have prevented having to pay a big repair charge for a blocked hose.
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