If your dishwasher is not draining water properly (or not draining at all), then you will know what misery feels like (for a brief amount of time). Water clogging can leave you with foul smells which can be unbearable.
Luckily, you can deal with this issue pretty quickly and with much ease. Here are a few easy fixes for a dishwasher that is not draining.
Drainage problems in dishwashers can happen chiefly due to these two major reasons-
- Plumbing related issues
- Appliance related issues
We will learn about both these issues and the sub-issues under them thoroughly to diagnose the problem with your dishwasher.
#1. Plumbing Related Issues
We‘ll go through plumbing-related issues first, as this is mostly where the trouble emerges and not in the dishwasher itself.
Requirements:
- Screwdrivers
- Wrenches
Note- Until you diagnose the actual cause behind the improper drainage, you must follow each instruction given below. If none of these work, then only proceed to the appliance-related issues.
Steps For Troubleshooting
1. Inspecting the Garbage Disposal
The drain hose of a dishwasher usually connects to the garbage disposal. Food leftovers, calcium deposits caused by hard water, and other debris resulting in clogging which leaves no space for water in the dishwasher to move out.
To clean the garbage disposal, pour about two cups of vinegar into the dishwasher, and run a normal cycle. This will flush away all the muck.
Tip- Repeat this process once a month and also run the garbage disposal before every use, this will make sure that your dishwasher works efficiently and effectively.
2. Cleaning the Sink’s Air Gap
Air gaps (small cylinders that prevent the drain water from slipping back into the dishwasher) are installed right next to the faucet of the kitchen sink to prevent air from locking in and creating a vacuum.
Due to grease and grime, clogging can happen in the air gap, this can be the case if the water is coming out of the air gap. Twist-open the air gap and clean it up with the help of a stiff brush and soap. Make sure the hose which attaches the air gap to the garbage disposal is free from clogs.
3. Inspecting the High-Loop
In a few cases, specialists prefer installing a looped-up hose to the underside of the countertop sink rather than installing an air gap. It serves the same purpose as an air gap i.e. to prevent drain water from sinking back into the dishwasher.
If this hose is not in a position higher than the dishwasher itself, the water will not drain out properly. Fixing it back to its original condition (high-loop) will do the job or you can install an air gap.
#2. Appliance Related Issues
If you weren’t able to find any plumbing-related issues with your dishwasher, it might be so that there are appliance-related issues. Let’s check these issues out.
Requirements:
- Screwdrivers
- Bucket
- Rag/Sponge
- Drain hose for replacement (optional)
1. Disconnect Power and Remove Toe-Kick
- Disconnect the power by either unplugging the dishwasher or turning off its circuit breaker.
- Remove the toe-kick (the panel near the floor).
Note: The toe-kick is held in place by two or four small screws.
2. Check the Filter
Find the filter either in the bottom of the tub, surrounding the base of the lower spray arm, or at the back.
Note: Although most new dishwashers now have small built-in grinders, pieces of food (like popcorn) and even paper (like labels washed off jars) can still clog the filter.
3. Clean Away the Crud
- Clear any trash away from the filter.
- If necessary, remove the two screws holding the filter cage, clean it and check inside for debris.
4. Check the Drain Hose
- Loosen the dishwasher drain hose clamp and disconnect the drain hose (usually it’s the one with ridges) from the pump.
- Try to blow through the hose to make sure it’s clear.
Note: If the hose is blocked, look for any kinks in the hose and straighten them.
- Check the disposer inlet or pipe where the dishwasher drain hose connects under your sink, and clear any corrosion with a small screwdriver.
5. Check for a Valve Bracket
Note: Most, but not all, dishwashers have a drain valve that keeps water from draining back into the dishwasher. If you have a valve bracket (see photo), your dishwasher has a drain valve.
- Test the valve by pushing on the valve bracket to make sure it moves freely.
Note: If the valve’s frozen, the electrical solenoid that controls it is burned out and
needs replacing. New manufacturer parts are usually available from appliance parts sources. Sometimes you can get a much less expensive used part from a used-appliance dealer.
6. Calling a Technician
Still unable to find out the issue with your dishwasher even after trying all the above-mentioned methods for troubleshooting? Then there may be some problem with its internal functioning, which requires proper knowledge about the machinery.
So it would be better to call a professional technician who would be better equipped to deal with your predicament.
