No-one wants to open their machine and discover standing water but, try not to overreact just yet. You might be able to fix the error without having to call a plumber or buy a new dishwasher.
Your dishwasher refusing to drain could be induced by any number of things a proportion of which can be easy to deal with. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a lineup of probable things you can troubleshoot on your own. A proportion of which aren’t even caused by the dishwasher itself.
It is probable that there is nothing preventing your dishwasher from draining. Instead, the cycle could have been interrupted.
The cycle might have been stopped mid-way for a number of of reasons. Kids pressing controls, mistakenly pressing on the controls, a power surge or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle might all interrupt the cycle and mean your machine doesn’t empty.
If you believe this could be the case, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue run your dishwasher again on a short cycle.
A few machines could have a drain cycle meaning it’s worthwhile checking your instruction manual or checking online to make sure.
If your dishwasher is attached to your garbage disposal examine this before you do anything else as an obstructed garbage disposal will prevent your machine from draining. Turn on the garbage disposal with plenty of water to check there are no blockages.
If you do find an issue drain cleaner or a natural alternative can be used to clear the obstruction and so this might deal with the fault.
If you kitchen sink is emptying slowly this could signify an issue with the drains instead of an error with your machine.
In the case that the sink is emptying reluctantly you may attempt putting a little bicarbonate of soda and vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a while and subsequently rinsing it through with hot water.
A plunger might also be employed to attempt to dislodge the obstruction.
This might be enough to permit your dishwasher to work again so start a short rinse and empty program at this point. If not you may manually empty the dishwasher using a jug as well as a sponge and troubleshoot a few more areas.
Make sure you unplug the machine to avoid electrocution.
If in the process of any one of these checks you suspect you have detected and fixed the error you don’t need to go through the remaining steps. Just run an empty cycle to ensure your dishwasher is once again emptying as it should.
Popcorn, paper from containers, plastic lids and broken glass, as well as food debris, can all obstruct the dishwasher filter. Clear glass can also be hard to see if you aren’t looking for it.
Remove the filter then wash it thoroughly before putting it back in place. Not all filters are obvious and simple to remove so you might need to look at the owners manual for this.
The next place to inspect is the waste pipe. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose can all stop your machine from draining.
Contingent upon the location of the hose (normally the corrugated one) you may manage inspect it by means of removing the base or you could be required to move the dishwasher away from the wall.
Look at the pipe first to see if it has been squashed or kinked. You could be able to fix these issues by hand which will most likely deal with the issue, but be aware that once this has happened it is much more inclined to happen again so you might wish to order a spare hose.
If you can’t find anything you could disconnect the drain hose from the machine 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 hose this may be the issue.
Disconnect the other end of the hose in order to give it a thorough clean to get rid of the obstruction. If you are unable to get rid of the blockage or the hose is split or degraded purchase a new one. If you could remove the obstruction then re-attach the hose and start a short cycle to double check that you have repaired the fault.
You could also check where the waste hose attaches to the sink. This is a common place for blockages to occur so if you do remove the hose give this point a good clean as well.
You may manually examine the drain valve to check it isn’t stopped working. The drain valve will often be found in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Check your owners manual if you’re not sure.
Pushing down on the valve or wiggling it a bit will likely be sufficient to let you know if it’s seized. If you are able to see something blocking it remove this. If you are unable to, this might be a good time to get in touch with a repair person unless you are confident in procuring and repairing the part on your own.
Your dishwasher pump makes use of impellers that can get obstructed by broken glass or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t blocked by removing the safety cover and ensuring that the impellers are free to move.
If your dishwasher sounds unusual your pump or motor might be faulty and need replacing.
If none of the above checks has fixed the fault, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it may be the moment you need to get the professionals.
At least having done your best to investigate what is wrong you have prevented having to pay a hefty repair fee for a clogged filter.
Copyright ©2024 Brentwood Appliance Repair