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A dishwasher is a luxurious appliance that helps you out in the kitchen with your daily chores, though it has some issues that need to be taken care of. One of these issues is its drainage system. There are a lot of reasons that can impair your dishwasher’s drainage system, most of which can easily be fixed at home.
A clogged dishwasher can cause a lot of inconveniences, much of which can easily be avoided by taking regular measures and committing to regular maintenance of your dishwasher. Regular maintenance and annual descaling of the dishwasher can save you a lot of hassle and time.
If your dishwasher is not draining, then you quickly need to find the root cause and fix it. In this article, we will help you find out why your dishwasher is not draining and share easy ways to fix it!
Dishwasher Not Draining? Here’s How to Fix It
There are many reasons why your dishwasher isn’t draining, most of which can be solved at home through DIYs and for the others, an engineer or a plumber would be needed to call in. To fix the issue faced by your dishwasher, you need to understand what’s causing it.
The drainage issue is comparatively easy to analyze and diagnose. The first step in diagnosing the problem being faced by your dishwasher is understanding how different parts of your dishwasher work.
Understanding The Parts Of Your Dishwasher
Dishwashers have a significant influence on daily living. It’s a truth that they’re more sanitary and efficient than manual washing. They help you save money, water, and time! However, clogged dishwashers are very stressful to deal with.
Do you know what dishwashers are composed of? They have a large number of components. To understand its drainage system better, here’s a list of all those parts of a dishwasher that participate in drainage.
1- Drain Impeller
Drain Impeller is the part that pushes out water from the dishwasher during draining. It is a small fan. This part also contains a seal that prevents the dishwasher from leaking. The drain impeller can be accessed from the bottom of the dishwasher.
2- Drain Pump
The drain pump is supposed to remove water from the dishwasher tub. There are three different kinds of pumps used in dishwashers. The most common one consists of an impeller and runs by a motor, the other is a single unit and runs through a solenoid.
3- Drain Valve
It is an outlet valve that is connected to the drain hose, its function is to help the water out of the tub of the dishwasher.
4- Drain Hose
The function of the drain hose is to drive dirty water out of the dishwasher and into the kitchen sink. This drain hose is slightly higher, and this loop serves a purpose. An air gap device is utilized to allow filthy water to exit the dishwasher while preventing it from returning inside the dishwasher.
5- Drain Basket
A drain basket is present underneath the racks in a dishwasher to catch food residue or debris and prevent the dishwasher from clogging.
6- Drain Pipe
The drain pipe carries dirty water from the unit to the air gap during a wash cycle. The drain water exists through the second hose and goes into the kitchen sink.
READ ALSO
HOW TO LOAD DISHWASHER CORRECTLY
HOW TO CLEAN DISHWASHER AIR GAP
Reasons Why Your Dishwasher Doesn’t Drain
Now that you have a better understanding of how different parts of your dishwasher work, let’s find out the reasons why your dishwasher is not draining. Here are some possible reasons why your dishwasher doesn’t drain:
1- Clogged Filter
The drain pump runs through a motor that is present inside of it with the drain impeller. If the motor isn’t working, the drain pump will also stop working resulting in the dishwasher not draining itself.
Solution
Remove the drain pump from the dishwasher and check if its motor is working. If the motor isn’t working, replace it with a new one.
2- Defective Drain Hose
Another common reason why your dishwasher might not drain is its defective drain hose. Loosen the clamps of the dishwasher drain hose and blow into it, if bubbles appear towards the dishwasher, the drain hose is working just fine. Check the dishwasher drain hose for any obstructions.
Solution
To avoid drained water from entering into the dishwasher again, there is a loop present in the drain hose. Make sure that the loop is present in the drain hose, if not, then the cause of standing water in your dishwasher is explanatory.
3- Clogged Garbage Disposal
If your dishwasher isn’t draining itself when a cycle ends and water is standing in the tub, then maybe it is due to the garbage disposal.
Garbage disposal will impair your dishwasher from draining dirty water by blocking its drain tube. Or because your disposer is clogged.
Solution
To fix this problem, check if the garbage disposal has blockages and remove them if present. Remove the drain hose and clean it. Sanitize the joint that connects the drain hose to the disposer. Remove large food particles manually from the garbage disposal and check your dishwasher’s food chopper.
4- Defective Drain Valves
Drain valves are present near the motor of your dishwasher, connected to the drain hose. If your dishwasher isn’t draining, you should check the drain valves. The main function of the drain valve is to drain water out from the dishwasher and prevent its backflow.
If the drain valves of your dishwasher are defective, it will allow the backflow of drained water. If the drain valves are clogged, they will prevent water from exiting the dishwasher. In both cases, water will stand inside the dishwasher and after a few days, it would start smelling like sewage.
Solution
To fix this issue, remove the drain valves and clean off any dirt present inside of them. If the valve is weary and old, replace it with a new one.
How do you tell whether the valve in your machine is defective? Drain by removing the drain hose, filling it with water, and attempting to drain.
You’ll see the valve opening as you struggle to keep the water from escaping. The drain valve will not shut again after emptying.
5- Faulty Dishwasher Timer
If your machine is very old, you should keep its control panel in check. One of the reasons why your dishwasher doesn’t drain is that its timer is faulty. It controls the drain motor.
Solution
Firstly, you need to check if your timer is indicating current. If no current passes, it means you need to replace the timer, if some current passes it means that the timer is still working and only needs repairing. Replace its wire from the point where the current breaks.
6- Blocked Drain Pump
When the dishwasher drain pump is clogged, it will not drain itself resulting in standing water. A blocked drain pipe doesn’t allow water to flow through. Drain pump failure is a common cause due to which the dishwasher doesn’t drain.
Solution
Drain pump replacements are inexpensive and easily available, the complicated part is reaching its location inside the dishwasher. Remove panel present below the door of the dishwasher, the drain pump is located on the bottom of the dishwasher and it will be easy to locate it.
Once you have located the dishwasher drain pump, slowly and carefully take it out and replace it with a new one.
7- Malfunctioned Drain Impeller
The drain impeller is a small fan that is responsible for drainage and preventing leakage. It is present inside the drain pump. If the drain impeller is malfunctioning, the dishwasher will not drain. To check on the impeller, remove the drain pump and see if the drain impeller is rotating. If it is rotating, then check if it is rotating in the right direction.
Solution
If the impeller isn’t draining or if it’s rotating in the wrong direction, you should replace the impeller and in severe cases, the drain pump needs to be removed and replaced.
8- Drain Motor Failure
The drain pump runs through a motor that is present inside of it with the drain impeller. If the motor isn’t working, the drain pump will also stop working resulting in the dishwasher not draining itself.
Solution
Remove the drain pump from the dishwasher and check if its motor is working. If the motor isn’t working, replace it with a new one.
READ ALSO
HOW TO LOAD DISHWASHER CORRECTLY
HOW TO CLEAN DISHWASHER AIR GAP
Final Words
Concluding this article, we would like to make it clear that the drainage issue of dishwashers mostly arises due to negligence and poor maintenance. To keep your dishwasher problem-free, you need to keep it clean. By regular vinegar and baking soda rinses, annual descaling, and often hot water wash cycles, you can ensure cleanliness in your dishwasher that will prevent it from clogging or smelling foul.
Most Frequently Asked Questions
How do you fix a dishwasher that doesn’t drain?
To fix a dishwasher that doesn’t drain, you need to find its cause first. After finding out the reason, address the issue and look for solutions. The most common reason why a dishwasher doesn’t drain is a clogged filter or drain pump failure.
How to get rid of standing water in a dishwasher?
Mix vinegar and baking soda in water and pour this mixture at the bottom of the dishwasher in the standing water and leave it for about half an hour. When you notice the water draining, rinse the dishwasher with boiling water and then run a normal wash cycle.
Can I manually drain my dishwasher?
To manually drain a dishwasher, use a plastic cup to get the water out of the dishwasher, keep removing until no standing water is left. Dry the interior with a cloth and check the bottom of the dishwasher for any blockages. Scrub the dishwasher with baking soda using a sponge.
Can you run a dishwasher with standing water?
A small amount of standing water inside the dishwasher is considered normal if the wash cycles are running smoothly and the dishes are immaculate.
However, a huge amount of standing water within the dishwasher signals a blockage or a drain pump failure.
How to unclog a dishwasher filter?
To unclog a dishwasher filter, take it out of the dishwasher and remove any food residue present on and inside of it. Put dishwashing soap on the filter and scrub it using a soft toothbrush. Put the filter in hot water for 10-15 minutes and put it back once it has dried completely.
If the filter is in a very bad shape, replace it with a new one.
How to avoid a dishwasher from clogging?
To avoid a dishwasher from clogging, perform regular maintenance, rinse it with vinegar weekly and run hot water wash cycles often.
How does garbage disposal prevent draining?
Garbage disposal clogs the drain tube and blocks the pathway of water. If damaged trash disposal prevents the dishwasher from emptying correctly, it impacts the dishwasher’s operation. Because the trash disposal is linked to the dishwasher’s outlet, any obstructions in the disposal will cause water to back up into the dishwasher and sink.
How does a kinked drain hose affect a dishwasher?
Drain hoses that are kinked can potentially prevent the dishwasher from emptying, resulting in water accumulating at the bottom. Grease, sludge, and extra detergents frequently agglomerate within the dishwasher drain pipe and clog it. This is especially true if your drainpipe is corrugated.
Do dirty dishes block the drainage system of the dishwasher?
Placing unclean plates and dishes in the dishwasher might cause germs to grow by clogging the pump assembly, drain pipes, or spray arms. The dishes may not be adequately cleaned if there is a buildup in the pump component.
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