Although it’s always irritating to open the machine and realize it is still full of water, don’t panic just yet. You might have the means to deal with the issue by yourself, without having to call a plumber or buy a new dishwasher.

Standing water in your dishwasher can have any number of of causes a proportion of which are easy to deal with. So, before you call a dishwasher repair service try this selection of potential issues you can troubleshoot on your own. A number of which are not even caused by the dishwasher itself.

Ensure the dishwasher wasn’t stopped mid-cycle

It is possible that there is nothing stopping your machine from emptying. Rather, the program may have been cut short.

The cycle might have been cut short for multiple of reasons. Kids pushing buttons, mistakenly leaning against the control panel, a power cut or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle might all stop the program from completing and mean your dishwasher doesn’t empty.

If you think this may be the situation, or you think it might be worthwhile checking run your dishwasher again on a quick program.

A number appliances might have an empty program so it’s worthwhile consulting your owners manual or doing a quick internet search to find out.

Inspect the disposal

If you have a waste disposal check this before you do anything else as a blocked waste disposal will stop the machine from draining. Turn on the disposal with fast running water to ensure there are no issues.

If you do discover a blockage drain unclogger or a plunger may be employed to unclog the obstruction and so this could rectify the issue.

Check the sink for issues

If you kitchen sink is draining reluctantly this might signify a plumbing issue rather than a fault with your machine.

If the kitchen sink is emptying slowly you could attempt putting a little bicarb and white vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a while and subsequently washing it away with boiling water.

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

This could be all you need to do to allow your dishwasher to empty so run a short rinse and empty program at this point. If this hasn’t sorted the issue you can remove the water by hand using a cup and also a sponge and check the next few possible issues.

At this point make certain to turn off the dishwasher to stay safe.

If during any one of these investigations you suspect you may have detected and solved the fault you don’t have to go through the rest of the steps. Just start an empty cycle to check the machine is repaired.

Inspect and clean the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including popcorn, paper from jars, plastic covers and smashed glass. Clear plastic lids may also be hard to see if you don’t look closely.

Remove the filter then wash it thoroughly before replacing it. Not all dishwashers have their filter in the same place so you may need to look at the instructions for this.

Is the drain pipe blocked?

The next area to examine is the drain pipe. 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 may all prevent your dishwasher from draining.

Contingent upon the position of the waste hose (normally the corrugated one) you could manage view it simply by taking off the base alternatively you may be required to move the machine away from under the counter.

Look at the hose in the first instance to find out if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You might be able to manually straighten out any kinks which will most likely rectify the issue, but be aware that when this has occurred the chance of it occurring again is greatly increased so you may need to purchase a new hose.

If you can’t find an issue you can take off the waste pipe from the pump and blow through it to discover any blockages. Make sure you put down newspaper or towels first as there could still be water in the pipe.

If you are unable to blow air through the waste pipe this could be the problem.

Take off the hose at the sink end in order to give it a thorough flush through to remove the blockage. If you can’t shift the obstruction or the waste pipe is cracked or worn invest in a brand-new one. If you could remove the obstruction then re-attach the hose and start a quick cycle to check that you have solved the error.

You can also inspect where the waste hose connects under your sink. This is a typical point for blockages to occur so if you happen to remove the waste pipe give this connection a thorough scrub as well.

Examine the drain valve

You may examine the drain valve by hand to check it isn’t got stuck. The drain valve will generally be found at the base of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Examine your manual if you’re unsure.

Pushing down on the valve or wiggling it a bit should be adequate to find out if it’s seized. If you are able to see an object stopping it from moving get rid of this. If you can’t, this might be when you should call a repair person unless you are confident in purchasing and replacing the part on your own.

Examine your pump is not broken

Your dishwasher pump makes use of impellers that can become blocked by pieces of china or other debris. Check your impellers aren’t broken by taking off the cover and making sure the impellers can be easily rotated.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual noises

If the dishwasher doesn’t sound normal your dishwasher pump or motor might be broken and need replacing.

Call a plumber

If none of the above checks has solved the fault, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it could be the moment you need to call for help.

This way though you will at least have the means to give them more information and have managed to avoid having to pay a hefty call-out charge for a blocked drain.

Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?