What to do (before calling a plumber) if your dishwasher isn't draining.

Is there ever a convenient time to find out the dishwasher is not draining? I swear, if you are hosting a large group dinner there is a higher chance of dishwasher problems. Recently I opened my dishwasher to see murky water in the basin below, not good. Here are steps to troubleshoot the problem BEFORE calling the repairman.

*Keep in mind, not all dishwashers are built exactly the same. Check your owner’s manual, or online manual, to identify the parts of your particular dishwasher model.*

Check to See if the Cycle was Interrupted

Try running the dishwasher again. There is always that one family member that opens the dishwasher mid cycle. (Cough, cough. My oldest.)

Run Your Garbage Disposal

The dishwasher’s drain hose runs directly into the garbage disposal drain (if you have a garbage disposal). There may be food blocking it or some buildup of gunk that is in the way. Run the disposal and let hot water run down the drain for an additional 20 seconds after the disposal is turned off. Try running the dishwasher again.

TIP: To do a quick clean of the disposal blades, run the disposal with a few ice cubes or piece of lemon peel to help clean and leave a fresh scent.

Clean the Sink Air Gap

The air gap is the cylinder with slits in it at the top of the sink, near the faucet. Note: not all dishwashers have an air gap, ours does not. There is a small hose leading to the air gap that vents the drain hose. It may have gotten blocked by debris. Remove the air gap cover by twisting it counterclockwise and pulling up. Clean with water and a stiff brush, like an old toothbrush. Or if you are mad at someone, use theirs. Just kidding, that would be awful and would probably start a small in-home boxing match. Replace the air gap cover and run the dishwasher cycle again.

Did You Use the Wrong Type of Detergent?

Sometimes when you’re in a pinch or distracted with everyday craziness, the wrong type of detergent will get used. Sorry to break the news to you, but using liquid dish soap or laundry detergent is not okay. If this happened, bail out the standing water and any soap granules and run the cycle again. I used a plastic cup to bail out the water standing in the bottom of my dishwasher.

TIP: When the water level was too low for the cup, I used a turkey baster to extract the remaining water.

Clean the Drain Basket

There may be an upside down basket looking thing (I had to twist mine out and pull it up to remove it) that catches food and debris at the bottom of the dishwasher. Clean it and replace it. Again, run a cycle to see if the dishwasher drains. **Or do all the above steps and then run the dishwasher. Less water wasted= money saved.

TIP: In the future, pre-rinse dishes if you find a lot of food particles and debris in the basket. Even if your dishwasher says you don’t need to scrape off the dishes, it is not truly built like a garbage disposal. Your machine will last longer if you take this step.

TIP: I had a lot of calcium build up on the screen of the basket. A few minutes soak in vinegar and then a good scrub took care of it.

Remove Access Panel Below, Unscrew the Washer from the Cabinets, and Unplug it before doing anything else.

Check the Drain Hose for Clogs or Kinks

The drain hose is the light colored ribbed tubing that runs from the dishwasher to the garbage disposal. It may just be that the hose is kinked or has something heavy under the sink that is pressing on it and blocking the flow.

Once the dishwasher is unscrewed from the cabinets and the access panel is removed, you can pull it out from the cabinet space. The panel may snap off or have a screw on either side lightly holding it in place. Check the hose for kinks or obvious blockage. If needed, remove the hose from the washer, near the drain pump, and blow into it like you are playing a trumpet. I mean, I have never played a trumpet, but I channeled my inner Louis Armstrong for this. If the air flows through, there is no clog. If there is resistance, there is a clog.

Reach in and pull out the clog if it is near the end of the hose. If the clog is too difficult to get to, you may need to replace the hose. DO NOT USE A PLUMBER’S SNAKE!!! A plumber’s snake will puncture the hose and cause leaks.

TIP: Check your owner’s manual to get the proper size and part description for a new hose. I would just take the hose with me to the store and do a match, but either way. The manual will instruct you in proper installation for your model.

Still Not Draining? Call the Repairman

Fortunately, after following this troubleshooting list, you have eliminated a lot of the work (cost) of the repairman. None of these troubleshooting tips worked for our washer. It still did not drain completely. Wuh, wuh. However, when I called the repairman, I gave him the dishwasher brand and model number. I was able to tell him everything I checked and that I suspected the drain pump. Turns out, that was a correct diagnosis. Giving him this information when I made an appointment saved him time, he was able to bring the correct parts with him and all of that saved me money.💙

Live in the Austin, Texas area and need an appliance repairman? I have a great one that I use. It is his own company, he shows up on time, is fairly priced, he is intelligent and respectful and just an all around nice guy.

Give Dani from DR. OC Appliance Repair a call, text, or email today! Tell him I sent you.

512.758.3006

dr.ocatx@gmail.com

What to do (before calling a plumber) if your dishwasher isn’t draining.