Dishwasher Won’t Drain

Dishwashers are considered among the handiest appliances ever invented. When they’re working right, dishwashers make kitchen cleanup easier.

However, when they aren’t working right, they can throw life off in a big way. This is particularly true when they won’t drain. Left unchecked, it could send undrained water all over your kitchen floor, putting other parts of your home at risk for water damage.

You might decide to call us for our dishwasher repair service, but you can first attempt DIY repair on your own with the tips below. Try these seven steps first:

REASONS A DISHWASHER STOPS DRAINING

INSECURE DOOR LATCH

On some models the door latch, if not secured, will prevent the dishwasher from draining. If the latch is faulty, you may need to replace it.

CLOGS & DEBRIS

When a dishwasher is not draining, there should be a water backup – about 2 cups worth – in the bottom. If that’s the case, remove as much as you can. Feel around in the drain to see if anything is blocking it, like food or any kind of debris.

However, if the amount of water is small, then you’re okay – so far. Many models are designed to leave some water in the bottom so the seal won’t dry out.

BROKEN BELT DRIVE

Assuming your model is equipped with a belt drive, check to see if the belt is broken or sitting loose off of the pulley. If you’re not sure where this is, consult your owner’s manual. If you still cannot locate this area, call us.

PLUGGED GARBAGE DISPOSAL

If your dishwasher drains through your disposal, then run it for a bit to make sure it isn’t plugged up.

BLOCKAGE IN DRAIN ZONE

The drain hose is located between the pump and the drain line. Check for blocks or even a kink in the hose. If you have to remove the hose to inspect it. Clear anything plugging up the hose.

INSPECT MOTOR

When you turn on the dishwasher, you will be able to tell if the motor is okay or not by simply listening. If all you hear is a hum, then the motor is not turning, because it is not getting power.

If this happens, you will have to either replace the motor or replace the dishwasher.

MALFUNCTIONED DRAIN VALVE

This part of the process assumes that your dishwasher uses a drain valve.

During normal operation, the drain valve receives its power while in the drain cycle, at which time it opens a solenoid that prompts the water to drain from the unit. If you find that the drain valve is inoperable, you may have to replace it.

SUMMARY

It may be that you don’t have to go any farther than a few of these steps. However, if you get to any point in the process and you get stuck, give our appliance repair company a call.