A dishwasher not draining can be an inconvenience when you rely on the appliance every day. The potential for a flood or overflow needs to be minimised and isolated.
Before you ring your local licensed plumber to fix, it’s best to investigate why the dishwasher won’t drain. It’s a problem which shouldn’t be ignored as it could be a sign of a bigger plumbing problem in your home.
Here’s how to isolate the cause of the problem with steps on ways to fix.
Are the drains clear at the property?
The dishwasher drain hose is connected to the kitchen sink waste. This waste is then connected to the main house sewer.
If the toilet won’t flush, the basin won’t drain and the kitchen sink fills up, these are signs there is a main blockage on the sewer line. In this circumstance, a plumber will need to use a jet rodder to remove the blockage to get the drains free-flowing again.
Is it only the kitchen sink blocked?
If you’ve checked all the fixtures around the home and find the water flows freely down the drain, you can ascertain there isn’t a major blockage.
However, if it’s just the kitchen sink not draining, this could be why the dishwasher won’t drain. You can use household hacks like bicarb soda and vinegar down the sink drain or even use a plunger to see if it dislodges the blockage. If none of these actions works, it’s time to call a plumber.
What to do when no blockages can be found?
When all fixtures, including the kitchen sink waste, drains freely you can assume there may be a blockage in the dishwasher waste.
Grab a bucket and remove the dishwasher waste hose connection from the top of the kitchen sink trap. Empty the hose into the bucket and see if you are able to dislodge any blockages.
If the dishwasher hose is clear, you can conclude the reason for the dishwasher to stop draining, may be a mechanical issue with the appliance. In this instance, it’s time to contact your appliance manufacturer for a repair.
How to prevent a dishwasher blockage
It’s recommended by manufacturers that dishwashers should be cleaned once a month to remove build-up of grease and food debris in the drain hose.
Always remove food scraps into the bin and rinse utensils before placing them into the dishwasher. This can prevent a build-up inside the hose which can potentially cause a blockage in the future.
