Appliances Maintenance, Dishwasher issues and repair

The dishwasher won’t drain. What could be the reason?

Dishwasher drain problem

As you loaded your dishwasher with dirty dishes and started the washing cycle, an unexpected issue arose: instead of the usual flow of soapy water, you were greeted with a cacophony of strange sounds—rumbling, humming, buzzing—replacing the familiar gurgle of draining liquid. This hiccup, which seems to plague dishwashers across the board at various stages of operation, is a common issue. So, what’s the deal with this recurring annoyance? Let’s delve into it.

When your dishwasher stops draining water, it’s not just a minor inconvenience. It’s a sign that something is amiss and needs your attention. Your role in maintaining the dishwasher is crucial, and understanding the severity of the issue is vital. Some problems can be quickly troubleshooted and fixed by you, while others may require the expertise of a specialist for proper repair.

We will provide a few common issues why your dishwasher is not draining properly

Overfilled dishwasher

The overfilled dishwasher can obstruct water from circulating, causing that water to stagnate in the dishwasher.

Dishwasher filter is not clean

A clogged filter is one of the most common reasons; some need to be more active to rinse the dishes. Before placing the utensils in the dishwasher, wash off any remaining food. Eventually, the machine’s filter, which is located at the very bottom, will become clogged. In this case, you need to clean the filter from pieces of food by hand and start the wash cycle again.

Dishwasher drainage mechanism problem

As we mentioned, when you do not rinse your dishes properly before sending them to the dishwasher, a small piece of food can clog the drain line, drain hose, or drain pump. Even if you rinse all your dishes well, this can happen because of a small piece of glass.

A complete blockage of the impeller and high-risk damage to the dishwasher drain pump

Impeller configuration significantly impacts pump efficiency and water compatibility. Factors such as clogging, which often occurs if a piece of glass, a napkin, or any other small object gets into the pump, can significantly affect water drainage while the dishwasher runs.

Broken dishwasher drain pump

The dishwasher pump is one of the essential components. If there is a pump, drain soapy water from the machine when the cycle goes through the cleaning process. If the pump malfunctions, your dishwasher will not clean your dishes well or stop working correctly at all.

A dishwasher is a sensitive appliance, so you should not solve the problem yourself. Suppose you need help to prevent the situation from getting worse. In that case, we recommend contacting the professionals to ensure your appliance will serve you for many years after the professional repair.

How to prevent the dishwasher drain issue in the future

  • Firstly, ensure that the water in the dishwasher is adequately hot by running hot water in the kitchen sink beforehand.
  • Secondly, always use dishwasher detergent and maintain the cleanliness of the dishwasher filter as per the instructions in the user manual.
  • The last and essential thing is to rinse all food pieces left in the dishes.

These three important tips will help you prevent drainage issues, so don’t forget to follow these three simple instructions.