How to Fix a Dishwasher That Isn't Draining

Absolutely all known models of dishwashers represent approximately the same mechanism, therefore, their weaknesses are the same. One of them is a sudden dishwasher not draining fully, which can happen either in the first few months or after prolonged use. This malfunction is not critical and can be easily serviced, in some cases, repairs can be carried out even without specialized knowledge and expensive tools.

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Common causes of your dishwasher failure to drain water

It is important to realize that dishwasher water not draining can be caused by several problems, and it is not easy to determine which one is in your particular case. However, often the root cause is contamination of one or another part, in rare cases in a breakdown. Let's take a quick look at the main reasons why water doesn't waste.

Clogged Filters

A special filter is responsible for removing food residue, grease, particulate matter, and other contaminants. To get your dishwasher working smoothly, cleaning the filters on a routine basis is very essential. When contaminants are much higher than normal, the performance of the unit will decrease, and possibly the dishwasher not fully drain completely at all.

Blocked Drain Hose

Typically, the discharge hose in a dishwasher clogs fairly slowly and does not require frequent cleaning. However, the situation changes greatly if the hose has kinks and bends, with such a problem, food residue and other dirt begin to settle heavily on the walls. In neglected cases, the appliance works much worse, and attempts to ignore the problem are fraught with a complete blockage of the water drain. Mistakes during the installation stage are often responsible for such problems, so don't skimp and trust this task to the best craftsmen in Canada.

Dishwasher diagram showing the main components (filters, pump, hose).

Malfunctioning Drain Pump

In addition to clogging, serious malfunctions can also lead to the dishwasher is not draining, in particular a broken drain pump. This problem occurs for similar reasons: dirt, wear and tear, motor failure, ingress of foreign objects, and even power fluctuations. Doing maintenance on your own when your sump pump breaks down is strongly discouraged, it is best to contact an experienced technician for professional repair.

Clogged Sink Drain

Most of the cases when the dishwasher refuses to drain are related to the sink drain, or rather the need to clean it. It is best to use a plunger or chemical means, in their absence, you can resort to any long and thin objects. You should clean your sink drain every 3-6 months, depending on how often you use your dishwasher.

Learn a step-by-step tutorial on how to repair a dishwasher that won't drain

Our experienced team has put together a series of step-by-step recommendations that will help anyone trying to service and troubleshoot a frigidaire dishwasher not draining. It is important to prepare some tools and approach the issue as carefully as possible to avoid damaging the delicate parts of the appliance.

Step 1: Turn Off the Dishwasher and Disconnect the Power

The first step is to ensure your safety by disconnecting the appliance from the power supply. This is easy to do by simply unplugging the dishwasher.

Step 2: Check and Clean the Filters

Photos of dirty filters before and after cleaning

The most common cause of a frigidaire dishwasher not draining is a faulty filter, so you should start there. Your dishwasher likely has a three-part filter: a fine filter, a coarse filter, and a metal mesh.

How to Locate the Filters

On many models, the filter is located at the bottom of the appliance, under the dish basket. They can be easily removed with your bare hands, in the case of the coarse filter, first unscrew it and pull it upwards, while the strainer and fine filter are usually located nearby, if they look dirty, you will need to remove them too.

How to Properly Clean the Filters

After removing the filters, carefully examine them for dirt and foreign objects, a toothbrush and warm running water are excellent for removing dirt. It is necessary to carry out this procedure at least 2 times, the most exposed parts are the holes of the coarse filter and the filter mesh.

Step 3: Check and Clean the Drain Hose

The drain hose is the next most common cause of the dishwasher not draining. In most cases, you can still attempt to service the drain hose yourself without expensive equipment. The sequence is extremely simple.

How to Remove the Drain Hose

In all models of electronics, including Samsung dishwasher not draining, the drain hose is located at the rear of the dishwasher and connects the pump to the sink drain. The first thing to do is to disconnect the hose from the appliance and use pliers and a screwdriver to remove the clamp if necessary. Be extremely careful, the material of the drain hose is not strong, so even one unnecessary movement can ruin it.

How to Clear a Blockage in the Hose

It is recommended to use a flashlight to assess the degree of dirt in the hose, if at first glance there is no dirt, find a flexible thin object and stick it inside the hose. In the case of severe clogs, when your Whirlpool dishwasher not draining, a solution of water and vinegar and specialized pipe cleaners are incredibly effective. For light clogs, a strong stream of water can be used to thoroughly clean all areas of the pipe.

Photos illustrating the various steps such as cleaning the filters and checking the drain hose.

Step 4: Check the Drain Pump

Depiction of tools needed for self-repair (e.g., wrenches, cleaning brushes).

A very problematic and costly cause of blocked drains on dishwashers is a dirty drain pump. If the Kenmore dishwasher not draining problem is contamination, you may be able to get by without replacing it, but it is not easy to clean it anyway.

How to Diagnose and Replace the Pump

Typically, the drain pump is located at the bottom of the appliance near the filter, but much depends on the particular model of the dishwasher. To remove it, it is enough to pull off the fasteners or the cover. You can then pull out the part and examine its condition. The easiest way to tell if the pump needs replacing is to see if the impeller is spinning - it should move smoothly and not seize.

Step 5: Clear the Sink Drain

The last but not least common cause of GE dishwasher not draining is a dirty sink drain. This area is particularly prone to contamination as all dirt, food residues, and grease regularly pass through it.

How to Use a Plunger or Drain Snake for Sink Drain

A plunger is considered to be the most convenient tool for cleaning dishwasher sink drains, as it can be handled even by owners who are new to appliance maintenance. First, pour water into the sink so that the plunger can completely cover the drain. Then start vigorously pushing and pulling the plunger upwards about 5-10 times. Depending on the degree of soiling, the water will gradually drain out.

Preventive Measures to Avoid Dishwasher Drain Issues

Once the KitchenAid dishwasher not draining fault has been finally resolved, do not assume that the problem will never bother you again. There are many recommendations for the periodic care and maintenance of the appliance, following them will prevent the recurrence of blockages as much as possible.

Regular Cleaning and Maintenance

Perhaps the most obvious and effective method of avoiding drainage problems with your dishwasher is periodic maintenance. During maintenance, pay attention not only to the external parts of the appliance but also to the internal parts. Soft cloth and non-aggressive soap solutions are suitable for this purpose so that they do not damage the appearance and the usual functionality of the appliance.

How to Properly Load the Dishwasher to Avoid Clogs

Most dishwasher owners are not even aware of the important rules of loading dishes, which can lead to unfortunate consequences, including the question: why is my dishwasher not draining? Among the most important tips, special attention should be paid to the mandatory removal of food residues, natural positioning of dishes, avoiding overloading the appliance, as well as the choice of appropriate detergents. Extremely dirty dishes should be placed as close to the sprayers as possible.

Signs It's Time to Call a Professional

Unfortunately, even following all of the above tips does not guarantee a hundred percent elimination of dishwasher not draining. Often, dishwashers simply fail, at least due to the inevitable aging and wear and tear of parts. If the problem soon reappears, it signals the need to call for professional help, such as our team of dishwasher service technicians.

When to Call a Technician

There is no specific time or indicator to call a technician because everything is very individual. You can ask for help in dishwasher repair already at the first signs of reduced productivity, failure of some functions, and frequent display of various error codes. Do not try to postpone and mask the dishwasher not fully draining, so you will only aggravate the situation and make the subsequent repair of the device more expensive.

FAQ

Why is my dishwasher making strange noises but not draining?

This problem is most likely caused by a clogged drain filter, pump, or hose, but it could also indicate more serious damage, why my dishwasher is not draining.

What should I do if the issue persists after cleaning the filters?

In addition to filters, dishwasher water not draining can be caused by problems with the drain hose, pump, or sink drain, but it is not possible to determine the exact location of the problem without a detailed diagnosis.