Dishwashers are great; they take a lot of the time and trouble out of doing dishes. That’s what can make it so frustrating when they aren’t working right, and one of the most common problems with dishwashers is their failing to drain properly. You can often ignore this for a bit without it seeming to cause any problems. However, if you continue to ignore the problem, the water could start leaking outside of the dishwasher and really cause problems. So, we’re going to discuss some ways you might be able to fix this problem yourself.
Dirty Filters
One of the most common reasons a dishwasher won’t drain is dirty filters. Properly working filters are an essential part of keeping your dishwasher running well. But these filters can easily become clogged with food particles and prevent your dishwasher from functioning correctly. So, it’s best to clean your dishwasher’s filters every couple of weeks.
Fortunately, you shouldn’t have any problem doing this since it’s a pretty easy task. The first thing you need to do is find your filters and then remove them. You should find the filters on the bottom of your dishwasher under the spray arm. To remove the filters, you’ll need to turn the cylindrical filter in the direction the arrows indicate and then remove it.
After this, you can remove the metal mesh filter plate. While this is out, you should check the sump which is under the filters to see if there are any large food particles causing problems and if there are, remove them.
Next, rinse off the filters in the sink to remove any food particles or grease. If this isn’t enough to get the filters clean, you could use a sponge and some soapy water. After you remove all the food particles and grease, you can replace the filters.
Blocked Sink or Drain Hose
Another possible problem that could be keeping your dishwasher from draining is a blocked drain hose. The drain hose is important for getting the dirty water out of your dishwasher. This hose is usually attached to the drain line that the kitchen sink drains into.
You may find that the drain hose that removes the water from the dishwasher is clogged. If this drain hose is clogged, you’ll need to clean it out. To do this, you’ll need to remove the drain hose from both the dishwasher and the sink drain. Then, you can thoroughly clean the hose and put it back.
It’s also possible that your issue is with your sink. You may have a clogged sink drain. If this is the case, you should be able to fix the problem by using a drain snake or plunger to clear the drain. Although, it’s possible you may need to call a plumber.
Damaged Drain Pump
If the above two solutions have not solved your problem, you could have a clogged drain pump due to grease and food buildup. If this happens, the water will not drain from your dishwasher after you run it. It’s actually pretty easy for small objects to get in the pump and stop it from working correctly. If this happens, it requires disconnecting the inlet hose and removing the base plate of the dishwasher in order to access the drain pump to check it. Then, it will be necessary to use a multimeter to take a resistance reading to see if the drain pump is working as it should be. Some people may not be comfortable doing this, in which case, it would be best to call a plumber.
Final Thoughts
A dishwasher is supposed to take the difficulty out of doing dishes, so if your dishwasher is struggling to get the job done right and, even worse, may be causing damage to your home, you need to fix it fast. Try checking if any of these issues could be causing your difficulty, and don’t hesitate to call a plumber before serious damage occurs.
Contact Us
If your dishwasher isn’t draining or is leaking, contact J Griffin Heating & Plumbing for quick and effective repairs. Call us at 781-520-1212 and connect with us on Facebook