Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Dishwashers can be a huge convenience – but only if they are working correctly. There may be numerous reasons that your dishwasher is no longer draining correctly. Learn what they are and then contact Authorized Appliance Repair if you need help.

Surprisingly enough the issue may not be with your dishwasher at all but with your garbage disposal. Your dishwasher’s drain hose empties into the same drain as the garbage disposal. If your disposal has food that has not yet been ground or disposed of, then the dishwasher may not drain. The simple way to fix this issue is to run the disposal for 15 seconds.

Your Sink May Have an Air Gap

If your sink does not have a garbage disposal, then your dishwasher hose will have an air gap installed right next to the faucet. This acts as a vent to ensure that no air lock is formed. If this air gap gets clogged with debris, it could cause the dishwasher not to drain. Fix this issue by twisting the air gap counterclockwise, removing it, and cleaning it out with a stiff brush.

Get Rid of Any Standing Water

If neither of the above two solutions worked, you will need to get rid of standing water in your dishwasher so that you can better see what is happening. Do this by putting towels around the base of your dishwasher and then taking out the bottom dish try. Get a cup to scoop the dirty water into a bucket and then dispose of it.

You May Have Used the Wrong Detergent

If you use dishwashing liquid that is not meant for your particular type of dishwasher – or for dishwashers at all – then it may create so many suds that the dishwasher cannot drain. If that is what has happened to your unit, bail out your dishwasher as described above and then run it again with the right detergent.

Your Drain Basket May Be Blocked

There is a drain basket at the bottom of your dishwasher. It generally looks like a basket that’s been turned upside down. Take off this cover and look to see if there is food buildup underneath it. If so, use a spoon to get rid of it, replace the basket, and run the dishwasher again.

There Could Be a Kink in Your Drain Hose

Just as the hose you use to water your flowers will not work correctly if there is a kink in it, if there is a kink in your drain hose then it will not allow the pump in your dishwasher to drain correctly. You may be able to simply unkink the hose, but if it happens again then it’s likely time to replace the hose.

Get Help from the Dishwasher Professionals

If the above options have not helped solved the issues you are having, please contact Authorized Appliance Repair at (833) 220-1666 right away and we can get your dishwasher running correctly in no time.