Why is my dishwasher not draining?

Dishwasher RepairsUnless you love washing dishes by hand, your home’s dishwasher is probably one of your most used and appreciated appliances. Unfortunately, they are prone to occasional issues that may require help from an expert in dishwasher repair.

The two most common problems we see with dishwashers are:

  • They do not get dishes completely clean and…
  • Water pools either in the bottom of the dishwasher unit or leaks out onto the floor around the unit.

Luckily, you’ve got one of the most relied-upon and experienced dishwasher repair specialists right in your region: Diamond Appliance! For more than 100 years, Diamond has served customers in the LOCATION area with top-quality, great value service on dishwashers and most other household appliances.

Read on to learn more about why your dishwasher isn’t draining properly, and how we at Diamond fix this common issue.

Common causes of dishwasher drainage issues

While newer model dishwashers have functionality that makes them automatically stop the cycle if they aren’t draining properly, many older models will continue running while water collects at the bottom of the unit. You may also notice water leaking out from the bottom of the unit and collecting on the floor. Neither of these situations is good, but why do they happen in the first place?

Here are a couple of potential reasons:

  • Clogged or grimy filters. At the bottom of the unit close to the sump are (usually) two layers of filters, which catch food particles before they can make their way into the sump. The first layer catches small particles while the second layer collects larger debris. Filtering is an important step to prevent the sump from clogging and being unable to move the water through the drainage hose. These filters can get dirty and greasy, making it harder for water to flow through them and causing a backup. Usually, the filters just need a good cleaning, but sometimes they need to be replaced. 
  • Food or debris in the sump. Sometimes the filters don’t catch 100% of the food particles that come at them, meaning this stuff ends up in the sump. This can mean the sump can’t move water easily out through the drain pipe or that the impeller, a mechanism that turns within the sump to drive out water, becomes blocked. To fix this, we simply remove the blockage and make sure all entrances and exits to the sump are clean and clear. 
  • A blocked drain hose. When food or other particulate matter ends up in the sump, it can easily make its way into the drain pump. One big culprit for blocking the drain pump is fat or grease that went through the filter as a liquid but later solidified. This can cause a buildup over time and eventually block any water from draining out of the system. To fix a blocked drain pump, we remove the front bottom panel of the unit to access the drainage hose, disconnect it, and either remove the blockage manually or snake it. 
  • Debris buildup in the air gap. Many models of dishwasher have what’s called an air gap on top of the sink, which connects to the drain pipe to prevent backflow. This air gap can get clogged and gunky over time, and this is actually an easy DIY fix! Simply remove the cover of the air gap and use a cloth or pipe cleaners to remove any gunk. For more serious air gap blockages, an air compressor can come in handy. 
  • A jammed or blocked float assembly. The float assembly is located at the bottom of the dishwasher and basically manages the filling and draining of water within the unit. Debris can block the float assembly, causing it to malfunction and prevent the dishwasher from draining. To fix this issue, we remove the cap of the float assembly and test its functionality. If it is not working, we clean out debris until it can move all the way up and down. Sometimes, this piece needs to be replaced. 

For expert dishwasher repair, call Diamond Appliance!

At Diamond Appliance, we rarely meet a dishwasher we can’t fix (though if your dishwasher is more than a decade old, it may be time to consider a replacement). If your dishwasher is giving you trouble, save your manicure from the tedium of doing dishes by hand and give us a call to come take a look.

If your dishwasher is still under warranty, the manufacturer may want you to call them first so they can send out their preferred dishwasher maintenance vendor. Luckily, Diamond is the preferred vendor for many brands. If you are looking for KitchenAid dishwasher repair, Maytag dishwasher repair, GE dishwasher repair, Whirlpool dishwasher repair, or Amana dishwasher repair (or really any other brand) give us a call to get started today.