Is your dishwasher not draining? If so, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common issues we see with dishwashers in our line of work. If you’re curious about what may cause this issue, keep on reading below.

Dishwasher Not Draining?

  • One possible cause of your dishwasher not draining is a faulty drain pump. A drain pump powers water through the drain hose. To identify this issue, the pump motor needs to be tested with a multimeter to ensure it is receiving power. If it is a drain pump issue, it will need to be replaced, as it can not be repaired. If the drain pump is functioning properly, it could be a blockage issue or faulty part somewhere else in the machine.
    dishwasher not draining

    Dishwasher Drain Pump

  • The dishwasher’s drain hose is the most common culprit of clogging issues. The clogs are frequently found at the each end of the hose (garbage disposal, drain branch tailpiece). To be unclogged, it may need to be disconnected from the dishwasher and the sink drain to remove the debris. You can first try to use a natural cleaning solution, which could relieve a minor clog. Our recommended solution is one cup baking soda and one cup white vinegar. Using commercial products for dishwasher drains is not advised because chemicals can damage the drain hose or the residue can attach to dishes in future wash cycles.

Other Dishwasher Not Draining Causes

  • If your garbage disposal was installed recently, there’s a good chance it was just installed improperly. All garbage disposals come with a plug installed in the drain tube in case the dishwasher isn’t connected to the garbage disposal. If your dishwasher is connected to a garbage disposal, this plug may have been left in and needs to be taken out so the water can drain.
  • The drain impeller (right) facilitates the flow of water through the drain hose. The impeller is vital and will need to replaced if it’s found to be broken.
    dishwasher impeller

    Dishwasher Impeller

  • Your drain valve could be the issue. Debris can clog it over time. Clean this out and see if it fixes the problem. If it turns out that the drain valve is faulty, it will need to be replaced.
  • Give your check valve a look. Sometimes this valve gets closed shut by debris and just needs to be cleaned out. If cleaning it doesn’t work and your technician suspects this is the problem, it will need to be replaced.