How to Troubleshoot Drainage Issues in a Dishwasher

ID: 218162

Description: [youtubevideo|Ne43nrziTdU]Use this guide to...

Steps:

1. Switch off the dishwasher and unplug it from power supply power before touching water or internal parts.
2. If the plug isn't reachable, switch off the dishwasher circuit breaker before you work.
3. Wear protective gloves before reaching into dirty water, the filter well, or the pump area.
4. Broken glass or chipped china can jam the pump impeller and can cut your fingers.
5. Open the dishwasher and empty all dishes from the racks.
6. Remove the lower rack to access the bottom of the tub.
7. Use a sponge to soak up the standing water and squeeze it into a small bucket.
8. Keep removing water until the filter can be lifted without spilling water everywhere.
9. Turn the filter a small amount to unlock it, and lift it out of the dishwasher.
10. Lift out the gauze screen if the dishwasher has one.
11. Check the filter and gauze for fat deposits, food, debris, and sludge.
12. Heavy fat buildup on the filter can stop the dishwasher from draining properly.
13. Use the sponge to remove water from the filter well around the pump impeller.
14. Use a turkey baster to suck out the last water from the sump if one is available.
15. Pull the lower spray arm straight up to pop it off if it blocks access.
16. Run water through the lower spray arm to make sure water flows through it easily.
17. Scrub any clogged spray arm holes with an brush.
18. Use a blunt prying tool to pop off the impeller cover if the dishwasher has one.
19. Lift the cover upward to expose the impeller.
20. Gently turn the impeller and check that it spins freely.
21. The impeller spins fast during draining, so debris around it can stop water from leaving the dishwasher.
22. Use tweezers to remove debris from around the impeller.
23. Don't sweep your bare fingers around the pump area, because broken glass or china may be hidden there.
24. Scrub fat deposits and grime from the pump area with an brush.
25. Use a wet and dry vac to remove dirty water and loose debris if one is available.
26. Keep cleaning until the area has no loose debris or fatty deposits.
27. Press the impeller cover back down until it clips into place if you removed it.
28. Remove as much fat and sludge from the filter as possible before washing it.
29. Don't rinse thick fat and sludge straight into the sink, because it can block the sink drain.
30. Wash the filter and gauze with hot, soapy water and an brush.
31. Rinse the filter and gauze until the mesh and openings are clear.
32. Place the gauze screen back into the bottom of the dishwasher if it was removed.
33. Push the filter down into place and twist it to lock it.
34. Line up the arrows if the filter uses arrow marks to show the locked position.
35. Push the lower spray arm back onto its mount if you removed it.
36. Reinstall the lower rack.
37. Plug the dishwasher back in and switch it on only after the filter, cover, spray arm, and rack are installed.
38. Remove the sticker from the top of the dishwasher cleaner.
39. Don't unscrew the dishwasher cleaner lid, because the film on the lid dissolves with heat.
40. Place the dishwasher cleaner face down in the lower rack.
41. Run the hottest dishwashing program with the dishwasher completely empty.
42. Let the program finish and check whether the dishwasher drains properly.
43. Check any outside drainage point you can access and confirm water from the dishwasher is draining away.
44. If the dishwasher drains and the standing water is gone, use the dishwasher normally.
45. If standing water remains, unplug the dishwasher before checking the external drainage hose and pipework.
46. Place a small bucket under the dishwasher drain hose connection at the sink U-bend.
47. Use pliers to gently squeeze the holding clip if the hose uses one.
48. Slide the dishwasher drainage hose off the U-bend connection and put the hose end into the bucket.
49. Check the hose end and connector for sludge or blockages.
50. Clean out any sludge, and push the drainage hose back onto the connector securely.
51. Place a small bucket under the U-bend before loosening it.
52. Unscrew the plastic U-bend collars anticlockwise as you face upward.
53. Some U-bends use different shapes, but most remove by unscrewing both sides.
54. Expect old sludge in the U-bend to smell bad if it hasn't been cleaned for a long time.
55. Empty sludge into waste and scrub the U-bend clean with an brush.
56. Refit the U-bend with the collars straight and parallel to the plastic threads.
57. Stop and restart the collar if it doesn't thread easily, because cross-threading can damage the plastic and cause leaks.
58. Hand-tighten the collars only, run the sink tap, and check the U-bend for leaks.
59. Pull the dishwasher out only if the drainage pipework is behind it and you can do so safely.
60. Don't strain the cold water feed or drainage hose when moving the dishwasher.
61. Place a small bucket under the wall pipework and check the dishwasher drainage hose for sludge.
62. Use a mobile phone set to video with the flash on to look down the pipe or U-bend without dismantling it.
63. Clear, clean-looking water suggests the pipework may be open.
64. Sludgy, foul-smelling water suggests a blockage may be inside the pipework or U-bend.
65. Unscrew, clean, and reinstall the rear U-bend if you find a blockage.
66. Unlock the upper spray arm at its center mount and remove it from the dishwasher.
67. Run water through the upper spray arm and check that all holes are clear.
68. Scrub blocked holes with an brush.
69. Push the upper spray arm back onto its mount and lock it into place.
70. Run the dishwasher and check for standing water after the cleaning and drainage checks.
71. If the filter, impeller, hose, U-bend, and pipework are clear but water still remains, the drain pump may have failed.
72. A control board fault can also stop the dishwasher from draining.
73. Call a dishwasher professional if the pump may be faulty, the control board may be faulty, wiring is involved, or pipework is stuck.