Updated on 23rd May, 2023 by Martin Astley

Many people use dishwashers in their daily lives, and the common problem that most homeowners face is that their dishwashers won’t drain. The reasons behind this problem can be multiple. It can be related to blockages in the dishwasher’s filter or a fault with your dishwasher’s draining hose or valve. Sometimes the problem arises within the garbage disposal and dishwasher air gaps.

Don’t worry if your dishwasher has stopped draining; luckily, for those of us with a kitchen appliance insurance policy, you should be able to claim this if your dishwasher isn’t draining.

But if you’d like to try to repair it yourself or if you don’t have dishwasher covers, you might be able to get it working again without draining too much of your time and money. Follow our advice and see if you can get the appliance working perfectly again!

1. Turn off the dishwasher

It’s important to disconnect and switch off the plug if your dishwasher is not draining. As in all appliance repairs, you should first switch off your dishwasher at the plug socket. For additional safety and peace of mind, you should also unplug it.

This is not a sure-fire way to avoid electrocution, however; dishwashers can retain a lot of static electricity in their internal components, giving you a dangerous and even lethal shock.

So, for additional protection:

2. Put on a pair of rubber gloves

Not only will rubber gloves further reduce your chances of electrocution, but they will also protect you from cuts and abrasions. There is a reasonable chance that your dishwasher has broken glass and other sharp objects. The standing water in the appliance could be filled with dangerous bacteria that could cause a nasty infection.

3. Try to empty some of the standing water in the dishwasher

No doubt you’ll have standing water in the dishwasher. Use a plastic bowl, a pint glass, or anything else to get as much dirty water out of your dishwasher as possible. You might find it very hard to empty the dishwasher; it’s unnecessary, but it makes the job easier and less messy. You could get the last bits of water out with an old towel.

4. Clean the dishwasher filters

Remove the filters from the bottom of the dishwasher, perhaps in the appliance’s interior, at the far back. You should be able to remove them easily and without forcing them out; if you must force them out, they might break. Rinse them under the tap to clear any gunk and foodstuffs from them; this dirt could be blocking the mechanisms.

Ideally, it would help if you cleaned your dishwasher filters before your dishwasher stopped draining; make this part of your regular cleaning regimen.

5. Clean the drain hose

The drain hose runs under the sink and comes out of the back of the dishwasher. This hose can also become blocked, bend, crease, and squash, preventing water from flowing properly through it. Straighten the hose to ensure water can pass through it without obstruction. If you notice a blockage in the tube, remove it (you may need a spanner or screwdriver) and rinse it in the sink.

6. Unblock your sink

If the dishwasher still isn’t draining, then there might be a blockage somewhere else in your home – probably in the kitchen sink. We’ve written about unblocking sinks before – you’ll probably need drain unblocker and may also need a plunger.

Still no luck?

If you’ve not been able to get your dishwasher draining again, you’ll need to call in the experts.

We have a team of staff dedicated to diagnosing your issues, so give them a call today on 0345 3192 247. They’ll run through some simple checks with you over the phone and then send an engineer if it can’t be fixed.

If you’re unsure or not competent at examining your dishwasher, leave it well alone and call us right away. Appliances can be very dangerous with static electricity, and fires are known to have injured people. We’ve got highly skilled engineers up and down the country, so you’re never far from help when you need it most.

247 Home Rescue accepts no liability for any injuries or damages you sustain following the advice on this website. If in doubt, seek professional assistance.