Drain a Dishwasher

A clog can prevent a dishwasher from draining water. Usually, the problem will be caused by an accumulation of food or other debris that is blocking the drain hose. The large amount of water left behind stagnates and begins to smell. There are a few some simple steps to follow if you need to drain a dishwasher.

Steps

Part I: Checking the Strainer and Drain Hose

  1. Remove all of the dishes from the dishwasher and place them in the kitchen sink.
    • You will need to be able to take out the drawers and move about in the dishwasher.
    • You won't be able to take apart certain parts of the dishwasher to see if there are any problems if there are dishes in the way.
    • Make sure you store any sharp knives where they are easily seen, so someone doesn't reach into the sink and cut themselves.
  2. Turn off the power and water line to the dishwasher. You don't want to work on any appliance with the power connected.[1]
    • The water and power supplies to the dishwasher are located behind the front panel of the dishwasher below the door.
    • You can do this by unplugging the dishwasher or shutting off the circuit that the dishwasher is connected to.
    • Keeping the power connected to an appliance during repairs is an electrocution hazard.
    • Shutting off the water line is a good idea while you are doing repairs. The water supply is usually a flexible copper line or braided stainless steel.
  3. Remove the water with containers and towels. Moving a dishwasher full of water can be messy.
    • Protect the floor under, and in front of, the dishwasher with old towels.
    • Use cups or other containers to scoop out the water and transfer it to the sink drain.
    • Use a couple of towels to soak up the last portion of the water. Put these towels in the sink until you are completely finished mopping up the leftover water.
  4. Pull out the dishwasher from its cabinet area. Use caution when doing this as dishwashers are heavy. [1]
    • You can lower the dishwasher using the feet on the front to get more clearance.
    • Slide the dishwasher out slowly to prevent gouging your floors.
    • Pull it out far enough so you can see and reach behind it.
  5. Check the drain hose. See if there is a major kink preventing drainage.[2]
    • You can access the drain hose by removing the kick plate on the front of the dishwasher. If you disconnected the power and water supply to the dishwasher, you have likely already removed this.
    • The drain hose runs from the drain pump on the bottom of the dishwasher to the sink drain or air gap on the sink.
    • Use a flashlight to follow the hose to the drainage area. Look for any bends or kinks constraining the line.
    • Correct any kinks in the line.
  6. Take the drain hose off the dishwasher. Examine it to determine whether there are any clogs.[2]
    • Place a pan or rag underneath the hose to prevent spills and for easy cleanup.
    • A clog of food or other fragments will prevent proper drainage of the machine.
    • Clear any blockage you encounter in the hose by running a long flexible brush through it.
    • You can also run water from a high powered hose through the drain line to clear any debris.
    • After you are done, reconnect the hose.
  7. Run the dishwasher on a short cycle. This will allow you to see if there is any improvement in draining the water.[2]
    • A very small amount of water in the bottom of a dishwasher is normal.
    • If the dishwaster is still not draining, you will have to check other parts for malfunction.
    • Make sure the dishwasher is cool before checking anything else.

Part II: Checking The Drain Valve

  1. Make sure the dishwasher is cooled before attempting to check the drain valve. Parts can become hot during the heating and rinsing cycles.
    • This can help you avoid burns from hot parts or steam.
    • It will be easier to work on the dishwasher if the parts are cool.
  2. Locate the drain valve. It may have become stuck closed, preventing water from draining from the dishwasher.[3]
    • The drain valve is located underneath the dishwasher behind the front kick panel.
    • It is usually by the motor, so you can use that to find its location.
    • The valve consists of a gate arm and solenoid (also called a coil)
  3. Check the gate arm. This is one component of the drain valve. [3]
    • The gate arm allows water to drain out of the dishwasher through the valve.
    • You should be able to move it freely.
    • The gate arm has two springs attached to it. If either spring is damaged or missing, it must be replaced.
  4. Check the solenoid.The gate arm is engaged by the solenoid. [3]
    • The solenoid is connected by two wires.
    • Disconnect the solenoid from the wires.
    • Test the solenoid for resistance using a multi-tester. Set the tester to the ohms setting X1.
    • Place the tester probes on the terminals of the solenoid. A normal reading is 40 ohms. If the reading is significantly different, the solenoid will need to be replaced.
  5. Give the motor a spin. This is the rotating blade inside the dishwasher.
    • Inactivity sometimes causes a dishwasher motor to stick.
    • Turning it by hand will take care of this problem and allow water to drain.
    • This is something that should be tried before testing the dishwasher again.
  6. Try the dishwasher to see if it is draining. Run a short cycle so you aren't wasting water.
    • A very small amount of water in the bottom of a dishwasher is normal.
    • If the dishwaster is still not draining, you will have to check other parts for malfunction.
    • In this case, you should call a repair person since you have already troubleshooted through the most common problems that prevent a dishwasher from draining.

Tips

  • Dishwasher drain hoses are reasonably priced and available at your average hardware or homeowner'sĀ  supply store.
  • You can order other dishwasher parts from homeowner's supply stores or repair places.

Warnings

  • Make sure you put the drain hose back in place after checking for clogs or water will go all over the place when you turn the dishwasher on.

Things You'll Need

  • Long, thin flexible brush
  • Flashlight
  • Lubricating oil
  • Dishwasher drain hose

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ā†‘ 1.0 1.1 http://www.familyhandyman.com/appliance-repair/dishwasher-repair/how-to-replace-a-dishwasher/view-all
  2. ā†‘ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://www.partselect.com/Dishwasher+check-drain-hose+repair.htm
  3. ā†‘ 3.0 3.1 3.2 http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/appliance/dishwasher/check/drainvalve.php
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