If your dishwasher isn’t draining out water or working properly, it is possible that there is something blocking it. More often than not, this occurs because of large food particles left behind on your dishes or particles of your utensils that may have broken off.
It can be troublesome when there is an interruption to your dishwashing process, which is more energy-efficient than washing dishes by hand. However, the solutions are easy to implement. Let’s run through all the steps that will help you unblock your dishwasher quickly and in a cost-efficient way.
Turn It Off
First and foremost, make sure that you have switched off the machine. This will prevent any safety hazards from occurring. Make sure you remove all the baskets from the dishwasher to be able to examine the issue clearly.
Figure Out the Issue
In order to unblock your dishwasher, try and find exactly where the blockage is. Most likely, the blockage will be due to large food particles or other objects stuck in the filter. If not, there might be issues with the sink hose (if connected) or the waste hose of the dishwasher.
If you need to familiarise yourself with the dishwasher and its parts, go through the instruction manual first before you start looking.
Clean Out the Filters
The filters will be at the base of the dishwasher along with the spray arms. You can easily remove these filters using your hands. Once you have done so, run the filter under warm water and use dish soap and a sponge if required. Make sure you clean out all the food waste, particles, grease or other broken objects from this filter.
After the filter is fully clean, place it back into its original position. Ensure that everything fits correctly as it was before. The spray arm right above it should rotate properly.
If the water still doesn’t drain out, there might be a blockage elsewhere.
Unblock the Sink Waste
It might be possible that there is a drainage issue due to a blockage in the sink waste. If your dishwasher and sink waste are connected, it is likely that this is where the issue lies.
Check to see if the water in your sink is draining properly. If not, try to unclog the waste by using a plunger. You can also use vinegar or baking soda and pour it down with some hot water.
Unblock the Waste Hose
The waste hose is usually connected to the back of the dishwasher. If you are able to access this hose by pulling the dishwashing machine out, you can easily correct any issues that you may find. You can also disconnect the hose and unblock or remove the clog from it.
Test It Out
Once you have checked for all possible blockages and corrected them successfully, all you need to do now is reconnect and restart the appliance and see if it works well. If the blockage no longer persists, then you are good to go!
If Nothing Works, Call a Professional
If you have tried all that it takes to fix the issue on your own using the above methods and if the blockage is still present, now might be the right time to call in a professional.
It is also possible that you cannot move your dishwasher to check for issues in the hose. In this case, it would be better for you to find someone to help you out.
How to Avoid Such a Situation
If you want to avoid going through this process in the first place, make sure you clear out any food waste and particles from your utensils before loading them into the dishwasher. A brief rinse before loading them in might help in getting rid of the waste and grease.
Additionally, make sure none of the material on your utensils is chipping or breaking off. If it is, don’t put it into the dishwasher!
It would also help if you regularly clean the filter and sprayer arms using warm water. Ensure that you don’t use any coarse material when you do so.
Concluding Remarks
There you go! We hope that this methodical guide will help you solve your problem. Make sure you run through all the steps to help your dishwasher get back on track.
