How to clean dishwasher air vent

My dishwasher would not drain suddenly. After Googleing various articles which pointed in various directions, I finally found it to be the problem with the air gap attachment that you would see protruding out of your sink on the counter top. The drain blockage is the most common reason for dishwasher drainage problems, the web will tell you. And in the drainage conduit, the air vent has a very sharp bend that is likely to trap debris. Instead of brining out the entire dishwasher for inspection like I did, just check the air trap first.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• screwdriver (Phillips and maybe flat)

1. The air vent easily comes off by unscrewing the plastic nut you will see after removing the cap on the counter top. After unscrewing the nut but hand (you may need a wrench), the air vent can be pushed down the hole made for it on the sink/counter top.

2. Go underneath the sink and unscrew the claps holing the dishwasher drain pipe and the food disposer food pipe and to get the air vent out.

3. Now blow by mouth the dishwasher outlet end (clean the end a little to be put in your mouth). You will immediately know if that is the problem, if it not free. I had to knock mine around on a hard surface and glass pieces and foam bits came out. After some cleaning I could blow easily.

4. If the air vent is not the problem, you have laborious tasks ahead of checking the entire drain pipe by removing the dishwasher from its holding place.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have to remove the dishwasher to inspect the entire drainage, please be sure to switch off power supply. Look carefully/read manual on how to remove dishwasher. There may be copper pipe attachments/wires you will have to unscrew/detach carefully in cramped places. Using common sense and you will be able to check the drain conduit at the least; it is not rocket science.