How to Fix a Clogged Dishwasher
Dishwashers are one of the greatest modern inventions, but they aren't perfect. Sometimes the dishwasher drain can get clogged with food or debris and won't drain properly. Before you call a plumber, this might be something you can solve on your own. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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How to Fix a Clogged Dishwasher
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1
Check the dishwasher drain to make sure it is not full of food and debris. If you see anything down there clogging up your dishwasher drain, take a paper towel and clear out the debris. If the dishwasher still won't drain, take a stretched-out metal coat hanger and clear out some of the hard-to-reach draining holes.
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2
If the dishwasher continues to stay clogged, pull out the bottom panel of the dishwasher and check the draining hose. There could be a fold, clog or kink in the hose that is keeping it from draining. Unravel the hose and try to get it as untangled as possible. If you see a clog in the hose, it may be time to replace it.
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3
If you're still having draining problems, reach way inside the dishwasher with a screwdriver and unscrew the draining basket from the drain. You may have to clean underneath it to really get at the food and debris. Rinse the draining basket and remember to screw it back on. It's important to keep the dishwasher from clogging in the future.
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4
Flip the switch of your garbage disposal and check to see if it's working properly. The plumbing between your dishwasher and your garbage disposal are connected, so if the garbage disposal isn't working as well, the problem may not actually be with your dishwasher.
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5
If you have tried all of these steps and you're still having problems, it's time to call a professional. Your local plumber will know exactly what you need to replace to get your dishwasher working in no time.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure to thoroughly rinse your dishes before placing them in the dishwasher to prevent a clog.
Be sure to unplug the dishwasher before using any tools.
Resources
- Photo Credit le kitchen image by sumos from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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A note on step 4: this is not always the case, it depends on the plumbing in your house. For instance, in our house, the clothes washer and the dish washer drains are connected, and even though the kitchen sink does use the same standpipe, it's connected closer to the sewage outlet, so a clog could occur between the two without it affecting the kitchen sink (this has happened to us on more than one occasion). Also not all houses with dishwashers have garbage disposals, and if your garbage disposal doesn't work but the kitchen sink drains properly, it could indicate an electrical problem, so this check isn't necessarily valid. Also, in some cases the pump housing could become clogged past the filters (as is our case), so if you're handy, you could always take apart the pump housing yourself and find the problem without calling a professional, just make sure your seals are still good before reassembling it. A service manual may be useful in this case, if you can obtain one.
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Tammy Frost
Dec 14, 2009
This is the best dishwasher article I have found. Thanks for the tips. It still isn't working though. hmmm...I love my dishwasher lol.
