Those who have a dishwasher in their homes likely love it. A dishwasher saves you tons of time on cleaning dishes. However, from time to time, your dishwasher may get blocked and not work as well.
A clog in the dishwasher can come from a piece breaking off and getting stuck in the drain. Typically, though, a block comes from food leftovers clogging up the drains. If left untreated, the water could back up, leaving you with a mess and a very unpleasant odor.
Fixing a blocked dishwasher isn’t usually a difficult task to take on. Once you start implementing the following steps and find an even bigger problem, calling Plumbers Cape Town would be your best bet.
Table of Contents
How to Drain a Blocked Dishwasher
Take Necessary Precautions
Before you begin, you should set up a safe working area to prevent any injuries or further damaging the dishwasher. The first step should be unloading the dishwasher. Ensure that there are no dishes or sharp objects left that could cut you.
After cleaning out the dishwasher, unplug the power source and turn off the water line that connects to the appliance. Working with water when there is still power connected to it could lead to a fatal shock. If you don’t turn off the water valve, you could end up with a big mess of water once you start taking things apart.
Check the Drain Hose
The drain hose could be one source of the problem. If you have a freestanding appliance, you can pull the dishwasher away from the wall to ensure there is enough room for the hose to properly drain. If the hose is kinked at all, it could stop water from draining out of the appliance.
When checking the hose, disconnect it to check for any clogs. The hose drains wastewater, so food buildup can occur in the hose. If there is a clog, straighten a hanger to push through the hose until the block is cleared.
After you’ve checked the hose and still have issues with your dishwasher, the problem could be somewhere else, or with the drain itself. You’ll have to do some drain unblocking, which would be best left to the professionals.
Check the Dishwasher Drain and Remove/Clean Filters
If the dishwasher isn’t draining, it could be an issue with the drain or the filters. A common issue is that the filters need replacing or cleaning.
Start by removing as much water from the dishwasher as possible. You can scoop out the water with bowls or buckets, and lay old towels to sop up the remaining of the water. The filters are at the bottom of the dishwasher.
Remove the filters from the appliance. Most dishwashers have a cylindrical filter that is under the spray arms. You have to turn it clockwise and lift the filter straight up to release it. There will also be a coarse filter, which is a metal plate that the cylinder filter holds in place. The coarse filter should easily slide out once you remove the cylinder filter.
Clean both filters in the sink filled with warm water and soap. Give them a bit of a scrub with a sponge to loosen up and debris on the filters. Baking soda and vinegar also help if you can’t get the filters clean. Make sure to rinse them off with clean water once you’re done.
Reconnect the Drain and Turn the Power On
Once you’ve checked over everything and cleaned the filters, it’s time to put the dishwasher back together. Put the coarse filter in first, followed by the cylinder filter. You’ll have to twist it clockwise to lock it in place. If you have troubles, your user manual should have more information on your appliance.
Make sure you’ve reconnected any drains and hoses before you plug the dishwasher back in. Start the dishwasher on the shortest cycle to see if you’ve fixed the issue. If these tips didn’t work and you’re still having problems, you’ll want to contact the professionals.
Call For Help
Sometimes, when the dishwasher acts up, it’s an easy fix. Other times, however, the problem could lie in areas that we cannot work with. Before calling the professionals, try checking the hoses and filters to ensure they’re not clogged.
If you’re not comfortable taking apart your dishwasher, contact us to help you out. Our professionals will ensure you’re dishwasher will be cleaning dishes again in no time.
