Water collecting in the bottom of a dishwasher is a common issue. There are lots of reasons why this happens. And not all of them require an appliance repairman to put things right. How do you manually drain a dishwasher? Read on…
Be Prepared
It’s really important that you disconnect the dishwasher from the power supply before you begin. Switch off the circuit breaker too. Locate the water line that connects to the dishwasher under the sink. And turn that valve off as well.
Put old towels around the front of the dishwasher before you open the door. Position them against the baseboards to prevent any excess water from running underneath.
Fully empty the dishwasher of plates, dishes, and utensils. This will give you a clear view of any potential problems. Remove the bottom rack completely to give yourself more room to work.
Get Rid of the Water
Now you can see the standing water you’ll be able to scoop it from the bottom of the dishwasher with a plastic cup. And transfer it to a bucket. When the majority of the water has been removed you can then start to soak up the remainder with a sponge. If you have a wet and dry vacuum you can use that as an alternative option.
Troubleshooting Steps
The Filter
The first thing to investigate is the filter. To clean the filter, you’ll need to remove it. This is normally located under the spray arms at the bottom of the appliance. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for guidance on taking out cylindrical or coarse filters. You can scrub them in hot, soapy water and rinse well before replacing.
After cleaning and re-assembling you can run the dishwasher on a short cycle to see if the problem has been fixed. If the dishwasher still isn’t draining you can do further checks.
The Drain Hose
Debris blocking this pipe will prevent drainage. Its located in the lower front panel which you can remove by taking out the holding clips or screws. Take it out and clean it thoroughly with a wire hanger. How to unclog a dishwasher with standing water this way is simple if this is the problem. Make sure the pipe isn’t kinked at all when you put it back.
The Pump
Sometimes pieces of plastic or shards of glass can stop the pumps from working. The upper one pumps water into the dishwasher, and the lower one pumps it out to the drain. You’ll need to lift out the upper impeller to get to the lower one. Then you can clean out any debris.
The Drain Valve
You’ll find the drain valve next to the motor. Underneath the dishwasher, behind the front kick panel. The valve is made up of a gate arm and coil. The gate arm lets the water to drain through the valve. If the springs are damaged, they’ll need to be replaced.
The coil or solenoid is connected by two wires. After disconnecting them you can test the resistance on a multi-meter. The reading should be 40 ohms – a different reading may mean the solenoid will need replacing.
The Motor
The motor can also be tested using the multi-meter. If readings aren’t in the recommended range the timer may be faulty. You can rotate the blade by hand to see if this lets the water drain.
Still Experiencing Problems?
If you can’t track down the cause. Or don’t feel confident enough to tackle the job. Simply get in touch with appliance repair specialists. Dealing with clogs and leftover water is one of the tasks they do every day. Your engineer will be fully trained and able to fix all makes and models of dishwasher. And your repair will come with a six months parts and labour guarantee.