If you ever discover that your dishwasher isn’t draining at all, don’t panic. Before you conclude that the appliance is already damaged and requires repair, realize that the plumbing may be the source of the problem. For example, if the drain pipe is blocked, the water will obviously flow back into the dishwasher instead of get washed away to the main drainage lines. Here’s a short and simple do-it-yourself guide to help you troubleshoot!
1. The first thing that you need to do is verify if the sink drains smoothly. If it doesn’t, then your dishwasher won’t drain properly, too.
2. Turn the garbage disposal system on and let it run. Is it also not draining properly? Most set ups in the kitchen involve the use of the same drain for the garbage disposal and the dishwasher. The common problem entailed here is that food scraps and other substances tend to accumulate inside the garbage disposal or the drain pipe. Now when the drain and/or the garbage disposal are clogged, the gray water from the dishwasher won’t go anywhere.
To get through this, use plenty of water in the garbage disposal and try to clear it of waste materials and debris. Doing so usually clears the drain pipe thus making the dishwasher drain again.
3. If method number two won’t solve the issue, you should then check the air gap. If you notice that water comes out of it while you’re using the dishwasher, it indicates a possible clog between the garbage disposer and the air gap.
To clear the air gap, remove its cap first and then find the tube that’s connected to the garbage disposal system. Detach that tube and clean it thoroughly.
4. Another important task that should be done is to inspect the dishwasher drain connection. Check on the connection between the garbage disposal and the drain tube. While the air gap is still not installed, inspect the opening of the garbage disposal. Is there any obstruction in there? Get a screwdriver and insert it into the small opening of the drain tube. Try to twist or move it around to confirm that it’s clear.
5. After doing step number four, the last thing that you should do is to clean the drain tube. Detach it from the air gap and make sure that it’s not plugged. Inspect it and find out if there are sediments or small substances that are trapped inside. If there are, remove them.
6. When you’re done cleaning everything, return the components one by one. Make sure that they’re all reinstalled properly. When you’re done, check on your dishwasher again. Run it and check if it’s finally going to drain smoothly.
We hope that you learned what you should do when your dishwasher not draining at all. If the problem persists, don’t hesitate to call the most reputable Chantilly plumbing company. Plumbers 911 Washington DC provides reliable plumbing services in Chantilly VA including plumbing appliances repair, plumbing fixture repair, home remodeling, backflow prevention, leak detection and many more! Call us now at (877) 932-5325 to schedule a service!
Learn about our top-notch drain cleaning services in Washington DC Metropolitan area! Watch our video below for more information!
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