If you have a dishwasher, then you already know what a convenience it provides to you and your family. You load it up with dirty dishes and it cleans and sanitizes your dishes for you. That is until your dishwasher suddenly stops working, or it isn't draining water from the washtub. When this happens, you're back to standing at the sink getting dish-pan hands. If your dishwasher isn't draining water, use the information below to help you solve the problem and repair it as well. 

Why Isn't It Draining?

Your dishwasher isn't draining, most likely, due to a clog in the base of the dishwasher, or in the drainpipe itself. If you have a clog, it may be due to food or even grease clogging the drain and pipe. This can occur if you aren't rinsing the dishes thoroughly enough, or if you are leaving grease and oils on the dishes. One way to prevent this from happening is to rinse your dishes thoroughly before loading them into the dishwasher and scraping all of the food particles from the dishes. Checking the filter in the base of the dishwasher often can also prevent this from occurring. A buildup over time can lead to this problem, but if you check it at least once per month or every couple of months, you may never encounter this issue.

What Can You Do About It?

To get your water to drain again, you first have to get rid of the water in the washtub so you can see the problem. Take a bucket or a bowl and begin draining as much of the water as possible so you can get a better look at what is going on. After the water has been removed, remove the sprayer arms and the assembly so you can get to the filter below. Depending on your machine, you may have more than one filter where there could be a clog. Remove the filter(s) and clean them thoroughly. Reach inside to remove anything else that may be clogging the drain below. Pour water down the drain of the dishwasher to be sure there isn't a clog in the pipe of your dishwasher. If there is, you'll need to remove the clog from the pipe using a snake. Replace the filters and the sprayer arm assembly, then test out your handy work.

Remember that a dishwasher is a convenient appliance to have, but if you aren't using it properly, it could cost in repairs. If you have a problem with your dishwasher and aren't able to repair it on your own, call a professional washer repair person for help.

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