Fixing a Dishwasher that Won't Drain

I'm no plumbing expert, but as a home owner several times over I sure seem to end up doing a lot of plumbing. Here are the reasons I've found why a dishwasher might not drain.

But first, answer this question: Is it a brand new dishwasher?

I recently installed a brand new Maytag dishwasher that did not have the wire to the drain pump connected. It was just hanging there in the back. And I could not for the life of me find where it hooked up.

So I installed the dishwasher anyway. . . thinking that wire was "extra." Anyway, after I tried to run a load of dishes and found the dishwasher wouldn't drain, I uninstalled it and really looked and found where the wire connected, and now the dishwasher drains like a champ.

So here are the 4 main (in order of ease) reasons why your dishwasher might not drain:

• You've got something stuck in the drain. Look down below the heating element on the bottom of the washer. There should be some slats beneath the lower arm. Are there any UFO's (unidentified floating objects) that you can see? Remove them.
• Your garbage disposal is clogged. Most folks with dishwashers also have disposals. Sometimes if you run your garbage disposal (with lots of hot water) you can dislodge whatever it is that's clogging your washer.
• You've pinched your drain hose. If you've moved your washer recently, chances are that your pinched the drain hose. Make sure the hose is free and clear from all obstructions. Make sure to look under the sink, because often the drain hose runs through the below sink cabinet to the sink drain.
• Is the drain pump running when the washer goes to it's drain cycle. Or is the machine totally quiet? If so your pump may have burned out.

So there you have my 4 reasons why your dishwasher might not drain. Let me know if they help you. . . and good luck.