8 Reasons Amana Dishwasher Not Draining

If your Amana dishwasher is not draining, you’re in the right place.

There are 8 common reasons why your Amana dishwasher is not draining that we will cover in depth in this article.

To find out the reason that applies to your dishwasher, start from the top and work your way down the list of reasons.

This guide covers all major models of Amana dishwashers, including:

ADB1100AWW3

ADB1200AWS

ADB1200AWW

ADB1400AGS1

ADB1400AGW1

ADB1500AWB

ADB1500AWS

ADB1500AWW

ADB2200AWS

ADB2500AWB

ADB2500AWS

ADB2500AWW

ADB3500AWB

ADB3500AWS

ADB3500AWW

ADS350C/P1188326W

ADS450C/P1188325W

ADS550C/P1188324W

ADU3000C/P1188327W

ADU3000DWW/P1307515W

ADU3000DWW/P1309615W

Reason 1 – Faulty drain impeller

The best place to start is to check the drain impeller. The impeller helps drain water out of the dishwasher through the drain hose into either the garbage disposal or the drain line, depending on your setup. 

Checking the drain impeller is simple; you just need to:

1. Locate the drain impeller (it’s at the bottom of the dishwasher).
2. Check it for any signs of damage.
3. If damaged, replace it. If it’s fine, move on to the next reason.
4. Once the new impeller is installed, check if the dishwasher can now drain. If not, move on to the next reason.

Reason 2 – Faulty check valve

The check valve stops water from coming back into the dishwasher once it has drained out. Sometimes it can become stuck in the closed position, and this stops your dishwasher from being able to drain.

Checking the drain impeller is simple; you just need to:

1. Locate the check valve (it’s usually at the bottom of the dishwasher).
2. Check to see if it can open.
3. If it is stuck closed, try to repair it, or if that isn’t possible, replace it. If it’s fine, move on to the next reason.
4. Once the check valve has been fixed or replaced, check if the dishwasher can now drain. If not, move on to the next reason.

Reason 3 – Blocked drain hose

The next common reason for your Amana dishwasher not draining is a blocked drain hose. When your dishwasher drains, the water goes out through the drain hose, so if it becomes blocked, the water won’t be able to drain.

To unblock the drain hose, you need to:

1. Locate the drain hose.
2. Remove the drain hose (from both ends).
3. Try to run water through the drain hose to check if it’s blocked. If it is, unclog the hose and attach it back onto the dishwasher and the sink. 
4. Once the drain hose is reattached, check if the dishwasher can now drain. If not, move on to the next reason.

Reason 4 – Stuck check ball

Your dishwasher has a small plastic ball called a check ball that is located in the check valve. The purpose of the ball is to stop water from getting back into the dishwasher once it has drained. 

Checking the check ball is straight-forward; you simply need to: 

1. Locate the check ball.
2. Check if the check ball is stuck.
3. If stuck, repair it or replace it. If it’s fine, move on to the next reason.
4. Once the check ball is installed, check if the dishwasher can now drain. If not, move on to the next reason.

Reason 5 – Faulty drain solenoid

The drain solenoid opens the drain valve so water can drain out of the dishwasher. If it becomes faulty, your dishwasher will not be able to drain.

To check the drain solenoid, you simply need to:

1. Locate the drain solenoid (consult your manual if you’re not sure where it is).
2. Check the drain solenoid for any sign of damage.
3. If damaged, replace it. If it’s fine, move on to the next reason.
4. Once the new drain solenoid is installed, check if the dishwasher can now drain. If not, move on to the next reason.

Reason 6 – Blocked drain valve

The drain valve opens to let water drain out. If the drain valve gets blocked, water cannot drain out of your dishwasher. 

Cleaning the drain valve is simple; you just need to:

1. Locate the drain valve.
2. Check to see if it’s blocked or dirty.
3. If blocked or dirty, give it a good clean. If it’s fine, move on to the next reason.
4. Once the valve is cleaned, check if the dishwasher can now drain. If not, you will need to replace the drain valve and then check if that solves the problem. If your dishwasher still doesn’t drain, move on to the next reason.

Reason 7 – Faulty drain pump

The drain pump can sometimes become faulty, which stops water from being able to drain out of the dishwasher.

Checking the drain pump requires using a multimeter. Here’s how to check it:

1. Turn the power off to the dishwasher.
2. Locate the drain pump and remove it from the dishwasher (it’s at the bottom of the dishwasher)
3. Test the pump with a multimeter. If the test shows the motor does not have continuity, replace it. If it does have continuity, move on to the next reason.
4. Once the new drain pump is installed, check if the dishwasher can now drain. If not, move on to the next reason.

Reason 8 – Blocked garbage disposal

If your Amana dishwasher drains out through the garbage disposal and not directly into the drain, the cause of your dishwasher not draining might be that the drain plug in the disposal unit has not been removed. This is generally only the case if you’ve recently installed a new disposal unit. If you have recently installed a new unit, remove the plug so the dishwasher can drain, but if the dishwasher drains out through the drain, leave the plug in place.