A clogged dishwasher can be a major hassle, especially if you share the dishwasher with a lot of people. In most cases, cleaning the dishwasher tub and filter will be enough to fix the issue.
However, if it is a more serious blockage, the dishwasher’s hoses and pumps will need to be checked. Accessing the hoses and pumps usually requires the removal of the dishwasher’s kick plate and pulling the dishwasher out from under the kitchen cabinet.
Follow these steps to fix a clogged dishwasher.
Most dishwashers have a removable filter that sits in the dishwasher tub. While the filter should be cleaned at least once per week, many people neglect to clean the filter.
If the filter contained the blockage that is clogging up the dishwasher, great, problem solved! If the dishwasher is still clogged, move on to the next step.
Depending on the type of dishwasher, you may be able to access the dishwasher pump from inside the dishwasher tub, below the filter. If you have this type of dishwasher, there is likely a tab that you can pull to remove the small pump cover. From there, you can see a small piece of the pump that may be clogged.
When accessing the pump, be careful of broken glass and other sharp objects that may be clogging the dishwasher.
If you found a blockage and removed it, you have likely fixed the clogged dishwasher issue. However, if the dishwasher is still clogged, you will need to check the drain hose and potentially remove the dishwasher’s kick plate to gain better access to the pump.
Most dishwashers will have a drain hose that connects to the drainpipe underneath the sink. Other dishwasher drain hoses may connect to a garbage disposal or air gap.
If a dishwasher is clogged, the place where the drain hose connects to the drain is often where debris accumulates. If there is a blockage, you should be able to disconnect the drain hose and clear it with some needle-nose pliers.
If the steps above have failed to fix the dishwasher, its pump and internal hoses will need to be accessed and checked for a blockage.
With most dishwashers, you will need to remove the dishwasher’s kick plate and potentially pull the dishwasher out from under the counter. Placing the dishwasher on its back may provide the best access.
Before removing any access panels, like the kickplate, make sure the dishwasher is disconnected from the power and water.
Depending on the type of dishwasher, it likely has a drain hose and a circulation hose. It may also have one pump or two pumps, one for draining and one for circulating water during a cycle.
The dishwasher’s hoses should be disconnected and checked for blockages. A drain snake tool or hot water can be used to clear a blockage.
As mentioned above, depending on the type of dishwasher, there may be a drain pump and a circulation pump. Each pump can become clogged with foreign items or food residue that has gotten through the dishwasher’s filters.
Locate the pump impeller, which is usually where a blockage forms. Check that the impellers can turn freely without debris getting in the way.
The pumps can also fail electrically, so if you think a pump is defective, test it with a multimeter for continuity (a continuous electrical path). If a pump does not have continuity, it will need to be replaced.
A clogged dishwasher is usually caused by a clogged filter. If the filter is not responsible for the blockage, the dishwasher’s hoses and pumps will need to be checked.
If you have checked these components, but the dishwasher is still clogged, it is probably time to call a trained technician. The control board may have a fault that is causing the issue.
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