QUESTION FROM Hope

QUESTION from "Hope":

Yesterday, for the first time, my dishwasher did not completely drain. There was about 3 to 4 inches of water. Can you tell me why?

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD

Hope:

When a dishwasher has gone through it cycle, finding a small pool of clean water at the bottom of the tub is fairly typical. But if you are finding excessive amounts of water, then something isn’t working correctly. Some things that could be causing this problem include:

DRAIN LINE: Sometimes the drain line can get clogged where the drain line from the dishwasher meets the household drain line. You can disconnect the line and clean it out to remove the clog.

GARBAGE DISPOSAL: Sometimes when the dishwasher doesn’t drain all the way, the problem turns out to be related to the garbage disposal (if you have one). You can check the connection where the dishwasher line drains into the garbage disposal, and if it is plugged, then clean it out. Also, be sure that you garbage disposal is operating and draining properly.

STRAINER: Depending on the design of your particular dishwasher, the strainer at the bottom of your dishwasher may be plugged. To check this, turn off the power to your dishwasher and let the unit cool down. Then, depending on the design, remove the strainer (that could be located under the bottom spray arm), and carefully scrub it clean with a brush.

DRAIN VALVE / SOLENOID: Many dishwashers use an electrically controlled valve to open and close flow to the drain. If this valve is sticking or otherwise not operating properly, it could be causing water to pool at the bottom of your unit.

PUMP: The pump that forces the water into your dishwasher also can pump water out of your dishwasher, depending on your unit’s particular design. If the pump isn’t working properly, this could be the cause of your problem.

MOTOR: If the motor that drives your pump isn’t working properly or not getting power, it could be causing your water pooling problem.

TIMER: And lastly, ever once in a while, a water pooling problem can be caused if the timer on your unit isn’t operating properly, and not enabling it to drain at the proper time in the cycle.

As always, be sure that the power to your dishwasher and garbage disposal is disconnected before doing any work on them.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com

QUESTION FROM sea.anchor

QUESTION from sea.anchor on 4/15/2008:


After I run my dishwasher there is about a quarter of an inch of water in the bottom when it's done. Dose this mean there is a clog and how do I fix it?

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD

Dear sea.anchor:

When a dishwasher has gone through its cycle, finding a small pool of clean water at the bottom of the tub is fairly typical. But if you are finding excessive amounts of water, then something isn’t working correctly. Some things that could be causing this problem include:

DRAIN LINE: Sometimes the drain line can get clogged where the drain line from the dishwasher meets the household drain line. You can disconnect the line and clean it out to remove the clog.

GARBAGE DISPOSAL: Sometimes when the dishwasher doesn’t drain all the way, the problem turns out to be related to the garbage disposal (if you have one). You can check the connection where the dishwasher line drains into the garbage disposal, and if it is plugged, then clean it out. Also, be sure that you garbage disposal is operating and draining properly.

STRAINER: Depending on the design of your particular dishwasher, the strainer at the bottom of your dishwasher may be plugged. To check this, turn off the power to your dishwasher and let the unit cool down. Then, depending on the design, remove the strainer (that could be located under the bottom spray arm), and carefully scrub it clean with a brush.

DRAIN VALVE / SOLENOID: Many dishwashers use an electrically controlled valve to open and close flow to the drain. If this valve is sticking or otherwise not operating properly, it could be causing water to pool at the bottom of your unit.

PUMP: The pump that forces the water into your dishwasher also can pump water out of your dishwasher, depending on your unit’s particular design. If the pump isn’t working properly, this could be the cause of your problem.

MOTOR: If the motor that drives your pump isn’t working properly or not getting power, it could be causing your water pooling problem.

TIMER: And lastly, ever once in a while, a water pooling problem can be caused if the timer on your unit isn’t operating properly, and not enabling it to drain at the proper time in the cycle.

As always, be sure that the power to your dishwasher and garbage disposal is disconnected before doing any work on them.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com

QUESTION FROM GLS

QUESTION from GLS on 4/1/2008:

The disposal and dishwasher were already installed in my home so I'm not familiar with the applicances or the install, but sometimes when running my disposal, water backs up into my dishwasher - what's up with that.

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD

Dear GLS:

Does your sink seem to be draining fine? If not, you should check to see if the drain pipe has gotten plugged, and treat it accordingly (for example, using a product such as Drano).

But if your drain seems clear, then the next thing to check is whether the house you moved into has a dishwasher drain air-gap installed.

A dishwasher drain air-gap helps to ensure proper water drainage without allowing water to siphon back into the dishwasher. It is actually required by building codes in some regions of the country.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com