There are many ways to unclog a dishwasher with standing water. Some of them involve the use of all kinds of chemicals (tablets, bleaches, liquids). Read this article and find out what to do if you’ve got a clogged dishwasher at the house.
Table of Contents
- Types of blockages and reasons for their appearance in the dishwasher
- What parts can get clogged in the dishwasher with debris
- Intake filter
- Drain filter
- Drain pump
- Sprayer
- Inlet filter
- How to avoid problems with standing water in the dishwasher
- Video how to unclog a dishwasher
After loading the dishes and turning on the “Start” button, did you hear that the dishwasher hums, but does not fill in water? Or did the machine start a wash cycle but stopped during the draining phase and refused to discharge the waste water? You need to take urgent corrective action. The most common cause is blockages in the system.
Types of blockages and reasons for their appearance in the dishwasher
If the PMM does not drain or fill in water, the cause may be a blockage. Depending on the brand of dishwasher – an error code may appear on the display. The decryption of the code indicates a problem that needs to be found and resolved.
If no error is displayed on the scoreboard, you will have to look for the cause of the problem on your own. First you need to determine the type of blockage: external or internal.
External factors:
- The sewerage system, pipes or the place where the drain hose connects to the sewerage system is clogged.
- The siphon is clogged (when connected through it). With poor permeability of the siphon, water can hardly escape from the sink. This can serve as an additional sign for verification.
- The drain hose is bent, kinked. This happens when the connection is incorrect. The hose may be crushed by a foreign object.
What to do in this case? Check the correct connection of the drain system. Shut off the water supply, unplug dishwasher and install the hose correctly, without kinks. Also, disconnect its end from the sewer and clean the blockage with special means. Remember to check and clean the siphon.
An internal blockage occurs if you did not clean the dishes well before loading them into the chamber. Pieces of food, parts of napkins, toothpicks drain into the tray along with water. If the dishes break during washing, then the debris also penetrates the filter and drain.
If your toilet keeps running, please read our recommendations.
What parts can get clogged in the dishwasher with debris:
Drainage filter. It serves as a barrier behind which the pump impeller and the pump itself are hidden. The water passes through the filter to drain the water or start circulating again through the chamber. Therefore, it is recommended that cleaning is carried out twice a month. Better yet, check the filter after every wash.
Spray. Water is supplied by a circulation pump to the sprinkler, from where it flies out under pressure from the nozzles (holes). The nozzles are clogged – water does not flow, the system generates an error, or stops working.
The drain is clogged. If the filter fails, food residues penetrate further into the pump, drain hose. To remove foreign objects, an article on how to disassemble the dishwasher will come in handy. We will also describe the sequence of work in this publication.
Intake filter
There is a fine mesh at the entrance to the filler valve, which stops large particles of debris from the water supply system rust. Over time, the part becomes clogged and needs cleaning.
How to clean parts and remove blockages
To solve sewage problems, you can call a repairman or deal with it on your own.
For example:
- clean the contaminated area with a thin wire brush;
- disconnect the siphon and rinse it with water;
- pour a special powder and use a plunger.
What to choose is up to you. You also need to clean the drain hose: under pressure from a tap or mechanically (using a brush).
Internal problems will have to spend more time. Let’s consider how to clean the filter from clogging.
Drain filter
Before starting work, disconnect the PMM from the network, turn off the water supply. Proceed like this:
Open the chamber door.
Pull out the lower basket.
Unscrew the filter and metal mesh from the pan.
Rinse under the tap. Additionally, you can use a non-rigid brush and a toothpick for, particularly difficult dirt.
Remove water from the container in the sump with a sponge. Remove the pump flap. Pull the cover to the side and then towards you. Additionally, it may be necessary to unscrew the screws. Check the impeller for clogging. If everything is in order, then inspect the pump and its parts.
Drain pump
You need to disassemble the dishwasher to get to the pump. Remove all baskets from the chamber. Move the machine out to an open space and lay it on its back. Then do this:
- Unscrew the screws or unfasten the latches of the bottom cover (bottom).
- A float sensor can be mounted on the back of the bottom.
- Carefully unscrew the mounting bolt and unfasten the wiring.
- After gaining access to the circulation block, you will notice that the pump is attached to the side.
- Unscrew its screw.
- Disable the wiring chips.
We recommend taking pictures or filming your actions. This will make it easier for you to put the car back together.
- Turn the pump and remove it from the place. Check holes for blockage.
Additionally, you can inspect the rest of the parts, hoses, pipes.
Sprayer
Everything is simple here:
- The lower rocker arm is located near the drain filter.
- Scroll it and remove it from the seat. On some models, you may need to press down on the clips.
- Rinse the part with water. Additionally, the nozzles are cleaned with a toothpick.
Be sure to inspect the top spray and its opening. Sometimes limescale builds up in the holders to which the spray arm is attached.
Inlet filter
The mesh can be cleaned by disconnecting the inlet hose from the PMM housing. If the part is clogged with limescale, put it in water for a while with the addition of citric acid. It is recommended to clean the mesh at least once every six months.
How to avoid problems with standing water in the dishwasher
By adhering to the rules of operation, you can prevent malfunctions. What do we have to do:
- It is good to clean appliances from food debris.
- Clean the dishwasher regularly.
- Clean the drain filter twice a month, and the bulk filter once every six months.
- Descale parts. Use special salt.
- Dry the hopper after the wash cycle.
These are ways you can fix problems with a clogged dishwasher with your own hands, as well as prevent their occurrence in general.
