Technical > Home Improvement > Whirlpool dishwasher not draining properly

Whirlpool dishwasher not draining properly

If yours has a trap after the water leaves the disposal, I'd drop that and see what's up. A rag or wad of paper towels to stuff in the sewer side of the pipe will keep the sewer gases at bay during the inspection. If that yields no answers, I'd be inclined to drop the new garbage disposal and see if the problem is there. Sometimes plastic drain hoses can delaminate within too, but that can be rare. "Rubber" hoses are often more inclined to delaminate, but both are just a thought toward resolve. If you do drop the disposal, it is tricky to get disposals back in place, and usually requires setting the drain flange back in with plumber's putty, all while holding the unit uphill to get the flange to lock in. For a DIYer like me to accomplish, 3 dozen cuss words were required when I did mine a few months ago.

If no drainage problems existed prior to new disposal install, the odds are high that said install is causing the problems. A knockout from the one of the disposal's ports blocking the water's path?

I'd consider calling the installer and explaining that all was well prior to the install. Perhaps a conversation toward diplomacy could yield a $0 return to repair visit?

reply to yahtzee
If water is backing up into the disposal, the drain could be slow, and if it generates sufficient back pressure, and/or head pressure, the water will push back thru the dishwasher's hose trap and refill the tub.

A good test would be to fill the dishwasher with a full load of water, remove the hose from the drain, and let the dishwasher pump into a 5gal bucket. If all the water is removed, you have a drain issue.

-j
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if it aint broke, tweak it!!
currently on FiOS (kick aZZ!)

reply to yahtzee
tpOd has an excellent idea. I'd try that first. Good one.

Thinking out loud post - I would avoid any and all drain cleaning products. I've seen them gnaw right through metal pipe when used exactly as directed. I dropped a butter knife down a drain after using one of the leading brand "safe for pipes" products, and it fell right through the metal pipe trap below the sink & onto the cabinet floor below. Hate to think how the rest of the pipe's run fared.

YMMV.

I agree with most of the drain cleaners, except enzyme products. Enzymes eat the fats and oils that stick to the drains, rather than an acid that will eat everything.

Hot water is one of the best drain cleaners though.

-j
--
if it aint broke, tweak it!!
currently on FiOS (kick aZZ!)

reply to tp0d

reply to tp0d

reply to yahtzee
Is the knock-out inside the dishwasher drain connection on the side of the disposal removed? If not, she won't drain.
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Zach

+1

reply to Zach 58

reply to yahtzee
I screw up not taking the knock out off before.

Makes you feel like a complete dumb ass!

reply to yahtzee
If the knockout was in place, where did the water go from the dishwasher during the cycles you mentioned that had been run? I would think that you would have water leaking somewhere on the floor when it could not be pumped out before new water was allowed in.
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nohup rm -fr /&

A decent amount leaked out and the rest was in the bottom of dishwasher.
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If ever offered a breath mint - take it.

had to be 3-4 gallons leaked all over.

reply to yahtzee
My dishwasher wouldn't work when I forgot the knock out.

No discharge and then locked up. Some sensor kicked in.

reply to yahtzee
Glad to hear you got it working again. Been there and forgot to remove the KO myself. As mityfowl said, it makes you feel like a complete dumb ass!

If your DW leaked more than just a small amount of water, it may be worth investigating further. There should be a float switch that either shuts down the machine entirely or locks out the fill valve.
--
Zach

reply to yahtzee

Yeap, my first thought was the knock-out wasn't removed, but the OP made it sound like a "slow" drain, not a "no" drain !

reply to mityfowl

It had to try and drain.