If you have a busy household, you probably consider the dishwasher an indispensable appliance. But every now and now, a dishwasher presents more hassles than convenience. For instance, say you run a load but when you open up the door you find a pool of water at the bottom of the unit. Not only do you have a mess to deal with, but it makes you wonder if you have a plumbing issue on your hands.
There are multiple potential causes of water not draining properly from a dishwasher. The most common reasons are clogs in the filter basket, drain hose, or garbage disposal. But a more serious plumbing issue that could affect the dishwasher is a blocked sewer line.
Whatever the problem might be, if you ignore it for long you could end up with water damage in your home that can be expensive to clean up and cause health issues due to mold growth.
Common causes of a clogged dishwasher
1. Food stuck in the filter basket
The filter basket is designed to catch pieces of food that come off dishware so the scraps don’t end up going down the drain (where they could cause a clog). However, if enough food is trapped in the filter basket, water will have a hard time passing through it. You can remove the filter basket, clean off food particles, and soak the basket in vinegar to break down any grease or oils.
2. Clog in the drain hose or garbage disposal
When the dishwater drains, the water is pushed through a hose that connects to either a drainpipe or garbage disposal under the kitchen sink. If a clog forms from food gunk and soap residue, then water will likely back up into the dishwasher unit.
3. Plastic plug in the garbage disposal
If you have a new garbage disposal installed and then notice the dishwasher not draining properly, it might be because a plastic plug was not removed from the garbage disposal. This is a common mistake that can be quickly fixed.
4. Blocked sewer line
It’s also possible that the true problem lies under the ground, somewhere along the sewer line. This pipe carries wastewater from your home to the sewer main. In addition to getting clogged by household waste, sewer lines can also become blocked by tree roots or break if they are old and made from outdated materials. If along with your backed-up dishwasher, you’re also dealing with slow drains or toilets that don’t properly flush, that’s a sign that you have a sewer line issue.
Plumbing service for dishwashers
If you suspect there is a clog somewhere in your dishwasher, check the first few areas listed above. If you can’t find the source of the problem, then it’s time to bring in the New Haven and Fairfield County professionals from Rick’s Plumbing. We can make sure that the plumbing is clear so your dishwasher can properly drain and be the convenient appliance it’s meant to be. To schedule an appointment, call us at (203) 874-6629 today.