Prevent clogs by scrubbing dishes before loading a dishwasher.
Drains are simple, unpressurized pipes that can clog up with time. Dishwashers use a combination of mechanical engineering and standard drains to flush the water out of the machine. Inside the dishwasher is a drain trap and a mechanical pump or solenoid. The primary method of detecting a clog in the system is the presence of standing water in the dishwasher. Identifying the cause can be a little more complex.
Instructions
1. Fill the sink, then monitor the flow of water down the drain. Plug one side of a double sink and test each side. The drain pipe from the sink is connected to the drain for the dishwasher. Water backing up in the sink indicates the clog is in the main drain. A plunger or chemical drain cleaner should clear up the issue.
2. Unplug the dishwasher or turn off the breaker that provides power to its circuit. Turn off the power to the garbage disposal, if you have one.
3. Disconnect the dishwasher drain pipe from the main drain. Connections to a garbage disposal could be blocked by a plug or object lodged in the connection. Squeeze the handles of the pinch clamp holding the dishwasher drain pipe to the main drain, and wiggle the drain pipe free. Inspect the connection and inside of the washer drain pipe.
4. Slide a straightened metal clothes hanger into the drain pipe to feel for a blockage. Disconnect the pipe from the back of the dishwasher if you are able to access it. Look through the pipe for signs of a blockage.
5. Remove the strainer from inside the dishwasher. The strainer is the plastic or metal grate beneath the lower spinning arms. The grates lift straight out in two halves. Remove any clogs from the strainer or beneath it.
6. Check the trap that can be accessed from beneath the machine -- it is designed to catch large objects to prevent blockages. Consult your owner's manual for instructions on removing the trap and cleaning it.
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