For many of us, the thought of not having a dishwasher sends you into a panic. That appliance is used sometimes more than once a day as it works to keep your dishes clean, so you don’t have to do that grunt work. However, when it fails to get the job done and gets clogged, most people are working feverishly to get it back up and running. It can leave homeowners wondering why it is clogged in the first place. Randall’s Plumbing is here to talk about some of the most common reasons that you dishwasher is clogged.

Check Dishwasher Filter

Every dishwasher has a filter basket that is located in the bottom of the dishwasher. It is there for the important task of keeping large pieces of food and other debris from making their way into the drain. This basket needs to be cleaned out on a regular basis because if it isn’t, food gets in the way of the water draining properly. To clean it properly, you need to take the basket out and rinse the food off of it. Before putting it back in your dishwasher, go ahead and soak it in a water and vinegar mixture to remove any remaining oils that are still stuck to the basket. If you open your dishwasher and it is still full of water from the last cycle, this is the first place you should look.

Clogged Drain Hose or Garbage Disposal

The drain on your dishwasher is attached to the plumbing underneath your sink. A lot of the time, it is attached to your garbage disposal if you have one. When there is a clog in this drain hose or in the garbage disposal, the water your dishwasher is trying to drain will get pushed back into the dishwasher. Sometimes the clog can be caused due to food or soap buildup.

Garbage Disposal Still has Plug in It

Sometimes there is a step that is often forgotten when a new garbage disposal is installed in your kitchen. There is a plastic plug that needs to be removed before it is completely installed and ready to go. With that plastic plug still in place, your dishwasher won’t be able to drain. This is an easy fix but can leave homeowners scratching their heads.

Clogged Sewer Line

Nobody wants to experience a blocked sewer line, because it can be a difficult thing to fix. However, when your dishwasher isn’t draining properly, this can be the cause for your problems. A block somewhere in the sewer line underground can cause dishwasher draining issues. The thing to remember about a blocked sewer line is that your dishwasher won’t be the only thing affected by it. Your toilets and other drains won’t be working properly either.

Drain Clog Removal, Sewer Line Repair, Fixture Replacement & More in Marshfield, Conway & Greater Lebanon, Missouri

If you are dealing with a dishwasher that isn’t draining as it should and you can’t figure out why after running through some troubleshooting, you can call Randall’s Plumbing to help you get to the bottom of it. No matter what the problem may be, we can solve it for you. Call us today!