When your dishwasher is working properly, it’s almost like magic. Dirty dishes go in, clean dishes come out—it couldn’t be easier! Like all major appliances, it’s almost magic, but not quite. To keep running smoothly, your dishwasher requires a little TLC every now and then. Clog prevention is an important part of dishwasher maintenance. If you need to know how to prevent dishwasher clogs or what to do about a clogged dishwasher, we’ve got you covered.
How to Tell If Your Dishwasher Is Clogged
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, your dishwasher gets clogged anyway. If you have a clogged dishwasher, you might notice one or more of the following warning signs:
- Dishes aren’t getting cleaned properly.
- The dishwasher drains slowly, won’t drain fully, or isn’t draining properly after the end of a wash cycle.
- There’s a foul odor in the dishwasher.
- Water is backing up in your sink.
- Your dishwasher is making unusual noises.
Any one of these warning signs can indicate a clogged dishwasher. What can you do about it?
How to Fix a Clogged Dishwasher
Most dishwasher clogs are caused by problems with one of a small handful of parts:
- The filter basket or food trap
- The drain hose
- The spray bar
- The sink air gap
In some cases, it may be an issue with your home plumbing, rather than the dishwasher itself.
Tools you might need include:
- Towels,
- Wet vac or hand pump
- Screwdriver
1. Prepare for the Job
To get started, empty out the dishwasher. Remove any remaining dishes, and then remove the dishwasher racks.
Next, turn off the dishwasher and unplug it. If your dishwasher has a hardwired connection, turn off the circuit at the breaker. Don’t skip this step! Electricity and water aren’t a combination to play around with. Make sure the appliance is disconnected from its power source before you continue.
2. Remove Any Standing Water
Next, remove any stagnant water in the bottom of the dishwasher. You can soak it up from the bottom of the machine with towels or use a wet vac or hand pump if you have them.
3. Clean the Drain and Filter
Check the drain and filter of the appliance. Most dishwashers have a removable filter or drain basket in the center of the drain area, surrounded by a flat mesh or grate. Check both of these carefully for any chunks of food that are caught in the filter holes. If you notice that either the removable filter or the flat filter have a lot of trapped food, this may be the source of the clog.
To fix the clog, remove both the central filter and the flat mesh filter. Clean with warm soapy water, and use a pipe cleaner, toothbrush, or toothpick to remove any food that’s stuck in the holes. Finish up by rinsing and drying the parts.
Wipe out any food scraps or debris in the filter trap, then replace the drain basket.
Run the dishwasher on the hottest water setting to check that the problem is fixed.
4. Check the Dishwasher Drain Hose
Another potential cause of a clogged dishwasher is a blocked drain hose. The drain hose is the part that drains the bottom of your dishwasher pan. It typically connects to the garbage disposal or directly to the kitchen sink.
You can access this hose either by removing the end that connects to the garbage disposal or the end that connects to the dishwasher. To remedy a clogged drain hose and solve the problem of a dishwasher that isn’t draining, try the following steps:
- Look for bends or kinks in the hose that might be restricting drainage.
- Remove the hose and flush it with hot water to check for blockages – Keep in mind that the hose is part of the drain, so it’s best to do this at another sink.
- Flush out the hose with a mixture of equal parts baking soda and vinegar.
- Use a drain-clearing wire to gently push the clog free. Don’t use a drain snake—this tool has sharp edges that may cut into the drain hose and damage it.
Verify that you’ve fixed the problem by running the dishwasher on the hottest water setting.
5. Check the Spray Bar
The holes in the spray bar can get clogged with food particles, preventing water from flowing freely. This part of the appliance is easy to remove and clean in the sink. Use warm soapy water and a toothbrush, toothpick, or pipe cleaner to clean the holes.
6. Check the Sink Air Gap
If you don’t have a garbage disposal, your sink should have an air gap that stops sink water from backing up into the dishwasher when it drains. The air gap is located near the faucet on top of your sink.
To check your sink’s air gap, turn the top cover counterclockwise to remove it. Clean out the drain with a stiff brush and rinse in warm soapy water. Replace the cap, then run the dishwasher to check if the clog is fixed.
3 Tips to Prevent a Clogged Dishwasher
The best way to deal with a clogged dishwasher is to prevent clogs from developing in the first place. Fortunately, it’s an easy job, requiring only a little maintenance and regular cleaning.
1. Load the Dishwasher with Care
Good dishwasher care starts at the beginning of the wash cycle, with loading. You don’t have to completely clean your dishes before loading them—after all, that would make the dishwasher itself redundant. But to prevent clogs and keep your dishwasher running reliably, it’s important to scrape dirty plates and pans before putting them in the machine.
- Scrape off any larger chunks of leftover food stuck to plates, pots, and pans.
- Rinse plates if they have sticky sauces or lots of smaller leftover food particles stuck to them.
- Keep paper products, bottles, cans, and disposable aluminum out of the dishwasher.
- Check that plastic products are dishwasher-safe before loading them in – Plastics that aren’t designed for the dishwasher can cause major damage if they melt in the hot water, as chunks of melted plastic can block the spray arm, pump, and filter.
2. Run a Cleaning Cycle Regularly
A little routine maintenance can go a long way towards keeping your dishwasher healthy.
A great way to prevent grease and dishwashing detergent from building up and creating clogs is to clean the dishwasher from the inside. Each month toss a quart of distilled white vinegar into the bottom of the machine by itself and run it empty (without a load of dishes). Vinegar helps break down:
- Scale deposits
- Bacteria growth
- Unpleasant odors
If you regularly run your dishwasher on the eco-friendly setting to save water and energy, make sure to do this vinegar run at the hottest water temperature setting to aid in sanitization.
Maintaining your garbage disposal can also do great things for your dishwasher. Most garbage disposals and dishwashers drain through the same pipes, so running hot water through the disposal helps clear out grease and keep the pipes clean. Keeping your garbage disposal clear is an easy way to help your dishwasher stay on top of its game. Using a biodegradable sewer cleaner like Bio-One monthly can help maintain your drain lines and clear organic material and grease from the disposal and drain.
3. Don’t Forget Routine Maintenance
Your dishwasher is only as good as its parts, so keeping those parts clean and well-maintained is essential to prevent clogs, foul odors, and other issues.
The arm sprayer is one of those parts that can quickly become clogged, especially if you live in a hard water area. Prevent clogs and scale buildup by soaking the spray arm in diluted white vinegar every couple of months, or more often if it tends to clog quickly. You can also use a pipe cleaner or toothpick to clean out the holes in the sprayer.
Two other locations to keep an eye on are the food trap and the screen or dishwasher filter. These parts are designed to trap food scraps, so they need to be cleaned every few months. At the same time, check for holes or cracks in these essential parts. If you spot any breakage, replace the affected part immediately to prevent other parts of the dishwasher getting clogged.
Need Help with a Stubborn Dishwasher Clog? Call CW Service Pros for an Expert 24/7
A reliable dishwasher is essential in many homes, and fixing a clogged dishwasher is a high priority. Whether you need help unclogging your dishwasher or need any other kind of dishwasher or plumbing repair, call CW Service Pros. We’ll get your dishwasher back in working order so your family can get back to living life comfortably!
