How To Unclog A Dishwasher Drain Hose - Kitchen Seer

The first sign that the drain hose is clogged is when you open your dishwasher to empty your clean load of dishes and discover a small pool of dirty water standing in the bottom of the dishwasher.

Another sign is when you hear the dishwasher struggling to drain during the final rinse cycle. Generally, the last rinse water is the cleanest; if your appliance struggles to flush out the purest water, you can be sure that something is clogging the drain hose.

Also, if you notice a foul odor wafting from the kitchen sink, this could be a sign that the drain hose is clogged. Because after the water flows through the drain hose, it goes through the kitchen garbage disposal and drains through the kitchen sink.

If the drain hose is clogged, debris will get caught inside the garbage disposal, which will cause the dirty dishwasher water to pool in the sink.

Will Using Drano Unclog A Dishwasher?

No. Never use Drano in a dishwasher because it's caustic and corrosive.

The chemicals in Drano are specifically for unclogging pipes and will damage the dishwasher motor and erode rubber seals causing them to break down prematurely.

For the best results, use dishwasher-approved cleaning and unclogging products.

See this dishwasher cleaner on Amazon.

What Causes A Dishwasher Hose To Clog?

Generally, the dishwasher hose will clog due to the buildup of food particles, hard water deposits, or a clog lodged in the garbage disposal components.

Also, a broken or damaged drain motor will cause the dishwasher hose to clog. Be sure to troubleshoot a few different options to determine what is causing the issues.

How Often Do Dishwashers Drain?

All dishwashers fully drain after the wash and rinse cycle has been completed. However, the number of times a dishwasher will drain during wash cycles can vary from brand to model.

Moreover, the number of times the dishwasher will drain depends on how many wash cycles the selected setting provides for each load. Also, if your dishwasher has sensor technology, it can sense how many cycles it will require to wash and rinse the dishes.

How Do You Manually Drain A Dishwasher?

According to American House Shield, before you attempt to drain your dishwasher. Ensure you take all the dishes out and remove the bottom dish rack from the dishwasher.

Safety Precautions

Then, turn the dishwasher off and shut the electricity to your dishwasher and garbage disposal off.

Never attempt to perform checkups or routine maintenance with the electricity flowing through these appliances. Now that the dishwasher is not connected to any electrical power sources.

Open the door and soak the standing water with an old towel or two; it is essential to clean up the dirty water to prevent accidental falls and slips.

Check the condition of the drain hose that connects the dishwasher to the garbage disposal.

Generally, this hose is located under the kitchen sink or behind the dishwasher, and if this is the case, you will have to pull the dishwasher out to access the draining hose.

Once you locate the draining hose, it is time to clear it via draining and unclogging the hose. Firstly, detach the hose from the clamp with small pliers.

Set a small pan or a few old towels under the drain hose to catch water droplets.

Once you have removed the draining hose, you can clear it with a commercial-grade de-clogger or bend an old wire clothing hanger to loosen and remove any debris blocking the hose.

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Will Bleach Unclog A Dishwasher?

No. Bleach will not unclog the dishwasher drain or hose. Also, it is advised not to use Bleach to clean dishwashers. Especially models with stainless steel interiors, which Bleach can damage.

Safety tip: do not use Bleach and vinegar together. The combination will cause chlorine gas in your kitchen, which is considered lethal.

Are you concerned about mold growing in your dishwasher?

Click here to read: How To Get Rid Of Mold In A Dishwasher

Why Is There Water In The Bottom Of My Dishwasher?

Suppose there is a small amount of water standing beneath the spray arms.

That is okay, only if the water is one cup or less in volume. If water is covering the bottom of the dishwasher or leaking from the door, it is presenting a nasty odor.

There is an issue with the draining hose that connects the appliance to the garbage disposal and the kitchen sink. It is likely the drain hose is clogged.

Standing water should not be occurring in fully functional dishwashers. If this is happening regularly, something is blocking your draining hose. To address this issue, you could check the dishwasher draining hose or your kitchen plumbing.

Please remember you could contact a professional to evaluate the appliance and what could be causing it to malfunction.

In Closing

Today we learned how to identify a clogged dishwasher hose and remedy that issue. Also, avoiding Bleach and Drano is vital to keep your dishwasher functioning and your kitchen healthy and safe.

We hope this article has helped you understand the Whirlpool dishwasher washing cycles and how to operate your appliance better.

Please check out some of our other posts before you go to help further your dishwasher knowledge base.

Can You Run A Dishwasher Without Hot Water?

Can You Put Refrigerator Drawers And Shelves In The Dishwasher?

How Much Electricity And Water Does A Countertop Dishwasher Use?