How to Drain a Whirlpool Dishwasher
Over time, food debris, soap scum, hard water deposits, mold and mildew can build up and clog critical dishwasher components, which can prevent them from draining properly. This is especially true if you don’t subscribe to a regular cleaning and maintenance schedule. But before you call a technician, we’ll walk you through how to drain a Whirlpool dishwasher with 5 troubleshooting techniques.
Supplies You’ll Need
- Bucket
- Towles
- Sponge or soft brush
- Screwdriver
- Tweezers
- Tube brush
Clogged Filters
If your Whirlpool dishwasher is not draining at the end of its cycle or there is standing water over an inch high, then the first thing you should check is your dishwasher’s filter.
- Step 1. Turn off your dishwasher – For your safety, it’s always a good idea to turn off and unplug your dishwasher (or if you can’t unplug, turn off the circuit breaker) when troubleshooting electrical equipment.
- Step 2. Remove the bottom rack – For better access, remove the bottom rack along with any dishes, so your field of vision and range of motion is unobstructed.
- Step 3. Mop up any standing water – Now comes the hard part. Make sure you have a dishrag ready to mop up any leakage and protect the hardwood floor’s finish. Now, take a towel, sponge, cup, turkey baster, or vacuum to absorb, scoop out or suck up excess water to discard in a bucket or sink.
- Step 4. Check the dishwasher filter – Now that your filter is no longer swimming in the water, you can go ahead and remove it by turning it three-quarters of the way counterclockwise. If the filter is clogged or dirty, hold it under running water until clean. For more stubborn hard water deposits and dirt, you can take a soft brush or sponge and gently wipe down the filter. Once finished, go ahead and reinstall the filter.
- Step 5. Turn on your dishwasher and run a cycle – You can check if removing the debris from the filter worked by running the dishwasher through a regular cycle. If there was no clog or your Whirlpool dishwasher is still not draining, let’s keep going down the line!
For a more in-depth description of how to clean a Whirlpool dishwasher filter, you can check out this article on Whirlpool Dishwasher Cleaning & Maintenance.
Blocked Drain Pump & Hose
After checking the filter for food chunks and other debris, the next thing to check is the drain pump for debris that might have gotten past the filter’s screening.
- Step 1. Unplug your dishwasher – Unplug your dishwasher.
- Step 2. Unscrew the bottom panel – With a flathead screwdriver, remove the screws fastening the panel in place.
- Step 3. Place a towel underneath the drain pump – The drain pump is a small box located next to the drain hose. It’s a good idea to place a towel directly underneath to catch any standing water that may be backed up in the pump.
- Step 4. Remove the drain pump – Turn the drain pump counterclockwise to unlock. On certain models, the drain pump is held in place by a set of screws. If this is the case, take a flathead screwdriver and remove it.
- Step 5. Remove any debris – The dishwasher’s filter is not a foolproof system. Popcorn kernels, glass shards, chipped stoneware and other debris can get past the screen, especially if the filter is damaged.
- Step 6. Check the drain hose – While you have the hood popped, you might as well check the drain hose for visible clogging via food debris, grease, soap scum, or mold and mildew buildup. You can clear the clog by unhooking the hose from the garbage disposal and pouring one part vinegar and one part water down the line.
- Note: Don’t use Drano or any other harsh chemical drain cleaner on your dishwasher hose, as this could damage the machine and hose and leave harmful residue on your dishes.
- Step 7. Reattach the drain pump and bottom panel – Once you’ve cleared the clogs, reattach the drain pump to the disposal and screw on the bottom panel.
- Step 8. Turn on the dishwasher and run a cycle – The only thing left to do is test your handiwork by restoring power and running it through a cycle.
A Stuck Float Valve
If you ever wondered what that little mushroom-shaped device does on the bottom of your dishwasher, unfortunately, you might have already discovered the consequences of a faulty or jammed float valve. Normally, a float regulates the water level in your dishwasher. Sound a little all too familiar? Here’s how you can check if the float assembly is the culprit behind your Whirlpool dishwasher not draining:
- Step 1. Identify the float valve– After following steps 1-3 from above, it’s now time to test the float switch in your Whirlpool dishwasher. It’s typically located on the bottom right-hand side near the front.
- Step 2. Test the float valve– Sometimes, it’s a miscreant fork or spoon that’s fallen out of its caddy. Other times, the offender is more nefarious, like a malfunctioning relay switch. You can test this by gently tugging on the float. Usually, noises are bad, but in this case, a slight clicking sound will indicate a working relay switch.
- Step 3. Remove any debris from the float valve – It’s also possible something is preventing the float valve from moving freely. Check underneath the float switch by gently pulling upward and dislodging any debris that might be stuck.
- Step 4. Turn on your dishwasher and run a wash cycle – You can check if removing the debris from the float valve worked by running the dishwasher through a regular cycle. If all drains well, then problem solved! If not, try more Whirlpool dishwasher troubleshooting in the next steps.
Plugged Up Air Gap
Most dishwashers share the same drainage system as the sink, and that’s why problems originating in the air gap and garbage disposal can end up causing problems later down the drain line. This is how to get your Whirlpool dishwasher to drain by unclogging the air gap:
- Step 1. Turn off your dishwasher – For your safety, it’s always a good idea to turn off and unplug (if you can’t unplug it, turn off the circuit breaker) when troubleshooting electrical equipment.
- Step 2. Remove the outer and inner cap on the air gap – The air gap is that little oval-shaped protection sticking up next to the faucet. Uncap the air gap and remove the smaller, inner cover.
- Step 3. Clean out the air gap – Using tweezers, remove any visible debris from the air gap. Next, take a tube brush and scrub the inside of the opening to dislodge any remaining dirt. Be sure to remember to reassemble the air gap when you’re done!
- Step 4. Turn on your dishwasher and run a cycle – You can check if removing the debris from the air gap worked by running the dishwasher through a regular cycle.
Obstructed Garbage Disposal
Another one of those kitchen sink-related draining issues can be straightened out by running the garbage disposal. Hopefully, this frees the blockage, and you can be on your merry way. However, if you hear an unusual sound, this could mean that the knock-out plug on the side of the disposal was not removed during installation. Unfortunately, you’ll have to call an authorized service technician to clear up the mess-up.