We expect our appliances to work perfectly every time we turn them on. However, there are always times when problems strike. Such as when Zanussi dishwashers don’t drain properly. There are several reasons that this could happen but don’t call for assistance just yet.
The most common reason for a Zanussi dishwasher to not drain is that there is a blocked hose or the filter isn’t clean. This leaves you with waste water in the bottom of it but it doesn’t usually mean that you can’t fix your dishwasher yourself.
In this article, I will go over the several reasons that your Zanussi dishwasher isn’t draining and what you can do to fix it.
How to know if your dishwasher is clogged
Since you can’t see inside your dishwasher, it isn’t always immediately clear that it isn’t draining. Especially if it sounds like it is functioning normally. You have to look for certain signs that there is some kind of blockage or malfunction. Here are some of the common signs.
It makes gurgling sounds
When the water is struggling to pass through the filter, pump, or hoses then it will make a gurgling sound. When it freely passes through it makes no sound at all usually. Although you won’t know where the clog is by the gurgling sound, you will know that there is a problem brewing somewhere.
Water backs up into the sink
Most people have their machine connected to the sink pipe and this is where it passes the dirty water. If there is a clog somewhere in the drain pipes then this water will end up in the sink itself bubbling up from the pipe when the appliance is running.
The dishes are not clean
The filter traps a lot of debris in it but also the grease that gets washed off of the plates. When the filter gets very full and the water can’t easily pass through any longer, this grease stays in the machine itself. The spray arms end up spraying it all over the dishes even during the rinse cycle. If you feel that they are greasy after the wash then this is a sure sign that the water is not draining correctly because of the filter.
Things smell bad
Another sign that things are not draining well is the fact that the water will often smell. The culprit is usually a clogged filter since it holds onto the grease and food particles that end up rotting inside the basket. This smell will leak out when you open the appliance at the end of a wash.
Common reasons that your Zanussi dishwasher doesn’t drain
There may not be anything wrong with your machine so you don’t have to call for assistance when you realize that there is still water in your appliance or that it is stuck in a cycle because it won’t drain. Many of the common problems can be fixed yourself since many of them are not technical issues, usually.
Here are some of the common reasons that you will find and what you can do before you call a technician.
Before you do any troubleshooting you will need to manually empty the dishwasher so you can get in and check to see what the problem is. Have several towels and sponges handy to be able to catch any excess water that will escape from the dishwasher. Turn off the power supply and the water inlet valve. Open the door and wait for the water to escape onto the towels. Then sop up the water at the bottom of the dishwasher with the towels until it is as dry as you can get it. Now you are free to start looking for the cause of the blockage.
There is a clogged hose
The most obvious culprit is also luckily the easiest to fix. There is usually a clogged drain hose or sometimes even a bent one that is restricting the water flow and not allowing the water to flow out of the machine.
The first place to check is under the sink where the Zanussi connects to the drain pipe. Since it is flexible, and there are usually a lot of things stored under a sink, it can get bent very easily. For instance, if you have a waste bin under the sink and it pushes up against it then it will bend or kink, and the water gets blocked.
If it looks ok there then you should check the hose for clogs. Sometimes there can be a build-up of grime or debris from the dishes that get through the pump. Fat from the plates can pass through the filters and end up coagulating in the hose causing a clog. Remove the hose and flush it out if you think that it is clogged.
Even the main pipe can be backed up and this sends water back into the dishwasher. If you have noticed the sink draining slowly then this is likely the cause. Run a snake down the pipe and see if you can dislodge the clog.
Filters are clogged
Another very logical place to look if your Zanussi dishwasher is not draining is the filter that traps debris from passing through. If you don’t find a clog or anything wrong with the hose then you should inspect the filter.
You can find the filter underneath the bottom spray arm and is usually easy to remove and clean. Turn it clockwise to remove it and take a look. You will likely see a lot of sludge on it. Give it a good wash in warm soapy water until it is clear and then replace it by inserting it back into the housing and turning it counterclockwise.
Run a hot cycle after and pay attention to the draining cycle part of the programme. If it drains then this is the problem and you are now able to wash dishes effectively again. If it is draining but not quickly enough then you can clean out the filter and hoses better by adding a homemade cleaning solution to the bottom of the machine. Add a cup of distilled vinegar to the bottom of the appliance and then add a cup of baking soda. The mixture will foam up quite a bit and be strong smelling so make sure to not linger and breathe the fumes.
Leave it to sit for twenty minutes and then add some water. The water that you add should flow away since the entire filter system is not clear.
The pump is not working
The pump is responsible for purging the water from the appliance after the wash cycle is over. Sometimes it can’t get the job done. One reason it may not work could be that the drain hose is at too high an angle leading to the drain pipe out of the house.
When the hose needs to send the water a couple of feet up to the pipe connection then this might be too high for it to be able to work. If your appliance was recently installed and is having draining problems already then this could be the most likely cause. Check to make sure that the drain hose is no longer than 400 cm and that it connects to a drain inlet that is at least 40cm wide.
The other big possibility is that the pump is broken or faulty and is not able to get the water out. This is very likely the cause if your machine has been draining previously and is only now having trouble with nothing else that has changed to cause problems.
Listen for sounds when the appliance gets to the drain cycle of the program. If it sounds like the pump is loud but the water is not draining anyway then this could signal that the impeller is either blocked or damaged. It is trying to work but can’t, in other words. Silence means that it is likely burnt out and no longer working. You can test the pump by using a multimeter.
Although it is entirely possible for a regular person to replace it on their Zanussi dishwasher, it is a good idea to let a professional handle it to not void your warranty. If you are handy then you can take a look at the pump yourself to see what is wrong with it.
How to check the drain pump:
- Turn off the water and power supply
- Turn the appliance onto its back but not on its side as that will damage it
- Locate the screws for the anti-flood switch and remove them. Then remove the screws for the base plate to reveal the pump
- Pull off the wire connection to the pump and then remove the screws that attach it to the appliance
- Twist the pup to remove it and gently pull it off
- Check that the impeller is rotating normally or if there is something blocking it
- Use a multimeter to get a reading which should be 200 ohms if it is working normally.
At this point, you can replace the part yourself since it is simply a matter of reversing what you did to remove the pump. If the multimeter reads differently than 200 ohms then it needs to be replaced. If there was any grime inside of the pump or blocking the impeller then reattach it and close up the dishwasher. Plug it back in turn the water supply on and start a cycle to test if it drains normally now.
Blocked air gap
When you don’t have a garbage disposal between your machine and the sink then there is the possibility of dirty water that runs away from the sink and back into the appliance. There is an air gap that is designed to solve that problem. This is a small, cylindrical device that is located next to the faucet. It usually juts up from the countertop.
When the air gap cylinder gets blocked then this will cause water to flow back into your dishwasher. Foul smells coming out of the air gap are usually a sign that there is something clogging it. If you have noticed these smells then this should be the first place to look if you are having trouble draining water from it. You can remove the air gap and clear it or replace it if needed very easily.
- Remove the air gap cover by gently pulling it off
- Gently unsnap the plastic diverter located inside or unscrew it depending on the model you have
- Soak a bottle brush cleaner in a solution of warm water and household disinfectant cleaner
- Remove any debris or particles from the diverter
- Use the brush to clean the air gap with an up-and-down motion
- Snap the diverter back into place and replace the cap
This is routine maintenance that should be done occasionally and not just when it seems that you are having a problem with water not draining from it. It only takes five minutes to perform and will also help to prevent any dirty water from backing up into your sink as well.
Final Word
After you’ve done all the troubleshooting above it may seem like you’ve fixed the problem for good. You do need to keep an eye on things and listen for strange sounds it might make from this point forward. Now that you have fixed the problem, however, any others that pop up should be a breeze to fix yourself.
FAQ
Why is there always water left in my dishwasher?
Don’t panic if you open your appliance and see a pool of water at the bottom. It is supposed to never dry down there so that things like rubber gaskets around the filter won’t dry out and crack. All of this standing water will drain when the next cycle goes so it won’t get stagnant and smelly. It will be replaced with water from each successive wash.
Can you use Liquid Plumr to unclog a dishwasher?
You should never use Liquid Plumr or any other drain cleaner to unclog your dishwasher. This liquid is very harsh on the parts that are in your dishwashers such as the filter and the pump so it will ruin your appliance. If the clog is located in your drain pipe leading out of the house then you might want to use some in your sink to remove the clog. However, make sure to understand where and when you can use this type of solution since they can even damage some drain pipes.
