When it comes time to do the dishes, the last thing you want to see is a standing pool of water at the bottom of your dishwasher. It’s a telltale sign that you’ve got a clog, and you’re going to have to take care of it before you have the convenience of your dishwasher back. Today, we’ll take a look at dishwasher clogs, their common causes and how you can fix them at home.
When clogs cause you problems, it’s time to call an emergency plumber in Midlothian, TX. Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling and Heating can come to remedy even the most stubborn dishwasher clog in no time. Give us a call at 469-518-2809 to schedule an appointment.
Signs of a Clogged Dishwasher
Before you can fix the problem, you have to be able to identify it. Dishwasher clogs come in all kinds of forms. It could be food debris causing the issue or something out of your control, like a sewer line issue. Whatever it is, you won’t be able to operate your dishwasher again before you fix the problem.
Below, you’ll find some common signs you’ve got a clogged dishwasher.
Water Backing Up in Sink
Take a quick peek under your sink. If you haven’t already, it’s good to acclimate yourself with some basic plumbing locations. This is especially the case for items like your main shutoff valve. If you follow all the lines, you’ll find that the dishwasher connects to the drainage system of the sink in your kitchen. If you always seem to see water rising from the sink when you run the dishwasher, it could be a signal that something is wrong.
Odd Noises Coming from Your Drain
Another great tip is to listen to your dishwasher while it’s running and the sounds coming from the drain. It might seem silly, but if you can get a good gauge of what “healthy” sounds like, you might be able to identify an issue when it comes up. If you’re hearing abnormal noises coming from your drain like gurgling, thumping or shaking, it might be time for your local Midlothian plumbing service.
Slow or Irregular Draining
Keeping up with our theme of becoming more acquainted with your dishwasher, having a good gauge of a regular draining cycle can help you spot a clog before it stops the drain completely. If you happen to see a little water still trying to slip down the drain slowly, you could have something stuck in the path keeping the water from flowing freely.
Pooled Water in Unit
Okay, so this one should be obvious. If you run your dishwasher and, lo and behold, water is reaching the lower rack — you’ve got a problem. Standing water is often chock full of all the nasty food bits that came off during the cycle, so nothing is clean either. Suffice to say; you definitely have a stubborn clog to fix.
Poor Performance
Your dishwasher should always leave you with a clean load of dishes. If it’s not, it could be a sign that a clog is causing debris and grime to stay stuck on your dishware. You might not see standing water or water filling your sink, but slow draining you can’t see could be leading to your dishes coming out dirty.
What Causes a Dishwasher Clog?
All kinds of things cause clogs. But the most common one? Well, that’s improper use. While your dishwasher can handle quite a bit of sticky food, you want to make sure that major pieces of debris never make it into the device. Part of keeping your dishwasher healthy and lasting longer is managing clogs. Think about the kinds of things you might put down your garbage disposal — keep those out of the dishwasher.
But that’s just of the many causes; here are a few more:
- Food Debris and Other Obstructions — As we already mentioned, big pieces of food and debris can easily get caught in the grates of your dishwasher.
- Clog in the Drain Hose — The drain hose that leads to your main drain can build up debris over time and be the source of the clog.
- Garbage Disposal Issues — Since your garbage disposal is part of the same network of drains, a problem here can cause other issues in the system.
- Main Drain Clog — If you are seeing signs of a clogged main drain, your dishwasher won’t be draining either.
- Sewer Line Break — A broken sewer pipe can easily cause all the drains in your home to stop operating.
How to Fix a Dishwasher Clog
After you diagnose the problem and find the source, the next step is to unclog the drain. Before you proceed, you’ll need to get some plumbing tools. In the case of your dishwasher, a plunger just won’t cut it. You’ll need something more heavy-duty like a drain auger, some baking soda and vinegar.
Here are a few simple steps to follow to tackle a stubborn clog:
- Remove the racks in your dishwasher. This will make it much easier to work.
- At the bottom of your unit, you should find some kind of grates. Remove them with a screwdriver.
- From here, you can try the drain auger or the baking soda and vinegar clearing method — or even both.
- Once you see water freely flowing down the drain, it’s time to re-assemble the unit.
- Give the dishwasher a test run to make without a load to make sure everything is operational.
Keep in mind that the clog may be somewhere else in the draining system. If that’s the case, it might require a different approach. If you can’t seem to fix the problem, you can always dial up your local emergency plumber in Midlothian, TX. They are sure to have the tools and the expertise to fix your clog.
Where to Find Quality Midlothian Plumbing Services
A clogged dishwasher is no fun to handle. If you want to take the hassle out of fixing a clog, Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Heating and Cooling has the emergency plumbers in Midlothian, TX, you need to get the job done quickly, efficiently and without breaking the bank.
To get a plumber to your door, reach out online to schedule an appointment.
Author Bio:
Sherrie Johnson-Hartsock
Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling & Heating is now owned and operated by Sherrie Johnson-Hartsock, with his grandson, Daniel Johnson, a third-generation plumber who is also the Service Manager.