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has this happened to your dishwasher?

I have an older dishwasher-Kenmore model#363 16569790. It won't drain. The wash cycle washes our dishes just fine, there's no puddles on the floor, but after a wash cycle, the bottom of the machine is full of water.

As far as I can tell, new water comes in during the wash cycle, there is nothing blocking the drain filters that I can see. Any suggestions on trouble shooting? Should I call Sears? A plumber?

11 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    If the water won't drain from the dishwasher, first manually remove as much water as possible and then check the sump area for paper or any other large object. Make sure the door is properly latched. The pump will not drain if the door is not latched properly. Check the belt, drain line, air gap, drain valve and solenoid assembly, the motor, and the pump. If your dishwasher uses a belt to drive the pump, and it has broken or come off the pulley, replace it.

    A cup or so of water in the sump area of your dishwasher is normal. It is there to prevent the seals from drying out. The dishwasher will pump this old water out before beginning to wash.

    If you have recently installed a garbage disposer in your home, make sure that the drain plug on the disposer has been removed. It's just a little plastic piece that blocks the hole where you hook the dishwasher drain hose. If your dishwasher drains through the garbage disposer, you need to run the garbage disposer before you run the dishwasher to make sure that the drain is clear.

    There is a drain hose between the drain valve or pump and the garbage disposal or drain line. If an obstruction has blocked this, then your dishwasher won't drain. The drain hose is connected by clamps to the drain valve and the disposer or drain pipe. Remove it and visually inspect it for a clog or a kink. Try to remove any debris. If it is in good condition, just put it back on, and if not, purchase a new one to install.

    If you don't have an air gap in the drain line, at least use a high drain loop. Making a large loop about 18" off the ground with the drain line can prevent any back flow into the dishwasher from the sink.

    If you have one, the air gap will be located on top of the sink. The air gap is there to prevent any siphoning of standing water from the sink. When your dishwasher drains, the air gap diaphragm will form a seal and allow the water to drain properly. If the diaphragm in the air gap is faulty, it’s possible that water can leak onto the cabinet and into the sink area. When this happens, then the air gap must be replaced.

    Like the inlet valve, there is also a drain valve on most models. When no power goes to the drain valve it remains closed and prevents water from leaving the machine. When the valve receives power during the drain cycle, the solenoid opens and allows the water to leave the machine. If your drain hose is attached directly to the pump, you don't have a drain valve. The motor simply reverses and the pump sends the water in the opposite direction, which is out of the machine.

    If the motor doesn’t turn or work properly, the dishwasher may not drain. Make sure you have power to the unit. If you notice that the motor hums but won't turn, it could be seized, and you probably need to replace it.

    Small objects can sometimes get stuck in the pump. When this occurs, you’ll need to open the pump and remove any debris buildup. The dishwasher pump is usually mounted directly to the motor and runs off the motor as well. The pump is also attached to the bottom of your dishwasher and pushes the water from the dishwasher.

    Source(s): From the AP Wagner Repair Center http://www.apwagner.com/
  • 5 years ago

    For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/avTTi

    Basically, a dishwasher is a robot that cleans and rinses dirty dishes. Humans have to load the dishes, add detergent, set the proper washing cycles and turn it on, but the dishwasher accomplishes a whole series of functions by itself. A dishwasher: * Fills itself with water * Heats the water to the appropriate temperature * Automatically opens the detergent dispenser at the right time * Shoots the water through jets to get the dishes clean * Drains the dirty water * Sprays more water on the dishes to rinse them * Drains itself again * Heats the air to dry the dishes off, if the user has selected that setting Although dishwashers are watertight, they don't actually fill with water. Just a small basin at the bottom fills up. There, heating elements heat the water to 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Then a pump propels the water up to the water jets, where it is forced out and sprayed against the dirty dishes. Think about a garden hose with no nozzle – if you put your thumb over the end of the hose, decreasing the space for the water to come out, it sprays out more forcefully. The dishwasher's jets work on the same principle. The force of the water also makes the arms that hold the spray jets rotate, just like a lawn sprinkler. When the washing and rinsing is finished, the water drains down to the basin again, where the pump propels the water out of the dishwasher. Depending on the type of dishwasher, the drain water might go right into the pipes under your sink, or travel up a hose into your sink itself. The final step in a wash cycle is optional – the dry cycle. The heating element at the bottom of the dishwasher heats the air inside to help the dishes dry. Some people just let them dry without heat to save energy. EXTRA INFO! Josephine Cochrane invented the modern dishwasher in 1886. Cochrane was a wealthy socialite whose servants kept chipping her fine china while hand washing it. She developed a rack and water jet system that debuted at the 1893 Chicago World Fair. The company she founded eventually became KitchenAid.

  • Anonymous
    4 years ago

    Kenmore Dishwasher Wont Drain

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    Kenmore Dishwasher Won T Drain

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  • Anonymous
    6 years ago

    This Site Might Help You.

    RE:

    has this happened to your dishwasher?

    I have an older dishwasher-Kenmore model#363 16569790. It won't drain. The wash cycle washes our dishes just fine, there's no puddles on the floor, but after a wash cycle, the bottom of the machine is full of water.

    As far as I can tell, new water comes in during the wash cycle, there...

    Source(s): happened dishwasher: https://tr.im/1EmEZ
  • 1 decade ago

    At best, the drain line is clogged or not raised enough to prevent water from siphoning back. Worst case, it's the pump/ motor. The part (WD26X10013) costs about $166 not including labor to install. Your Kenmore is actually an old GE and should be replaced.

    PS, don't get another GE.

  • 1 decade ago

    Maybe the hose is kinked under your sink and all the water doesn*t drain out.

    I had a similar problem and took everything out and cleaned it really well and it started working fine again; I think some tiny stuff clogged the filter so all of the water does not drain out if the pump doesn*t work hard enough. Try running some straight white vinegar through it and see if that helps (after you clean the filter that is)

    Source(s): me
  • 1 decade ago

    It could be a bad pump, or it could be a faulty solenoid or timer. You should probably also make sure that your drain hose is clear from end to end.

    Source(s): I've replaced all of these things on my old Kenmore.
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I had a similar problem so decided to go 'green'. I scrapped it used the space for other purposes.

  • DanD
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    it does sound like a bad pump....call a repair company

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