Do It Yourself Fixes for 3 Common Dishwasher Problems

My Dishwasher is Draining Into the Kitchen Sink

The cause behind this common problem is almost always a blocked drainage hose.  This is a fairly simple repair, so there is no need to call your local Maytag repairman to help you solve it.  Before you decide to purchase some incredibly strong cleaning agent to pour into your dishwasher you should first clean the drain out manually.  Powerful cleaning agents often do more harm than good since the corrosive chemicals that they contain can damage or corrode a hose.  In most cases a simple manual cleaning is just what you need to remove the blockage and get the dishwasher back to draining properly.  A dishwasher repair professional is going to tell you to do the exact same thing, except he will hand you a bill after he tells you. 

My Dishwasher Leaks

Leaky dishwashers are often much easier to repair than people realize.  There are basically only two main issues that cause dishwashers problems.  A bad door seal will cause water to leak from the dishwasher while it is going through its cycle.  You can check the rubber seal around the door of your dishwasher to see if it is damaged or irregular.  A bad door seal should be replaced immediately since it can quickly do more damage to your kitchen.  Your local appliance store will have a variety of door seals available for most brands, and if you cannot find what you need at the appliance store you can always head online to find a new seal.  The other cause of leaky dishwashers is improper loading.  If a dishwasher is not loaded properly the water jets are blocked and this leads to leaking.  Try putting fewer dishes in your dishwasher and this should solve the leaking problem. 


My Dishwasher Is Not Draining At All

If your dishwasher is not draining at all you have a serious problem, but it is relatively easy to solve.  The best quick fix for a dishwasher that will not drain is to check and see if the drain pipe or sink trap is clogged.  If this is the problem you can solve it by snaking out the drain.  If you try snaking the drain and find that you still have issues with how the dishwasher drains, you should check the hoses on the dishwasher.  A kink or bend in the hose can keep the dishwasher from draining properly, and if this is the problem you should replace the old hose with a new one.  You can purchase a new hose at your local appliance repair parts store.  You do not have to look for the exact brand name, you can simply use any hose as long as it fits.