There should be no water left in the pan after your dishwasher finishes its cycle. If there’s still water left behind, this is called a backed-up dishwasher, and it’s a common problem. You will need to know what’s causing the backup in order to fix the issue. To help you in your troubleshooting, the drain cleaning experts at Midwestern Plumbing Service in Amelia, OH, have outlined a few of the most common causes behind this problem.

Common Causes of a Backed-Up Dishwasher

1. Debris Buildup

Food and other gunk that is cleaned off the plates have nowhere to go, so they will accumulate outside the drain leading to the discharge piping. Water won’t be able to get through once enough debris is deposited over the drain. Look around the bottom of your dishwasher pan and remove any debris that you see in it; this should fix the problem. You can then avoid this happening again by clearing your dishes more thoroughly before placing them on the racks.

2. Discharge Piping Blockage

If removing the debris does not fix the issue, then the blockage might be inside the discharge piping itself. A drain cleaning professional will need to inspect the plumbing to locate and clear the blockage in the water lines. Once they have finished their drain cleaning, they might be able to tell you why the blockage occurred and how you can avoid a recurrence of the problem.

3. Broken Pump

If there is no blockage inside your discharge piping, the likely culprit is a failing dishwasher pump. The pump is responsible for pumping the water out of the dishwasher as it goes down the drain. A plumber can inspect the pump for you to see if it needs to be repaired or replaced.

If your backed-up dishwasher isn’t caused by a debris buildup, call Midwestern Plumbing Service for drain cleaning or pump repair. Their team has served northern Kentucky for over 35 years, and they can expertly diagnose the source of the issue to get it up and running as soon as possible. They are available 24/7 for emergency plumbing service and charge affordable pricing. See their full range of services online, and call (513) 753-0050 to schedule an appointment.