Kenmore Dishwasher Not Draining? Here’s How To Fix

Kenmore dishwashers are a rising home appliance option that is known for being excellent dishwashers as they have unique cleaning features and are equipped with numerous facilities and qualities. Although it is a widely used dishwasher, there are some issues that you may face as a customer.

One common problem that often frustrates the users is the problem of a Kenmore dishwasher not draining properly. If you find yourself dealing with this recurring problem, we’ve prepared a comprehensive guide below to help you identify the underlying causes and provide various solutions to resolve it.

If we are to summarize the reasons behind your Kenmore dishwasher not draining, they range from having a faulty pump to a clogged drain hose. A quick summary to fix this problem would be to inspect all the electrical and mechanical components involved in the drainage system of the dishwasher and carry out their respective fixes in case you find the culprit. 

Read below to understand the reasons and follow the different solutions accordingly.

Why Is Your Kenmore Dishwasher Not Draining?

If you are looking for a solution to this problem, it is first important to recognize why exactly we are facing the problem itself. Generally, there can be a lot of reasons behind this error but if we are to talk about a major fault behind this, it could be the defective process of moving water outside the dishwasher that is the culprit.

 There are a number of other reasons as well so without wasting any more time,  let us dive into the different types of causes and their appropriate fixes

1) Faulty drain impeller.

This piece of plastic component has sharp curved blades that are used to help push the dirty water up against the drain hose. The primary reason why this impeller may have failed could be due to wear and tear after using the dishwasher over such a long period of time. Another reason that you might not want to overlook is, that sometimes something may get caught within the impeller causing it to get stuck and hence this is why your Kenmore dishwasher won’t drain.

Fix: Examine your drain impeller properly:

To fix your impeller, you will have to ensure that you check the impeller is working correctly. This means that you will have to remove the lower rack to have access to the impeller and see if the drain impeller is in working condition. In case it is broken, you have to get it replaced as soon as possible. To replace the impeller follow these steps:

1. Unplug the dishwasher from the main power source 
2. Disconnect it from the water source 
3. Remove the lower access panel of the dishwasher 
4. Find the impeller and remove it
5. Clean it if you see anything clogged.
6. Once removed, replace the working impeller correctly in the same place as previously located. 

2) Poor drain pump

If your Kenmore dishwasher is not draining, you should take a look at the condition of your drain pump. This is the first thing that you must check when your Kenmore dishwasher won’t drain so that you can get it fixed. 

The drain pump is mainly used for pumping the dirty water from the machine to the home drain system. There may be different reasons why your drain pump is not working correctly. One of them could be a poor electrical connection which means that not enough power is reaching the electrical component and it cannot work as efficiently as it should. 

Another reason to look for is the blockage of the drain pump by grease or clogged particles. This will prevent the drain pump from smoothly pumping water outside of the machine hence the drainage failure.

Fix: Clean the drain pump

Firstly, check the drain pump carefully to spot any sign of physical damage such as glass pieces or debris. If you find a clogged particle or blockage of any kind, make sure to remove it entirely. You can do this by using the help of pliers.

If the blockage is big and simple pliers are not working, then you may have to resort to disassembling the entire drain pump itself. After disassembling, remove the blockage and remember to clean it with a soft brush.

Now that the blockage is fixed, if the drain pump still fails to work properly, it is time to check the wiring and connections of your dishwasher to make sure that the electrical supply is appropriate and not faulty. 

3) Solenoid kit failure

The third reason, why your Kenmore dishwasher is not draining could be the failure of the drain solenoid kit to open the drain valve which causes the drainage of the dirty water. When your solenoid kit is defective, the drain valve will also fail to open which is why your Kenmore dishwasher won’t drain properly. Usually, the reason why your solenoid kit fails is because of wear and tear, rusting, or a sudden power surge. 

Fix: Fix your solenoid kit

To fix the solenoid kit, you will have to physically inspect it for any signs of visible damage. You also need to examine the scale of damage, whether it is electrical or mechanical damage. You can use a multimeter to study the continuity of the device, if the readings are faulty and the damage is too big, you will have to get the solenoid kit replaced. To replace the solenoid kit:

1. Make sure you have screwdrivers, pliers, and the working solenoid kit ready
2. Locate the faulty solenoid kit 
3. Once located, detach it from the dishwasher by using pliers
4. Use a screwdriver to fix and tighten the newer solenoid kit in place.

4) Blocked drain valve.

As mentioned before this is an important component that also helps in the drainage of dirty water. If this is faulty your Kenmore dishwasher won’t drain and you may have to get this checked. The drain valve is found under the sink and coupled with the solenoid kit, they help the water to drain out from the machine. Since it is at the bottom and constantly in use, it is very common for it to get clogged with grease, food particles, or tea bags.

Fix: Clean the blocked valve

Firstly, check if the drain valve is clogged. If you are certain it is blocked, remove the clogged particles with the help of a soft toothbrush. If the blockage is not removed you may have to get it replaced as with other components. To replace the drain valve:

1. Disconnect the water source 
2. Remove the hose pipe between the dishwasher and sink
3. Locate the faulty drain valve and detach it.
4. Replace the new drain valve and screw it tightly
5. Reconnect the hose and water supply. 

5) Clogged air gap

This is a small plastic piece that sits on the sink where the hose is connecting to the dishwasher. The other end of the hose leads to the hole in the dishwasher. An air gap is important for allowing smooth water flow from the dishwasher and preventing the backflow of dirty water. If an air gap is clogged, it may lead to your Kenmore dishwasher not draining. 

Fix: Clean the air gap

Remove the hose to check for any clogged air gap. If there is any blockage, pull apart the air gap and clean any debris or grease. Once cleaned, reattach the hose and tighten the air gap together. 

6) Defective timer

If your Kenmore dishwasher still won’t drain, check your timer. The timer is responsible for running a continuous series of wash cycles and their duration. If the timer is faulty, the machine may take longer for the wash cycles and won’t drain consistently.

Fix: Replace the timer

Make sure to check if the timer is turned on and working. The first thing that you can try to do is extend the wash cycle time to a longer interval to see if the issue is fixed. In case the problem persists, you may want to replace the timer. To replace the timer:

1. Remove the control panel of the dishwasher
2. Use a screwdriver to unscrew the older timer
3. Attach the new timer securely and tighten it. 

7) Faulty pump and motor 

This is the most important component without which the entire draining system would not even function. Generally in dishwashers, the dirty water is removed through the drain hose through a motor that rotates the impeller to pump out this water. Due to drain line clogging or bearing failure, if your motor and pump assembly itself is not working, your Kenmore dishwasher will definitely fail to drain. 

Fix: Fix the pump and motor assembly. 

To fix the motor issue, start a drain cycle and listen for any sound indicating motor damage. When the cycle is done, check the drain hose for clogging to remove any clogged particles. If you notice any weird sound, it may be an indicator to get your motor and pump replaced entirely. 

8) Defective garbage disposer

Your Kenmore dishwasher may not drain properly if it’s old, and this issue can be attributed to a hose blockage and a loose connection between the hose and the garbage disposer, which causes water to flow back into the dishwasher during the draining process.

Fix: Assess your garbage disposer.

If you are using a new Kenmore dishwasher, make sure that the disposer is correctly placed under the guidelines of the Kenmore user manual. Also, ensure that the knockout plug is inside the disposer so that it is closed when not being used. 

Check for any blockage to ensure that the water flows quickly through the disposer.

9) Dislodged check ball

This is a tiny black rubber ball near the check valve present at the back side of the dishwasher. It functions similarly to the check valve by preventing the backflow of drained water. Sometimes this check ball could get stuck or disoriented causing a blockage. A dislodged check ball could take the blame for your Kenmore dishwasher not draining. 

Fix: Reposition your check ball

To assess your check ball position:

1. Disconnect your dishwasher from the power source
2. Look inside the drain for a black rubber ball.
3. Once spotted, relocate it back into its assigned place securely. 

10) Dislodged check valve 

Just like the check ball this also prevents backflow of dirty drained water. It works alongside the check ball to ensure this process and it is located on the drain line of the dishwasher. Due to poor positioning, popping, or blockage by food particles, it may get dislodged and prevent your Kenmore dishwasher from draining. 

Fix: Replace the check valve.

Locate the check valve on the drain line and study it for any physical damage or signs of clogging by food particles or debris. Clean it in case of clogging but if it is damaged you may need to get a new one and replace the damaged check valve.

11) Broken water pump belt

Under a Kenmore dishwasher, there is a black rubber belt that helps in pumping the water outside the machine. If this belt is broken, the drain pump will also fail to push the water outside the dishwasher leading to your Kenmore dishwasher not draining. 

Fix: Replace the belt

To replace your water pump belt at your home follow these steps:

1. Disconnect the dishwasher from the power source 
2. Detach the lower panel of the dishwasher
3. Remove the old belt 
4. Replace the new belt and tighten it securely in place

12) Faulty drain hose

This is the pipe that forms the main connection between your dishwasher and garbage disposer. Over time, due to constant draining, it may also get clogged with particles and the hose may become blocked. This will not allow a smooth flow of water through the hose pipe hence your Kenmore dishwasher will stop draining. 

Fix: Clean the hose pipe

As with other solutions, you will also have to clean this hose pipe as it gets clogged on both ends. Detach the entire hose pipe and use a gentle brush for cleaning, or you may even leave it inside vinegar for soaking overnight. Attach the hose pipe back in place once cleaned. 

If you encounter problems that are too hard to fix with the earlier advice, it’s best to contact a professional appliance technician or the manufacturer’s customer support for extra help and any needed repairs.

Find Your Kenmore Refrigerator Manual: If you know your Kenmore refrigerator’s model number, go to Kenmore.com and type it into the search bar. Look for “User Manual” under “More Information.” You might find model-specific troubleshooting steps in the manual. Also, some refrigerators have a physical copy of the manual under the top right-hand side cover.

Contact Kenmore Support: If your Kenmore ice maker still isn’t working, it might be best to replace the whole ice-making unit. Usually, these repairs need a professional. Contact Kenmore support at 1-844-553-6667 / 1-800-366-7278. You can also schedule a visit from a certified technician online. Your warranty may cover the repair cost in some cases.

The Bottom Line:

We have looked at the various reasons and solutions that you can read through and follow easily in the comfort of your home when you read our article. If your Kenmore dishwasher is not draining we have provided you with the best troubleshooting guide that you may follow at your convenience. 

The main cause of your problem is blockage or any type of clogging so make sure you inspect all the components carefully and follow their fixes accordingly. If your Kenmore dishwasher is still not draining, it is time to seek professional help from a plumber or contact Kenmore customer service although we hope that after reading our article you will not need much external support.