Dishwasher and Washing Machine Drainage Issue: Any Plumbers?

Chris

Chris

Administrator
Original poster
Staff Member
Ride of the Month Winner
Joined
Sep 28, 2015
Messages
77,026
Location
Gillette, WY
We moved into our new house in rural Wyoming.

Upon moving in I found out that my inspector appears to have dropped the ball. The dishwasher and washing machine (both of which are newer LG units) refuse to drain. They keep giving me OE errors.

I took apart the dishwasher and can't find any blocks in the drain whatsoever. Everything else in the house drains just fine. Septic tank was recently flushed so it's nearly empty.

Any thoughts on what I might check next?
 
When you say new do you mean brand new or just new to you if it is a brand new home
Is the dishwasher connected to a garbage disposal ? If so there is a plug in the disposal where the drain hose connects to that needs to be knocked out did you check this
 
  • Like
Reactions: ColoJeep
Chris said:
We moved into our new house in rural Wyoming.

Upon moving in I found out that my inspector appears to have dropped the ball. The dishwasher and washing machine (both of which are newer LG units) refuse to drain. They keep giving me OE errors.

I took apart the dishwasher and can't find any blocks in the drain whatsoever. Everything else in the house drains just fine. Septic tank was recently flushed so it's nearly empty.

Any thoughts on what I might check next?
Click to expand...
There's a plunger bottom right as you look inside. It senses water level and if it sticks in either up or down position will prevent filling and/or draining. Exercise that puppy.

Also, YouTube for cleaning the filter below the bottom agitator.

We just replaced our DW, Home Depot, amazing they had one in stock. Got it home, installed and the bottom of the tub leaked due to not being RTV sealed or such. What a PITA. They took care of it but 30 mile round trips to the store.
 
My drain piping was too small to accommodate the speed at which the new pumps removed the water, was giving me an error as well. Had to replace with proper size, I want to say it was 1.5 originally.

Not sure if your house is new, with new piping codes...mine is late 70s.
 
Plumber1 said:
When you say new do you mean brand new or just new to you if it is a brand new home
Is the dishwasher connected to a garbage disposal ? If so there is a plug in the disposal where the drain hose connects to that needs to be knocked out did you check this
Click to expand...

I mean new to us.

I checked out the dishwasher / garbage disposal hookup already. No plug in there and the line is clear.

At this point I'm thinking that it's actually just a coincidence and both LG appliances (which they're known to make crappy appliances) failed at the same time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rickyd
Chris said:
I mean new to us.

I checked out the dishwasher / garbage disposal hookup already. No plug in there and the line is clear.

At this point I'm thinking that it's actually just a coincidence and both LG appliances (which they're known to make crappy appliances) failed at the same time.
Click to expand...

I know their reputation isn't great but dang that seems like a big coincidence to go dumping a bunch of money on new stuff.

Rickyd said:
Does water you dump into the drain holes freely drain?
Click to expand...

Should be easy to do with the clothes washer. I admittedly would have to do some exploration to figure out how to do it with a dishwasher that drains into a garbage disposal, short of just disconnecting the hose and checking it (and the blockoff in the disposal).


My clothes washer actually has the opposite issue sometimes. If I let the hose go to deep into the drain pipe in the wall, it will siphon water out of the washer, through the pump, and the washer will sit on the fill cycle indefinitely until I catch it and pull the hose up enough to break the siphon.
 
1o1proof said:
My drain piping was too small to accommodate the speed at which the new pumps removed the water, was giving me an error as well. Had to replace with proper size, I want to say it was 1.5 originally.

Not sure if your house is new, with new piping codes...mine is late 70s.
Click to expand...

Code for a clothes washer drain is 2” and yes the newer washer pump out faster than the older ones but they also use less water
 
freedom_in_4low said:
I know their reputation isn't great but dang that seems like a big coincidence to go dumping a bunch of money on new stuff.



Should be easy to do with the clothes washer. I admittedly would have to do some exploration to figure out how to do it with a dishwasher that drains into a garbage disposal, short of just disconnecting the hose and checking it (and the blockoff in the disposal).


My clothes washer actually has the opposite issue sometimes. If I let the hose go to deep into the drain pipe in the wall, it will siphon water out of the washer, through the pump, and the washer will sit on the fill cycle indefinitely until I catch it and pull the hose up enough to break the siphon.
Click to expand...

I haven't replaced anything yet.

Since the dishwasher to garbage disposal line is clear (and there is no plug in it) and the sink drains just fine, all that leaves is the dishwasher pump, no?

As for the washing machine, I am getting around to troubleshooting that after I figure out the dishwasher.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ColoJeep, tr21triton and freedom_in_4low
Top Bottom
Back