Dishwasher not draining

[Brian]

Ok, this is a carryover from another post.

I am having problems with water not completely draining from my dishwasher. Like most dishwashers, the drain hose is connected to my insinkerator. I took the drain hose off and blew in it. I had to blow REALLY hard to get any bubbles to appear in the puddle in my dishwasher. I turn beat-read in the face doing it. I removed the plastic guard from my dishwasher by removing the two screws and attempted to check for any visible or any blockage that I could feel. I did not feel anything, but I could submerge my entire hand in this water. I tried to remove the hose from the drain itself, but whoever put it on did it really tight and I can't get it off with my socket wrench.

Are there any more remedies? I don't have an air gap that I can tell.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

That would be beet red, even if you were beat after doing it.

You should NOT be able to make bubbles in the DW. There is a valve that is closed to hold the water in. The fact that you could not blow past it means it is closed, as it should be when not draining.

Possibilities are: Solenoid valve not opening when it should be. (replace the valve) Clog in the line Timer not sending a signal to open the valve.

Find the valve under the machine. It is most likely where the hose is connected. See if you can manually open the valve by pushing on a lever. Once open, if the line is clear, it will be easy to blow through the hose. If not, there is a clog. I've had mine blocked by a stray cherry pit.

[Brian]

Is this valve controlled by a spring mechanism that moves up and down? I have a small metal bar that looks like it goes to the drain that is hooked to a mechanism that has springs on it. Could this be the valve control you are talking about?

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Sounds like it. Spring holds it closed, magnet opens it up.

[mm]

And that means your drain hose goes straight from the dishwasher to the insinkerator, right?

You scooped me, because I was going to tell you about the little chicken bone in my air gap that somehow kept my DW from draining at all. I sitill don't understand it but I guess it doesn't apply to you.

[Brian]

Yep. Long white, ribbed tube. I do not see an air gap.