I've been having a persistent issue with my dishwasher filling up with dirty water, even when I'm not using it. I thought it might be a problem with the drain hose, as some suggestions pointed towards needing a high loop. However, I checked and it seems like there is already a high loop installed. When I run the dishwasher, it drains properly and dries out, but after a couple of days, it starts to pool with dirty water again. This has been happening since I bought my home, and the dishwasher looks like it's about 5-8 years old (it's a Kenmore model with SmartWash). Also, I don't think the drain hose is connected to the garbage disposal. Any ideas on what might be causing this issue?
3 Answers
First, check if the knockout plug on your garbage disposal is still in place. Sometimes, if this plug hasn't been removed during installation, it can cause drainage issues. Just detach your dishwasher hose from the disposal and see if the plug is still there. Also, make sure everything's clear on that end! Let me know if that was already suggested before; I didn’t catch your first post.
I suggest elevating your high loop since it looks like it's pretty low compared to your sink. Try securing it close to the counter height using a screw and wire tie it so it's positioned higher. This can help prevent any backflow issues. Also, make sure the discharge hose is not tightly wrapped around anything; it should have some slack.
It might be worth taking a closer look at your drain line. If it's making a bend right after the trap and going through a lot of fittings, that could create a problem. Try running your sink water for a little while and see if it backs up into the dishwasher. If it does, you might have an S trap situation which can cause the dirty water to backflow into your dishwasher. Definitely post more pictures of your setup if you can!