Repairs

Dishwasher Siphoning Out

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpfcIuLLIYQ

This is a cool problem that can sometimes be hard to catch. What is happening here, is when the dishwasher goes into drain, it starts a siphon. The siphon then pulls all the water out of the machine and if it is strong enough it will also pull out the next fill. This situation occurs primarily when the drain is installed straight down into the basement instead of into a drain stub under the sink in the kitchen. When it is installed under the sink, the level of the drain is higher than the water level in the dishwasher and a siphon cannot start. However, with the drain below the level of the water, siphoning can occur. I find that even with a high loop installed on the side of the dishwasher, if the drain goes straight down from the loop a siphon will still be created. The only way to really stop this is to install an ‘air-gap’ or a ‘siphon break’ into the drain line which will allow air into the loop and prevent any siphon from occurring.

With this unit, the water siphoned out and then the heater came on to heat the water (that was no longer in the unit.) This created a higher amp draw than normal because no water was flowing over the element, which in turn took out the safety fuse in the control panel area.

This customer will have his installer back into reroute his drain.

Head Wrench at Neighbour's Appliance Service. Married with 2 kids (6 and 9 yrs old.)

2 Comments

  • Robin

    Hello, I have pretty much the exact situation, minus the fuse issue just that my new Bosch DW is not cleaning the dishes and they are telling me that my drain (which is in the floor) is siphoning the water out of the machine so there is not enough in it to clean the dishes. My previous DW worked fine but it was much older. Anyway this air gap, or siphon break, is that something I can purchase and would I put this right at the point where the hose hooks to the drain. Currently it is draining into a 1/2″ copper pipe coming out~ 3″out of the floor. An appliance guy suggested I run a bigger ABS type pipe up out of the floor and drop the hose into it much like my washing machine drains. Not sure myself which would be better.

    Thanks
    Robin

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