Miele Dishwasher Drain Not Stopping? How to Fix It

A fairly common issue that some owners of Miele dishwashers experience is a dishwasher that won’t stop draining. When the appliance is turned on, it immediately starts draining, even though you haven’t started a cycle and there is no water in the tub. It continues to drain until the appliance is turned off.

This issue makes your Miele dishwasher unusable, so getting it fixed as soon as possible is a top priority. This article will explain the likely causes and provide step-by-step instructions to fix them. Keep reading to learn how to stop your Miele dishwasher from continuously draining and get it functioning properly again.

Why Your Miele Dishwasher Won’t Stop Draining

Several potential issues could cause your Miele dishwasher to behave this way. However, in most cases, the underlying issue is water leaking into the drip pan at the base of the appliance. This water triggers a float switch, sending your dishwasher into “flood mode,” where it continuously attempts to drain.

Before addressing how the water got there, the first step is to remove it by following these steps:

1. Unplug your Miele dishwasher.
2. Remove the kickplate at the bottom of the dishwasher.
3. If there is water in the drip tray, soak it up with a sponge or towel, or use a turkey baster to remove it.
4. Once all the water has been removed, reattach the kickplate and plug the appliance back in.

After removing the water, you may find that the dishwasher no longer continuously drains when turned on. However, it is essential to fix the problem that caused the water to accumulate in the first place.

1. The Drainage Hose Is Improperly Installed

One common cause of water backing into the dishwasher is an improperly installed drainage hose. If the drainage hose from the dishwasher to the garbage disposal lacks a high loop, water from the sink or garbage disposal can flow backward into the dishwasher.

To prevent this, ensure the drainage hose forms a high loop before connecting to the garbage disposal. The high loop acts as a natural barrier, using gravity to stop water from flowing back into the dishwasher.

1. Locate the hose running from your dishwasher to the garbage disposal or sink drain.
2. Use a bracket or zip tie to fasten part of the hose securely to the underside of your countertop or another stable surface, forming a loop.
3. The peak of this loop should be higher than the point where the hose connects to the garbage disposal or sink drain.

2. The Check Valve Is Clogged

Miele dishwashers often have a ball-style check valve, which is a one-way valve that prevents dirty water from coming back into the appliance. If a piece of food or debris gets inside the valve, the ball becomes obstructed, preventing it from working properly, so water is let back in and ends up in the drip tray.

You can inspect the check valve by following these steps:

1. Open the dishwasher door and remove the lower rack and spray arm.
2. Take out the filter by turning the handle and lifting it out. This will reveal the sump area where the check valve is located.
3. Release the spring clip that is securing the check valve. Then, pull the check valve out. Or press the catch inwards if it doesn’t have a spring clip to remove it.
4. Once removed, separate the two parts of the check valve, and remove any foreign objects found inside.
5. Give the check valve a good clean under running water before reassembling it. If the check valve appears damaged, it may need replacing. The metal ball inside should be able to move freely.
6. Reinstall the check valve in the dishwasher, along with the filter, lower rack, and spray arm.

3. The Drain Pump Impeller Is Obstructed

The drain pump impeller is located beneath the check valve discussed in the previous section. Food particles and debris can occasionally bypass the filter, obstructing the impeller and affecting your dishwasher’s ability to drain properly. This can lead to overfilling and water collecting in the drip pan.

You can check the impeller by following these steps:

1. Unplug your Miele dishwasher.
2. Remove the bottom rack, spray arm, filter, and check valve.
3. Inspect the impeller located directly below the check valve and remove any debris that might be blocking it.
4. Turn the impeller manually to check all of its blades are intact and that it spins freely.
5. Reassemble the dishwasher.

4. The Drainage Hose Is Obstructed

If either a blockage or kink in the drainage hose restricts the flow of water from the appliance, it may lead to an overflow of water that collects in the drip pan, triggering “flood mode.”

Here are the steps to inspect the drainage hose:

1. Unplug the dishwasher.
2. Shut off the water supply.
3. Check the drainage hose running from the dishwasher to the garbage disposal or sink drain for any kinks, and straighten them if needed.
4. Disconnect the drainage hose at both ends. You may need to pull the dishwasher out from the wall or remove the back panel, kickplate, or base panel to access where the drainage hose connects to the dishwasher.
5. Use a length of wire and running water to clear any blockages.

5. The Float Switch Is Stuck

Inside the dishwasher base, there’s a float switch that monitors water levels in the drip pan. If the float gets stuck in the “up” position due to debris, mineral buildup, or damage, the dishwasher assumes there’s too much water and keeps draining.

Here are the steps to inspect the float switch:

1. Unplug the dishwasher.
2. Remove the kickplate at the bottom front of the dishwasher.
3. Inspect the float switch and check whether it moves freely.
4. If the float is stuck in the “up” position, remove the float switch, and clean both it and the surrounding area.
5. If visibly damaged, replace the float switch.