Dishwasher on ground floor - plumbing issue?

[themoo]

My dishwasher works fine but I notice a bad smell if I've haven't run it for a day or so. I think it's standing water. I clean it regularly and also have a freshener thing in it, but I wondered if there was a problem with the plumbing as I'm on the ground floor and maybe the pipe isn't long enough. Or something. Is there anything anyone can recommend please? Thank you.

 

[terryplumb]

Show us a pic of the appliances waste pipes connection to your drainage pipework.

 

[Rodders53]

Is this with dirty dishes in, waiting for the next wash to go on? Or completely empty?

The former with our dishwashers in 3 ground floor property installations means a 'rinse cycle' is needed (or 'full wash' if over half full) and is caused by the food scraps etc.,.

Pic of the drainage connections would help if it's the latter. Make and model of this dishwasher may also be relevant, occasionally?

 

[oldbuffer]

The waste pipe from the dishwasher (usually grey, ribbed, flexible plastic) may be joined to the drainage pipework under the sink. If this is the case the pipe should go up to a level just under the work top then fall to the point where it joins the drainage. Then when the dishwasher empties, it pumps the water up and it then falls into the drain, leaving little to go stagnant in the pipe.

 

[themoo]

Thank you all for your replies. Here are the photos. I guess some water is going stagnant in the pipe as it's all the time, even when the dishwasher is empty. The dishwasher is an upright Bosch SilencePlus Series2 if this helps anything.

 

[terryplumb]

As mentioned above ,the waste hose should enter the cabinet much higher ( near the underside of worktop),and drop down to the trap . As it is waste water from the sink can flow back into appliance.

 

[Madrab]

The waste pipe's also too long, I understand why it's been extended to allow the DW to be moved in and out but that allows the drained water to sit in the pipe that's sitting on the floor and as suggested, water from the sink to run back into the pipe, all that will eventually gunge up and smell.

Ideally the drain hose should exit the machine and rise straight away, up over the top edge of the cabinet under the worktop and then down into the waste pipe. That minimises any water left lying in the drain hose.

 

[Old Salt]

You could try tying the excess hose up to form the higher point loop required. That would give you the height to prevent drain back and still leave you with room and the length of hose to get the machine in and out.

 

[themoo]

Thanks all. I might try getting in the plumber who put it in first, as you'd think he'd have figured this when he put it in - but if he charges me then I will try doing it myself. In fact I might try tying the excess hose up first. So I could just tie it as Madrab says: it should rise? Would the water be pushed up a vertical pipe? (Sorry if this sounds stupid, I have no idea about this kind of thing.)

 

[Madrab]

The pump will have enough push to allow it to drain up the length of the drain hose and up over the top of the unit. Again though, any excess loops of pipe will gather at least some waste water. Ideally the drain hose is kept as short as possible and if the dishwasher needs to be pulled out then the drain hose is disconnected from the outlet at the sink.

 

[themoo]

OK thanks - I will try tying it up myself first and see how I get on rather than get the plumber out. I will also invest in a shorter pipe! This place is a goldmine of information - I have no idea what I am doing with anything practical and am very short of money so hugely appreciate the help.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Long term, I would be looking to add a stand pipe, on the wall, behind the DW, T'ed into that existing drain for the sink.

 

[themoo]

Would that be something I could put in myself?

It's taken about an hour but I have fixed up this. Will it be ok until I can get something proper sorted?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

It's taken about an hour but I have fixed up this. Will it be ok until I can get something proper sorted?

That will be fine for now. Worthwhile running the DW on a hot cycle to clear it out perhaps?

 

[themoo]

Yep, it's nearly ready for a wash anyway so after supper I'll run a hot wash. My thinking is: a stand pipe should be connected to the wall via those rings you can buy and then connected to the drain, which I think you could do by yourself or with a friendly neighbour's help. Is that right? It doesn't require any big plumbing kit?