Whirlpool Quiet Partner II Not Draining? (Possible Causes & Fixes)

Whirlpool is one of the most trusted and revered brands on the market today. They have been around for decades creating some of the best-quality appliances around. Their line of dishwashers in particular is quite popular.

For the Quiet Partner II dishwasher, there may be an issue where the appliance does not drain. This is a fairly common problem and one that has a couple of relatively easy solutions. The most likely cause is that there is some blockage preventing the drain pump from working properly. It could also be that the house drain is either blocked or slow. Finally, the impeller that is on the drain pump may be damaged and require replacing.

When a dishwasher runs, there is quite a bit of water that accumulates within the main tub. That water is drained out for the most part so that the heat dry function can remove the rest of the moisture from the dishes.

When the dishwasher isn’t draining very well or constantly leaves standing water, the most likely issue is a clog. Depending on the source of the clog, the fix can be quite simple. Here are some of the most common issues as it relates to standing water or a lack of draining in your Whirlpool Quiet Partner II.

Before you can hope to deal with the issue at hand, there is still the matter of any standing water that may be leftover. In most cases, you can simply run your garbage disposal to help get rid of any small amounts of standing water.

Start by putting down towels around the base of the dishwasher. Take out the bottom tray/rack; it should slide out easily. Removing the water depends on what you have available. You may have to use cups to scoop the water out. If you have a wet/dry vac, that is the best solution.

Dishwashers are meant to make cleanup easier. That said, there are some misconceptions about what a dishwasher can do. What it can’t do is be a garbage disposal, too. When there is too much built-up food and other debris, it can lead to clogging issues.

Hands down the single most common cause for any dishwasher not draining is a clogged filter. The filter is meant to get rid of smaller food particles that may be leftover on your dishes. But it is not meant to take on big chunks of food, especially when those chunks accumulate over time.

The first place to look in the event of a drainage issue is to the filter. Most of the time, there will not be any damage but you may notice a build-up of grime and food or other debris. Thankfully, a simple cleaning will go a long way.

Take the filter out of the dishwasher. You can oftentimes just remove it by hand but you will need a screwdriver at the very most. In most cases, you will see food particles permeating the mesh of the filter.

Clean your filter using running water and a soft-bristled brush if need be. The water should be enough to remove those stuck-on food scraps, but the brush will help you get the truly tough bits. When the filter is clean, shake dry it and put it back into the dishwasher. Run another load and see whether or not that improves the drainage issue.

Should the filter be free and clear of debris and food scraps, the next likely solution is to check out the drain hose. Depending on how much food gets dumped into the dishwasher, the drain hose can get clogged up with debris or food sludge.

In order to check for a clog, you will have to take off the front lower panel of the dishwasher and look for the place where those ribbed hoses attach to the unit’s drain pump.

The most effective way to check the drain hose is to disconnect it and run air or water through it. When there are clogs at any point, air and water will not pass through. Depending on the length of the hose, you can run something like a screwdriver (or another thin implement) through it. When you are done, reattach the hose and try again.

If you think that the drain hose is the issue, don’t simply look for clogs while you are checking it out. Yes, clogs are a common problem where it relates to the drain hose, but they are not the only issues that you will run into.

The drain hose can either get kinked, damaged, cracked, or broken over time. In some cases, kinks can be worked out and the hose returned to its original position. But when there is visible damage to the hose, you will have to replace it.

You can always call in a professional to handle the replacement if you are not comfortable. Generally speaking, though, once you disconnect the hose from the pump and disposal, you just need to attach the new one in its place.

Despite what we think, dishwasher detergent can actually act as a potential issue for your Whirlpool Quiet Partner II (or any dishwasher for that matter). That is because detergent that does not properly dissolve can become gunky and get stuck to the various components of your dishwasher.

For the most part, you should not have to worry about this issue. But from time to time, you may notice detergent residue forming on various areas within the dishwasher. When you notice this issue, wipe away the detergent.

Over time, that detergent residue can build up and harden, making it difficult for the dishwasher to perform its role. When this is the issue, you can simply clean away the old detergent and try running the cycle again.

What some people do not realize is that the dishwasher and the garbage disposal are linked up. The drain from the dishwasher empties into your sink’s garbage disposal drain. When the disposal unit has too much unground food or sludge in it, then the dishwasher may not drain properly.

Sometimes the answer is as simple as running the disposal. Unfortunately, you may have to disconnect the disposal and empty it that way. Try to make it a habit to run your disposal for about 15 seconds with the water running from time to time. That will remove the remaining food that would otherwise turn to clogging sludge.

In the case of a sink that does not have a garbage disposal, there is something known as an air gap. The air gap is a slotted, small cylinder typically made of stainless steel. The air gap is installed on top of the sink, right around the faucet.

A small hose runs from the air gap and into the dishwasher’s drain hose. The purpose is to make sure no air lock forms in the drain hose. The problem is that the air gap can also become clogged with food scraps and debris.

Twist the air gap counterclockwise to take it off so that you can inspect it. Check it for any debris or gunk. You can clean it out using water and a somewhat stiff brush. When you are confident that it is clean, put it back into place and try running the dishwasher cycle.

Another part of your dishwasher that impacts its ability to drain is the impeller. The impeller is part of the pump, which impacts things like water spray as well as pumping the water out of the cabinet following a wash or rinse cycle.

When the impeller is damaged, the pump may not be able to drain properly. To check if your impeller is bad, you will notice that there is a large puddle at the bottom of the dishwasher. You may also hear a high-pitched noise when the dishwasher drains.

As you can see, there are plenty of potential issues with a dishwasher, even one as popular and reliable as the Whirlpool Quiet Partner II. When those problems do arise, it is imperative to be able to properly recognize the issue so that a fix can be implemented. Here are some of the most pertinent questions customers had regarding their dishwasher not draining properly.

The problem with a dishwasher that won’t drain is that the problem can be a multitude of things. Ideally, it is a filter issue or too much food debris leftover. There are times, however, where the drain pump can go bad.

To check the drain pump, set the timer to the drain portion of the cycle. The drain cycle will run your drain pump, allowing you to troubleshoot the issue. Listen for the drain pump. If you the pump runs but the water remains and your drain path is fine, then the pump has gone bad and needs replacing.