I'm new here and trying to navigate my way around. I'm having a drainage problem, with my dishwasher. (I replaced the old one, which was 18 yrs. Old, in hopes of solving my problem.) When the dishwasher is emptying, the water comes out the air gap, which floods my counters and I have lots of soaked towels. The air gap has been replaced and there has been a new hose etc. If there is a blockage, what needs to be done? Why is this happening? I rarely use my disposal anymore. (Disposal is now 18 yrs. Old and has been checked out.) I can't afford to keep paying people and still have the same problem. I haven't gotten to use my *new* dishwasher much, since it has been installed. (Oh.. I had it checked out to make sure it was installed correctly too.) 3 different service calls, 3 different people and I still have the same problem... PLEASE help!

Thank you so much for your time!

kallyk

Kallyk...

You mean to tell us that 3 different service people came by and couldn't figure out how to unclog the lines from the air gap device..?

Did any of these guys replace the existing air gap? Did any of them attempt to clear the line or at least check to see if the hoses are kinked or something else like that?

Did anyone suggest bypassing the air gap altogether and just use a high loop to drain the dishwasher?

Did anyone attempt to do anything to help here..

Answer my questions... OK? We'll see what we can advise after that!

Thanks...

MARK

My first thought, considering what all else has been done, is that the opening going into the disposal may be partially corroded and needs to be reamed out, but instead of paying some person to do it for you I would buy a new disposal and install it myself.

A brand I recommend is an ISE badger 5, that is an inexpensive unit and easy to install.

If you do install one yourself be sure and knock out the (knock out) where the dishwasher drains fits onto the disposal.

In addition to Marks advice and questions:

The clog is between air gap and your garbage disposer. ( did you replace garbage disposer too ? ). Since water flows from air gap to the garbage disposal by gravity, one of following is happening:

1. This section of 7/8" hose is kinked. It has to have nice, long continuous loop sloping towards disposer. Sometimes we use 2,3,or 4' of this hose to create such a loop. Look inside and feel the bigger hose. See if there are any kinks, sharp turns, or flattened sections.
2. Some air gaps have removable cap. That cap may not be set in properly. Remove the polished chrome cup, expose the plastic cap, remove the cap and set it so it lines up with Incoming and Outgoing water.
3. If you have new disposer - make sure you removed the plug inside the disposer
4. You may have clog inside the garbage disposer blocking emptying dishwasher water from freely flowing into your disposer. Look inside the disposer and see if there is any debris. You can also put in your finger to feel if it is free. Of course, make sure disposer is turned off while doing so.

Please, check these out and come back to let us know what you've found out... Milo

Milo gave you some excellent points to check out. Let me enlarge on #2.
. In the top of an air gap is an insert with two holes. Inside the air gap are two divisions. One division connects to the inflow side of the air gap (from the dishwasher) and the other connects to the outflow side (to the disposal). If the top insert is put in wrong, water will flow from it when the dishwasher empties. For correct operation of the air gap both holes in the insert need to be positioned over the outflow division of the air gap.


In case you ever want to do away with that pesky counter top air gap and install a high loop Air gap.(see image) I'll be more then happy to help.
Note: In all the hundreds of high loop air gaps that my company's installed we have yet to get our first complaint or service call. This holds true in the high loops that we have advised installing on The Plumbing Page right here also.
Good luck, Tom

First of all, I want to thank speedball for helping me with my spigot problem. Wow... who knew a slight turn would fix the leak! Thank you... thank you! :)

Thanks to all who wrote in.. in regards to my dishwasher problem. I think it's more than just an air gap issue though. My other dishwasher was fine at first and then eventually it wouldn't empty completely. (Even though you couldn't see any standing water in it, there was water still in it.) The only way I know that is... is when they went to move and remove the old one, you could hear water in it. Yuck! (I think water only came out of the air gap once or twice back then.)

Since then... the air gap is new, the hoses were (supposedly) checked and new hose/s were installed. I was told the garbage disposal was fine. Heck... I've rarely used it, since I had dishwasher problems. I will not hestiate to replace it if necessary. I just want this puppy to run and empty right and not end up flooding my counters. You'd think I was asking for the moon. Lol I'll get back to you all, when I go over the things mentioned. Thank you all so much for your time! Have a great day! Kally P.S. I sure hope I'm typin this in the right place?? :)

I am with Tom, get rid of the gap and just use a high loop.

I'm so sorry I haven't been back sooner. I haven't had a chance to even be able to check out the dishwasher, since I last wrote you. Between check fraud, a neighbors dog dying in my backyard and a death in my family, I haven't been able to do much here. This isn't my year! Geeesh

I want to Thank You ALL, so very much, for all your time and what you do here!

God Bless
KallyK