The filter inside your dishwasher plays an important role in ensuring that your dishwasher can operate as intended. It is designed to prevent food debris, oil and greasy food deposits from clogging up your machine's internal parts and stopping it working properly.

The filter can easily become clogged up, particularly if you are in the habit of putting heavily soiled plates in to wash (ideally rinse soiled items before putting them in your dishwasher in future).

If it is the filter that has become blocked up then a quick bit of maintenance should help resolve the issue.

To clean the filter, you must first remove it. The filter unit is located at the base of the dishwasher, under the bottom spray arm. You can pull out or unscrew the filter cylinder and lift it out. It can then be cleaned under the tap before being replaced.

If the pump or drain in your dishwasher is blocked, waste water cannot be pumped out of the machine and could cause the programme to stop (if this happens you might see an error code on the display). For more information on unblocking the pump follow the steps below. Always wear protective gloves when you do this as there may be pieces of broken glass stuck in the machine.

• Take out the bottom basket & remove the filter.

• Always use protective gloves when removing any water left in the pump area. Use a soft sponge to soak up the water and a jug to squeeze it in to.

• Wearing protective gloves, prise off the pump cover (a teaspoon works well).

• Remove the pump cover (usually pull up and slide out or in some cases use a screwdriver) - this can be a bit fiddly so refer to the User Manual if you have difficulty.

• Check the pump for any foreign objects and remove any deposits of food/fat. Really fish around inside to check nothing is stuck.

• Ensure that the pump impeller can move freely.

• Replace the pump cover correctly - again this can be a bit fiddly to position it correctly.

• Place the filter back into position.

• Replace the basket and your dishwasher is ready for use.

If the dishwasher impeller is damaged then you will need to book a repair engineer to visit.

A blocked or kinked drainage hose can also cause problems with the drainage of you dishwasher. If you are able to slide out and check behind your dishwasher, then do so to make sure that the waste hose at the back of the dishwasher isn’t squashed or kinked – if it is, this could stop the waste water from draining away. Also check that nothing is pushing on the hose and there's enough room for the hose to drain properly.

If the dishwasher's waste-water hose is connected to the sink waste, check this for blockages. If water is draining away slower than normal from your sink, or not draining at all, there could be a blockage. This could be what is stopping your dishwasher from being able to drain properly. To fix this, try pouring baking soda and vinegar or other proprietary products down the drain, wait for a minute, and then pour some boiling water down to flush it through. Alternatively, you can try to use a plunger to shift the blockage.