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Air gap spits water only during dishwasher draining
If water spills from a dishwasher air gap only during the drain cycle, what observations help narrow down where the restriction is? Would a slow-draining sink or disposal point toward a shared drain problem, or can the dishwasher hose or disposal inlet cause the same symptom?
I’d also like to know what’s reasonable to inspect without disconnecting hoses or trying to force a blockage. What signs suggest it’s time to have a plumber look at it?
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If the sink or disposal also drains slowly, that raises suspicion of a restriction in the shared sink/disposal drain path, though it doesn’t prove that’s the cause. If they drain normally and the air gap spills only during the dishwasher’s drain cycle, a dishwasher-side restriction - such as a kinked or obstructed hose, or a blocked disposal inlet - becomes more likely. Without disconnecting anything, note whether other fixtures drain normally and look for visible kinks or leaks. Call a plumber if water backs up elsewhere, leaking persists, or the visible checks don’t identify a safe next step; don’t force a blockage.
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