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Dishwasher not draining
By the Repair.com team
Let's fix this!
A dishwasher not draining properly is quite the dirty ordeal. Your bottom rack of dishes is sitting in murky dishwater and there’s a nasty odor permeating the air in your kitchen. Check this chart for likely causes and helpful solutions.
Safety notice: Before attempting to repair an appliance, always shut off the power supply. This can be done by unplugging the unit from the wall outlet, removing the appropriate fuse from the fuse box, or flipping the appropriate breaker in the circuit breaker panel.
|
Possible causes |
Signs to look for |
What to do |
|---|---|---|
Obstruction in filter |
Does it take hours for the dirty water to drain? |
Consult the owner’s manual for simple instructions on how to access and clean your dishwasher’s filter. Tip: Clear the filter after every wash cycle. Letting debris build up makes the filter more difficult to clean later. |
Pinched drain hose |
Look where the dishwasher drain hose snakes through from one cabinet to the other. Does the hose look flattened or kinked? Do you see any sharp bends? |
Straighten out the hose with your hands and manipulate it so that it regains its rounded shape. If the hose will not maintain its shape, you may need a new drain hose. |
Clogged drain hose |
Does the dishwasher run normally, but the water does not drain fast enough or at all? Did you know? You are most likely to find a drain hose clog either at the main household sink drain line connection or the garbage disposal connection. |
If your dishwasher drains through the garbage disposal, try running the garbage disposal for a bit to process and clear any food. If that does not get the machine draining, you have a deeper clog. Clearing it can be difficult and can get messy. Arrange for dishwasher repair service. |
Clogged air gap |
Does water leak from the air gap when you run the dishwasher? Do you see white stains along the base of the air gap or around its vents? Note: Certain jurisdictions require an air gap to keep dirty sink drain water from flowing back into your dishwasher. You may not have one. |
The stains indicate that an obstruction is causing water to leak from the air gap. Schedule dishwasher repair service, or see our do-it-yourself guide to dishwasher air gap cleaning. |
Faulty timer |
Does your dishwasher spray your dishes, but it does not advance to the next stage and drain the dirty water? |
The timer controls the start of the draining process. You may need an entirely new timer or a new motor for the timer. A timer that does not advance could also be due to a defective sensor, especially in a newer dishwasher. There are 2 types of sensors: 1 for water temperature and 1 for turbidity. The turbidity sensor measures water cleanliness and will continue to flush the water until it is clear. Defective sensors can cause your dishwasher to stall. Arrange for the help of a repair expert. |
Defective or jammed pump impeller |
Does the dishwasher make a humming noise after the wash cycle? Did you hear a grinding noise before that? |
Bits of glass, broken dish pieces, beans or seeds may be caught in the pump impeller (the part of the pump assembly that moves dirty water to the drain). Have a repair professional determine if there is a jam to clear or a defective impeller to replace. |
Failed pump |
Did the sound of the pump never kick in after the wash cycle? |
You may have an old pump that needs replacing. Have it checked by a dishwasher repair pro. |
New garbage disposal plug still intact |
Did you recently have a new garbage disposal unit installed, and did your dishwasher stop draining after that? |
Make sure that the plug in the new garbage disposal is removed where the dishwasher drain hose attaches to it. |
Defective motor |
Do you hear a humming sound coming from your dishwasher but no sound of pumps running? |
Schedule dishwasher service to see if the motor’s frozen gears can be released. If not, the motor is defective. Defective motors cannot be fixed, so replacement is necessary. |
Drain valve malfunction |
Is water standing inside the dishwasher? |
In some dishwasher models, a valve must open for the water to drain out. The valve is controlled by a solenoid that the timer controls. A malfunctioning solenoid could be the problem. Call in a repair expert to see if it needs to be replaced. |
Loose or worn belt |
Is the pump silent during the drain cycle? |
A few dishwasher models have a belt driving the pump assembly. If it falls off or becomes defective, then it cannot run the pump that drains the dishwasher. |
Still seeking a solution? Schedule dishwasher repair service with a qualified professional.
Tip: Many dishwashers are hooked up to the garbage disposal line. Before you run the dishwasher, turn on your garbage disposal and run hot water into it from the faucet. This will keep your pipes and hoses as clear as possible for your dishwashing cycle.
WARNING: Never pour drain-clearing products (such as Drano or Liquid-Plumr) into your dishwasher. Doing so can result in serious damage to your dishwasher and your health.
What to do until your dishwasher is repaired
Remove and hand-wash any dishes left in the dishwasher. Dishes left too long can grow mold. They can also get in the way of a service professional, who may need to remove dish racks and baskets in order to check the inlet and drain.
If your dishwasher is humming or ticking, press CANCEL to end all cycles. You might need to turn off the breaker or remove the fuse if that method doesn't work.
Repair or replace?
The average lifespan of a dishwasher is 12 years. If yours has been around for a while, you'll want to factor that in when deciding whether it makes sense to repair it or replace it. Newer dishwashers, which can cost several hundreds dollars and up to replace, are usually well worth the price of a repair visit.
If you do decide to shop, look for the Energy Star sticker. It means the dishwasher is, on average, 10% more energy efficient and 20% more water efficient than a standard model.
Service pro’s plea: If in doubt, stay out. Don’t risk causing more damage to your product (or yourself!) by attempting to fix it on your own. It’s also easier and quicker for a service technician to diagnose and fix a problem when the product is assembled. In the end, you’ll save time and money.
✓ Reviewed and approved by Repair.com expert Tanner Andrews, Andy’s Appliance Repair.
The Repair.com team
The Repair.com team is made up of experienced writers, editors and repair experts dedicated to providing you with the most reliable and comprehensive information about keeping your home running right.