Dishwasher won’t drain? How to fix it, quickest checks first
Water left in the bottom of your dishwasher? Cancel the cycle so it pumps out, clean the filter, check the drain hose, a blanked spigot or disposal plug on a new install, the sink, air gap and high loop, then the drain pump. UK and US, with a fix finder.
HanaHow6 minute readWater in the bottom of the dishwasher after a wash usually means something between the filter and your sink is blocked, or the cycle never finished. Water drains down through the filter, a small pump pushes it up the drain hose, and it leaves through the pipes under the sink. The checks below go from quickest to most involved, and the fix finder takes you through them one at a time.
Which bit is it?
A little clean water around the filter is normal, and on some machines a cup or two across the floor of the tub. Dirty water standing above the filter isn’t.
Hold Start, Cancel or Reset for about 4 seconds
An interrupted cycle can leave its water behind. Cancelling it makes most machines pump out.
- Switch the dishwasher on. If it stopped mid-wash, the water inside may still be hot.
- Press and hold Start, Cancel or Reset for about 4 seconds, until the display changes. The name varies by maker: on current Bosch machines it’s the On/Off button marked Reset. A short press only pauses the programme.
- Shut the door and leave it a minute or two to pump out. Your manual has the exact button.
Open it up. Has the dirty water gone?
See this in the guideClean the filter and check under it
Most dishwashers have a filter you can take out, in the floor of the tub. Some older and some current models don’t: if yours doesn’t come out, skip to the next check.
- Switch the dishwasher off and put gloves on. Pull the bottom basket out.
- Scoop the water out with a mug, then soak up the rest with a sponge or towel.
- Twist the filter to unlock it and lift it out, then the flat mesh under it. Rinse both under running water with a soft brush.
- Feel carefully into the hole underneath, the sump. Broken glass ends up here.
- Put it all back and twist the filter until it locks. A loose filter lets food through to the pump.
Switch it back on and hold Start, Cancel or Reset for about 4 seconds. Does it drain now?
See this in the guideLook along the drain hose
- Follow the hose from the back of the dishwasher to the sink cupboard. Pushing a machine back in can kink it or crush it behind.
- Straighten any kink. If you can’t see behind the machine, it may need pulling out, which is easier with two people. Switch it off first.
- If you take the hose off at the sink end, have a bowl and a towel ready: there’s more water in it than you’d think. Flush it through over the bowl.
Hold Start, Cancel or Reset for about 4 seconds again. Does it drain?
See this in the guideCheck the new connection at the sink
- UK: the dishwasher spigot on a new sink waste or trap often comes blanked off, with a cap, a plug or a sealed end you cut off. Take the hose off (bowl and towel ready), and open it the way the trap’s instructions say.
- US: a new garbage disposal has a plug in its dishwasher inlet. With the disposal off at the breaker, knock the plug through with a screwdriver and a hammer, then fish it out with pliers, never your fingers. Newer InSinkErator EZ Connect models have a plug that twists out instead.
- Reconnect the hose firmly, with its clip.
Hold Start, Cancel or Reset for about 4 seconds. Does it drain?
See this in the guideMake sure the sink drains
The dishwasher empties into the sink’s drain, so if the sink is slow, the dishwasher can’t get its water out.
- Run the tap. If the sink is slow, clear the sink first. Don’t pour drain cleaner into the dishwasher.
- US: run the garbage disposal first. A small chrome cap by the faucet might be an air gap rather than a soap dispenser: lift the cover off, unscrew the cap under it and clear it out. If water spills out of it into the sink, the blockage is further down.
- No air gap, or in the UK? The hose should loop up high under the counter before it drops to the sink waste, so sink water can’t run back into the machine.
Hold Start, Cancel or Reset for about 4 seconds. Does it drain?
See this in the guideCheck the drain pump
- Turn the power off at the wall or the breaker, or unplug it.
- Put gloves on, take the filter out and scoop out the water.
- On some machines there’s a small pump cover under the filter; your manual shows if yours has one. Bosch’s says to lever it off with a spoon. Check the impeller inside turns freely.
- Glass, cherry stones and bits of jar label are the usual culprits. Lift them out. A pump that hums but won’t drain often has one stuck in it.
- Put the cover back until it clicks, then the filter. Some machines show a drain error code: your manual says which.
Power back on, hold Start, Cancel or Reset for about 4 seconds. Does it drain?
See this in the guideTime to call someone
- Under warranty? Call the maker before you go past the filter.
- Book a repair if the pump’s clear and it still won’t drain, if your machine has no pump cover you can open, if water’s leaking underneath, or if it trips the breaker.
- Sink slow too? That’s a blocked drain: a plumber’s job.
- Until then, leave it off, and keep a towel under the door.
Draining again. Keep it that way.
- Clean the filter every month or so, or as often as your manual says.
- Scrape plates into the bin first. Jar labels and cherry stones are the usual troublemakers.
- Use dishwasher detergent, the amount on the pack. Too much, or washing-up liquid, can suds up and stop it draining.
- US: run the disposal before you start the dishwasher.
Is some water normal?
A little clean water around the filter is normal. On some machines GE says one to two cups across the floor of the tub is normal too. Dirty water standing above the filter isn’t, and that’s what this guide is for.
What you’ll need
- Rubber gloves
Broken glass collects under the filter and around the pump. Bosch’s manuals call gloves essential there.
- A mug, a sponge and a towel
To scoop out the water and soak up the rest.
- A bowl
If you take the drain hose off. There’s more water in it than you’d think.
- A teaspoon
Bosch’s manuals use one to lever off the pump cover, on machines that have one.
- Pliers, a screwdriver and a hammer
US, new garbage disposal only: to knock its dishwasher plug through and fish it out.
First, let it finish or cancel it
If the power went off, or the door was opened mid-wash, the cycle may just not have finished. Switch it on, then press and hold Start, Cancel or Reset for about 4 seconds, until the display changes. The name varies by maker: on current Bosch machines it’s the On/Off button marked Reset, and a short press only pauses the programme. Shut the door and give it a minute or two. Most machines pump out.
If it stopped mid-wash, the water may still be hot. Bosch suggests leaving the door ajar for a few minutes before you reach in.
Clean the filter and check under it
Most dishwashers have a filter you can take out, in the floor of the tub. GE says older and some current models usually don’t, and Whirlpool and Samsung make models without one. If yours doesn’t come out, skip to the next check.
- Switch the dishwasher off and put gloves on. Pull the bottom basket out.
- Scoop the water out with a mug, then soak up the rest with a sponge or towel.
- Twist the filter to unlock it and lift it out, then the flat mesh under it. Rinse both under running water with a soft brush.
- Feel carefully into the hole underneath, the sump. Broken glass ends up here.
- Put it all back and twist the filter until it locks. A loose filter lets food through to the pump.
Then hold Start, Cancel or Reset again and see if it drains.
Check the drain hose
Follow the hose from the back of the dishwasher to the sink cupboard. Pushing a machine back in can kink it or crush it behind, and Samsung says a crushed hose is the most common cause just after installation. Straighten any kink. If you can’t see behind, the machine may need pulling out: switch it off first, and it’s easier with two people.
If you take the hose off at the sink end, have a bowl and a towel ready. There’s more water in it than seems reasonable. Flush it through over the bowl.
Just had it fitted?
- UK: the dishwasher spigot on a new sink waste or trap often comes blanked off, with a cap, a plug or a sealed end you cut off. McAlpine’s instructions say to remove the blue blanking plug before an appliance goes on. If it’s still closed, nothing gets out. Take the hose off and open it the way the trap’s instructions say.
- US: a new garbage disposal has a plug in its dishwasher inlet. With the disposal off at the breaker, knock the plug through with a screwdriver and a hammer, then fish it out of the disposal with pliers, never your fingers. Newer InSinkErator EZ Connect models have a plug that twists out instead.
Make sure the sink drains
The dishwasher empties into the sink’s drain, so if the sink is slow, the dishwasher can’t get its water out. Run the tap. If the sink is slow, clear the sink first, and don’t pour drain cleaner into the dishwasher.
- US: run the garbage disposal first. A small chrome cap by the faucet might be an air gap rather than a soap dispenser. Lift the cover off, unscrew the cap under it and clear it out. If water spills from the air gap into the sink, the blockage is further down.
- No air gap, or in the UK? The drain hose should loop up high under the counter before it drops to the sink waste, so sink water can’t run back into the machine. Bosch’s US instructions put the top of the loop at least 33 inches (84 cm) off the floor, and its UK sheet shows a maximum of 1.1 m.
Check the drain pump
If it still won’t drain, the drain pump may be jammed. Turn the power off at the wall or the breaker, or unplug it, then put gloves on, take the filter out and scoop out the water.
On some machines there’s a small pump cover under the filter. Your manual shows if yours has one: Bosch’s says to lever it off with a spoon. Check the impeller inside turns freely. Glass, cherry stones and bits of jar label are the usual culprits. A pump that hums but won’t drain often has one stuck in it. Put the cover back until it clicks, then the filter.
Most GE, Whirlpool and Beko machines don’t have a cover you can open. Some machines also show a drain error code; codes vary by maker, and your manual says which.
When to call someone
- Under warranty? Call the maker before you go past the filter.
- Book a repair if the pump’s clear and it still won’t drain, if water’s leaking underneath, or if it trips the breaker.
- Sink slow too? That’s a blocked drain, a plumber’s job.
Until then, leave it off and keep a towel under the door.
Keep it draining
- Clean the filter every month or so, or as often as your manual says.
- Scrape plates into the bin first.
- Use dishwasher detergent, the amount on the pack. GE says too much, or the wrong type such as washing-up liquid, can suds up and stop it draining.
- In the US, run the disposal before you start the dishwasher.
Sources
- Bosch: SMS2HVI67G user manual (filter, pump cover and reset) and US installation instructions (high loop and air gap), plus its UK support pages on cleaning the filter and unblocking the pump.
- GE Appliances: use and care manual and installation instructions. Beko: how to clean a dishwasher and the DEN59420D manual.
- InSinkErator: Standard Power Series manual and EZ Connect manual. McAlpine: SSK1 sink kit instructions.
Read the video transcript
Dishwasher still full of water? Let's work out why. Quickest checks first. Here's the way out. Water drains down through the filter, a small pump pushes it up the drain hose, and it leaves through the pipes under your sink. Block any of that, and it stays put. Quickest first. If the power went off, or the door was opened mid-wash, it may just not have finished. Hold Start, Cancel or Reset for four seconds or so, then shut the door. Most machines pump out. A little clean water around the filter is normal. Dirty water standing above it isn't. Next, the filter, if yours comes out. Switch off and put gloves on. Scoop the water out with a mug and a sponge. Twist the filter to unlock it, lift it out, then the flat mesh under it, and rinse both under running water. Then feel carefully into the hole underneath. Broken glass ends up here. Put it all back and twist until it locks. Still there? Look along the drain hose. Pushing a machine back in can kink it or crush it. If you take the hose off, have a bowl and a towel ready. There's more water in it than seems reasonable. Just had it fitted? In the UK, the dishwasher spigot on a new sink waste often comes blanked off. If it's still closed, nothing gets out. In the US, a new garbage disposal has a plug in its dishwasher inlet. With the disposal off at the breaker, knock the plug through and fish it out with pliers, never your fingers. Then make sure the sink itself drains. In the US, run the disposal first. A small chrome cap by the faucet might be an air gap, not a soap dispenser. Lift the cover off, unscrew the cap under it and clear it. No air gap, or in the UK? The hose should loop up under the counter before it drops to the waste, so sink water can't run back in. Still standing? The drain pump may be jammed. Turn the power off at the wall or the breaker. On some machines there's a small pump cover under the filter. Lever it off with a spoon and check the impeller turns freely. Glass, cherry stones and jar labels are the usual culprits. A pump that hums but won't drain often has one stuck in it. Some machines show a drain error code. Your manual says which. If it's under warranty, call the maker before you go past the filter. And book a repair if the pump's clear and it still won't drain, if water's leaking underneath, or if it trips the breaker. Our written guide has a fix finder that goes step by step. That's HanaHow. See you next time.
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