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October 16, 2023

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    Picture this: The dishwasher finished its cycle. You’re ready to put the sparking clean dishes away. But when you open the door, there’s dingy water staring back at you from the bottom of the tub.

    If that’s your reality, you might be happy to hear that you may be only a few steps away from fixing it yourself. I’ve been there, so I’ve put together this guide to help you fix your dishwasher that won’t drain.

    A dishwasher that won’t drain is a breeze for professionals to repair, too, if you’d like to go that route. We can help you find the right person for the job.

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    What Are Some Issues That Cause Dishwashers Not to Drain?

    When your dishwasher won’t drain, it’s easy to think of all the worst-case scenarios, like having to buy a whole new machine. Fortunately, much like when your dishwasher won’t start, the problem usually comes down to something simple.

    I’ve found that it’s best to tuck away your worries for now and focus on the most common issues, like:

    •  Interruption of the cycle
    •  Dirty or clogged filter
    • Garbage disposal jam
    • Air gap blockage
    • Drain line hose clog

    Cycle Interruption

    A cycle interruption should be your first thought upon finding standing water in the bottom of the dishwasher tub. Perhaps someone turned off the machine before it finished, the latch didn’t fully engage, or the GFCI outlet tripped. Try simply continuing the dishwasher cycle or restarting it from the beginning.

    Dirty Filter

    A dirty filter is the most likely culprit when standing water remains after the cycle completes. The filter screen can easily get clogged with food particles and block the flow of water. If that happens, your dishwasher won’t drain fully, and your dishes won’t get completely clean. Most dishwashers let you easily remove and clean the filter. Sometimes I have to refer back to the owner’s manual to remember the best way to do this.

    Garbage Disposal Clog

    Fibrous foods can jam the shredder plate in your garbage disposal and prevent water from draining from the appliance and the sink. It’s not as common as a dirty filter, but something to keep in mind if cleaning the filter screen doesn’t help.

    Air Gap Issue

    When in good working order, the air gap cylinder near the kitchen faucet keeps contaminated water from flowing back into the machine. If it’s dirty, however, the screen will keep water from draining out. This can be a little more tricky for a DIYer, but your dishwasher owner’s manual should give you guidance on how to check this. 

    Blocked Drain Line Hose

    The hose going from the appliance to the sink drain can get clogged and cause standing water to remain in the tub. This typically only happens if your filter is missing or broken, allowing food debris to enter the hose.   

    What Steps Can You Take to Get Your Dishwasher to Drain?

    When your dishwasher won’t drain, you can likely find and fix the cause within eight steps. For this DIY project, you’ll only need a few hand tools and a little bit of know-how to complete each step, too. Remember that if you’re not comfortable completing any step, a plumber is only a phone call away and always willing to help.  

    Tools & Materials Needed

    Tools

    • Rubber gloves
    • Allen wrench set
    • Multi-bit screwdriver
    • Non-contact voltage meter
    • Dish soap
    • Soft-bristled toothbrush
    • Tube brush
    • Tweezers
    • Wet/dry shop vacuum
    • Small cup  
    • Towels
    • Bucket

    Materials

    • None

    Ease: Easy to medium difficulty, depending on what’s wrong

    Working Time: One to two hours  

    Total Time: Three hours  

    Cost: $0

    Step 1. Confirm Cycle Was Not Interrupted

    Your dishwasher won’t drain the water from the tub if it’s stopped mid-cycle. To see if that happened, check the knob position or look at the interface to see if the cycle finished.

    You should also check the nearby GFCI outlet to see if it’s tripped. You can tell the circuit has been interrupted by looking for a yellow light or a popped-out button on the outlet. If so, press the reset button and try the wash cycle again. If it still doesn’t drain, move on to the next step.

    Today’s Homeowner Tips

    A GFCI outlet will trip more often when it’s at the end of its service life. Other causes are an overloaded circuit, faulty appliances, and moisture in the receptacle box. Have an electrician come check it out if that’s happening.

    Step 2. Activate the Cancel Feature

    The cancel function fully resets the wash cycle and triggers the appliance to drain any remaining water. The exact way to trigger this function depends on the brand and model. You can find that information in the owner’s manual.

    For most dishwashers, cancel the cycle by:

    • Holding down the cancel button to a count of three
    • Pressing the start button down for three seconds
    • Simultaneously pressing the two labeled reset buttons

    If it works, you’ll notice the dish washing machine instantly goes into drain mode. If not, you’ll need to continue troubleshooting.

    Step 3. Cut Power to the Dishwasher

    For your safety, unplug your dishwasher from the wall or turn off its circuit breaker before removing any parts. If it’s plugged in, you must carefully pull your dishwasher out to access the plug. Empty the dish racks first to make that step much easier and prepare for the rest of the troubleshooting process.

    If your appliance is hardwired into your electrical system, find the circuit breaker for your kitchen and flip it to the off position. Touch a non-contact voltage meter to a nearby outlet before pulling the machine out. Then, test the power wire for the dishwasher to confirm it’s unpowered before continuing on.  

    You usually do not need to turn off the water and disconnect the hose unless you cannot pull your dishwasher out of the recess otherwise.  

    Step 4. Suction Out the Standing Water

    Before checking the filter, you’ll want to remove the standing water from the tub. Otherwise, the dirty water will make checking the filter much more unpleasant.

    Do that in one of two ways: scoop it out with a cup and dry the remainder with towels or suck it all up with a wet/dry vacuum. In my experience, the cup method works well if there’s only a minimal amount of water in the tub.

    If you’d like to use the wet/dry vac, put the wet filter on the vacuum. Then, plug it into a GFCI outlet. You’ll need to run its cord from a different room if you switched off the breaker to the kitchen. Turn the vacuum on and use the hose to suck up the water.  

    Step 5. Clean the Dishwasher Filter

    The dishwasher filter has a screen that catches all the food particles washed off your dishes. If it gets too dirty, water won’t flow through and properly drain out. Ideally, you’ll want to clean the filter once a month to prevent drainage issues.

    To do that, find the filter in the bottom of the dishwasher tub. Turn it counterclockwise and then lift it out. Remove the filter plate if applicable. Pull the inner filter compartment out by depressing the tabs on both sides. Bring the filter arts to the sink and rinse them thoroughly inside and out. Then, lightly scrub the screen with a soft-bristled toothbrush.

    If it’s really gunky, put a small amount of dish soap on the toothbrush and scrub again. Rinse the filter well and reinstall it in the dishwasher. Run the rinse cycle to see if cleaning the filter fixed the problem. If not, it’s time to check the rest of the system.

    Step 6. Check the Garbage Disposal

    If you have a garbage disposal, complete this step. Otherwise, move on to step seven.

    Many dishwasher drain hoses attach directly to the garbage disposal. The disposal can get jammed or clogged with fibrous foods and other items, causing water to back up in the appliance. When this happens, your sink will also drain slowly or not at all.

    If that’s the case, you must manually turn the shredder plate to clear the obstruction. On most disposal models, you can do that using an Allen wrench. Look under the garbage disposal to find the Allen key socket.

    Select the correct-sized wrench and slowly rotate the key socket back and forth multiple times. You’ve freed the obstruction once the Allen wrench turns freely in the socket. Press the overload protector button if it’s tripped. Test the garbage disposal and see if the dishwasher drains properly.

    Step 7. Clean the Air Gap

    The air gap cylinder on your kitchen sink prevents wastewater from flowing back into the dishwasher and contaminating your dishes. Its screen can get dirty over time, creating a blockage that prevents its proper operation.

    To clean the air gap, remove the cover and cap on top of the tube. Visually inspect the tube for blockages. Use a pair of tweezers to pull obstructions out of the top of the tube. Use a tube brush to clean the inside of the hose as far as you can reach.  

    Reassemble the air gap cylinder. Run the rinse cycle on your dishwasher to see if that resolved the problem.  

    Step 8. Clear the Drain Line Hose

    You will need to turn the power to the dishwasher back on to complete this step. Call a plumbing professional to check the drain line hose if you’re uncomfortable with that thought.

    The drain line hose goes from your dishwasher to the sink, attaching to the garbage disposal or directly to the drain. As the cycle runs, this hose sends all the wastewater swirling down the drain. If it’s clogged, the water will just remain in the tub instead.

    To clear the drain line, find where it connects to your drain or disposal. Use your multi-bit screwdriver to loosen the hose clamp near that point. Put the end of the hose in a bucket and start the rinse cycle on the dishwasher. The water should come flowing out into the bucket as soon as the drain pump activates. Open the dishwasher door to stop the cycle if the bucket gets too full.

    Watch the line carefully for any signs of obstructions. If you see something, shake the hose to help it work its way through the line. Repeat this process until the line looks clear and the water flows out at a steady rate. Turn off your dishwasher. Then, reconnect the line to your sink drain or garbage disposal. Tighten the hose clamp.

    After finishing all these steps, return your dishwasher to its place under the counter. Run a full cycle with the dish racks empty. If all is well, you’re ready to load up your dishes. If not, you may need to call a professional for additional solutions.

    What Can You Do to Prevent a Clogged Dishwasher?

    Even if it’s just a dirty filter clogging your dishwasher, it’s better to avoid the problem altogether if possible. Fortunately, there are several ways to keep the filters and lines clear. As an added benefit, all those tactics can also help extend the life of your dishwasher.

    Here’s what you can do:

    • Rinse off the filter at least once every few months
    • Put the detergent in the dispenser, not the bottom of the tub
    • Lightly scrub your dishes to remove food crumbs before loading them into the machine (this can help keep ants out of your dishwasher)
    • Use the hot water cycle to help break down particles and clean out the lines
    • Clean the bottom of your dishwasher tub with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar
    • Only use dishwasher detergent in the proper amounts as indicated by the manufacturer
    • Avoid overloading the dishwasher racks, especially when washing pans

    When Should You Call a Plumber About a Dishwasher Clog?

    When your dishwasher won’t drain due to a simple problem, a quick fix will keep you from having to scrub everything by hand. Just clean and unclog the affected parts, and you’ll get right back to having the appliance handle all the scrubbing.

    If you’ve tried everything to no avail, you might need to call in professionals to help repair the machine or address a problem further down the drain lines. A home appliance repair expert can diagnose and replace failed parts in your machine or help you decide if it’s time to buy a new one.

    If you suspect the problem links back to a faulty garbage disposal, clogged drain lines, or other plumbing matters, hiring a qualified plumber is the way to go. Need help finding the best expert for the job? Use this trusty tool to find a highly rated plumber in your area.

    Get Free Estimates From Professional Plumbers
    Match with a plumbing expert to help you with installation or repair.

    FAQs About Dishwashers that Won’t Drain

    Why is my dishwasher not draining if there’s no clog?

    If your dishwasher won’t drain, but there’s no clog, the problem could be a dirty air gap, jammed garbage disposal, or kink in the drain hose. All these issues can cause water to get backed up in the bottom of the tub.


    Should I run my dishwasher if it has standing water?

    You can run a complete cycle with the dishwasher empty or activate the cancel feature to see if the machine will drain itself. If not, you will need to complete other troubleshooting steps, like cleaning the filter and air gap.


    Is it okay to put drain cleaner in my dishwasher?

    Never put drain cleaner in your dishwasher. This caustic chemical is highly toxic and can cause serious harm if ingested. The drain cleaning chemicals can also damage the machine’s inner workings.


    How do I unclog my dishwasher with vinegar and baking soda?

    Vinegar and baking soda won’t unclog your dishwasher, but together, they can freshen it up. To do that, sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the tub and then pour two cups of white vinegar over it all. Use a soft scrub brush to deep clean the surfaces and then run the rinse cycle.


    Editorial Contributors
    avatar for Marie Abendroth

    Marie Abendroth

    Marie Abendroth is a former home improvement professional who now focuses on writing articles that help people care for their homes like a boss. Her maintenance must-dos, DIY tricks, and other insider info promise to help make your home the envy of the neighborhood. Whenever she gets a free moment, she loves frolicking with her farm dogs, playing with RC cars, and relaxing in the garden.

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    photo of Andrew Dunn

    Andrew Dunn

    Senior Editor

    Andrew Dunn is a veteran journalist with more than 15 years of experience reporting and editing for local and national publications, including The Charlotte Observer and Business North Carolina magazine. His work has been recognized numerous times by the N.C. Press Association and the Society of American Business Editors and Writers. He is also a former general contractor with experience with cabinetry, finish carpentry and general home improvement and repair. Andrew earned a degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as a certificate in business journalism. He lives in Charlotte, N.C.

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