How to Troubleshoot a Dishwasher That Won't Drain

Open dishwasher with soapy water around drain and door

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 1 - 2 hrs
  • Total Time: 1 - 2 hrs
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
  • Estimated Cost: $0 to $50

A dishwasher that fails to drain correctly is tricky to diagnose because there are lots of possible reasons for the problem, and some don't even involve the dishwasher. Sometimes, it involves issues with the plumbing itself that need to be addressed before you turn to repairing or replacing the dishwasher.

Before you begin troubleshooting, remember that it is normal for some dishwashers to retain a small amount of water at the bottom of the tub after a complete cycle. If you have just a small pool in your machine, check the owner's manual (or call the manufacturer) to see if this is normal.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Plumbing-Related Causes

  • Wrenches
  • Screwdrivers

Appliance-Related Causes

  • Bucket and sponge
  • Screwdrivers

Materials

Plumbing-Related Causes

  • Air-gap fitting (if needed)

Appliance-Related Causes

  • Replacement drain hose (if needed)

Instructions

Materials and tools to fix a non-draining dishwasher

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

How to Diagnose Plumbing-Related Causes

Surprisingly often, drain problems with a dishwasher originate in drain parts outside the appliance itself. Not all the following steps will need to be completed. Continue until you determine the cause of the dishwasher's drainage problems. If none of these plumbing-related issues seem to be at fault, then proceed to the diagnosing issues with the dishwasher itself.

  1. Check the Garbage Disposal

    In most cases, the dishwasher drain hose connects to the disposal. When there is food built up inside the disposal or when the disposal is clogged, there is less space for the dishwasher water to flow. Run the disposer thoroughly with plenty of water running to clear it out. This may fix the drainage problem with the dishwasher.

    Dishwasher drain hose disconnected from garbage disposal

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  2. Clean the Air Gap

    This is the small (usually chrome) cylinder on the back edge of the kitchen sink. It prevents air vacuums from forming and thus prevents drain water from siphoning back into the dishwasher. If water comes out of the air gap when you run the dishwasher (and sometimes that water winds up all over the counter), the blockage is between the air gap and the garbage disposer.

    To clear it, remove the air gap cap and clean the inside the air gap. Next, disconnect the hose that runs from the nipple on the bottom of the air gap to the garbage disposal or the sink drain, and make sure that it is not clogged.

    Leaking air gap checked on top of kitchen sink

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  3. Check the High-Loop

    If your dishwasher doesn't have an air gap, its drain hose may be looped up and attached to the bottom of the countertop near the sink. Although this is not code-compliant in most places, it serves the same purpose as the air gap—to prevent drain water from siphoning back into the dishwasher. If this hose has come loose so it is no longer looped up higher than the level of the dishwasher, it may prevent water from properly draining out of the appliance. Returning the hose to its proper high-loop position will fix the problem; or, you can install a proper air gap.

    Tip

    If you've just installed a new garbage disposal, make sure the plug inside the drain hose nipple has been knocked out. New disposals have a little plastic disc covering the drain opening, which must be punched out with a hammer and screwdriver; unless you do, the dishwasher cannot drain into the disposal. The disc falls into the disposer's grinding chamber, where you can fish it out.

    High loop connection with drain tube checked under sink countertop

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

How to Diagnose Appliance-Related Causes

If there are no obvious plumbing-related causes, drainage problems may originate with several possible components on the appliance itself.

  1. Check the Drain Screen

    Check the drain screen at the bottom of the dishwasher tub and make sure nothing is clogging it. Clear plastic lids, glass, labels, and bits of plastic can cover the drain, and they can be hard to see unless you look closely.

    Drain screen checked for clogs at bottom of dishwasher

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  2. Clean the Filter

    Dishwashers use a variety of filter designs. Some have a simple screen, some have removable filters below the screen, and some require removing the bottom spray arm for a thorough cleaning. Check the appliance manual for instructions on how yours should be cleaned.

    Dishwasher filter removed from below spray arm for cleaning

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  3. Check the Dishwasher Drain Hose

    This is usually a corrugated plastic tube that runs from the bottom of the dishwasher to the air gap, garbage disposal, or sink drain, depending on the setup.

    Turn off the power to the dishwasher by pulling out its plug or switching off the breaker to the dishwasher circuit. Remove the toe-kick panel, then loosen the hose clamp securing the drain hose to the dishwasher pump (have a sponge handy for any water that spills out).

    Clean the end of the hose, then blow into it. If the hose is plugged and you can't blow through it, remove the clamp on the other end of the hose, then clean the hose out in a sink. If you can't unclog the hose, or if it is old and cracked, replace it.

    Watch Now: How to Replace a Dishwasher Drain Hose

    Dishwasher drain hose disconnected from sink drain with screwdriver

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  4. Replace the Dishwasher

    Appliance repair specialists can be expensive, and if your dishwasher is more than nine or 10 years old and none of the obvious fixes remedies the drainage problem, it may be time to replace the dishwasher. This is not as hard as it sounds, and many homeowners do this work themselves. Some appliance stores will install the dishwasher free of charge as part of the purchase price and they may even handle the disposal of the old appliance.

    Dishwasher pulled from kitchen for replacement

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

When to Call a Professional

If you have a newer dishwasher that isn't anywhere close to old enough for replacement, you will likely want to figure out how to fix the current one. If you've tried all of the above fixes and the dishwasher is still not draining, several dishwasher parts could be at fault. Most dishwasher replacement parts are widely available online; use the machine's model number to find the right parts. Likely culprits include:

  • Check valve
  • Piston and nut assembly (on drain pump)
  • Drain pump and drain motor
  • Pump solenoid
  • Belt (on belt-driven pumps)
  • Timer
  • Door switch
  • Electronic control

Checking many of these parts requires a multimeter and some knowledge of electrical circuitry. It's best to leave this to a pro unless you have the expertise with this kind of diagnosis.