Dishwasher Not Draining? Here Is What Is Usually Wrong

Water sitting in the bottom of the dishwasher after a cycle is one of the most common calls we take.

The filter and sump

Modern dishwashers have a removable filter under the lower spray arm. Food, glass chips and labels collect there and choke the drain. Pull it, rinse it, and check the sump underneath.

The drain hose

The hose should rise in a high loop before it drops to the drain. A kinked hose or a missing high loop causes both drainage failures and dirty water siphoning back into the tub.

The garbage disposal knockout plug

When a dishwasher is plumbed into a new disposal, the installer must knock out the plug in the disposal inlet. If nobody did, the dishwasher can never drain. We find this on brand-new installations regularly.

The drain pump

If the filter, hose and inlet are clear, the pump itself is likely failed or jammed — that is a service call.

Call Alliance Appliance Repair at (405) 200-1490 for dishwasher repair in Stillwater, Tulsa and OKC.