Dishwasher Not Draining
Likely causes
- ✓Clogged drain filter or food debris trap
- ✓Failing drain pump or check valve
- ✓Kinked or clogged drain hose
- ✓Clogged air gap or garbage disposal knockout plug (on new installs)
- ✓Blocked garbage disposal backing up into the dishwasher
Standing water at the bottom of the dishwasher after a cycle usually points to a blockage rather than a broken pump. We start by checking the drain filter and food trap, which catch debris and are the most common cause of slow or blocked draining.
If the filter is clear, the drain hose, air gap, or a connected garbage disposal are the next places we check — a clogged disposal is a frequent and often overlooked cause of dishwasher drainage problems, especially after a disposal has recently jammed.
This is one of the issues covered under our Dishwasher Repair service.