Water is still there right after the cycle ends
A puddle or pool remains in the bottom and dishes may still be wet or gritty.
Start here: Start with the filter, sump opening, and any debris around the drain area.
Dishwasher not draining
Asko Dishwasher Leaves Water in Bottom
Direct answer: If your Asko dishwasher leaves water in the bottom, the most common cause is a blockage in the filter, sump, drain hose, or sink-side drain connection. A drain pump problem is possible, but it is not where I would start.
Most likely: Start with any standing water, then check the dishwasher filter and sump for food sludge, glass, labels, or bone fragments. After that, follow the drain hose to the sink connection or air gap and look for a kink or clog.
A little clean water in the very lowest pocket can be normal on some dishwashers. A visible puddle above the filter area, dirty water that smells bad, or water that comes back after a cycle means the machine is not clearing the drain path the way it should. Reality check: most of these calls end with debris cleanup, not a major part. Common wrong move: running cycle after cycle with the same clog still in place and hoping it clears itself.
Don’t start with: Do not start by ordering a dishwasher drain pump just because water is sitting in the tub. On this symptom, a plugged drain path is more common than a failed pump.
If the water is dirty and full of bits,check the dishwasher filter and sump first.
If the tub drains, then slowly refills,look hard at the sink drain, air gap, or drain hose routing.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-17
What the standing water is telling you
Dishwasher hums or buzzes during drain
You hear the machine try to drain, but the water level barely changes.
Start here: Check for a jam in the sump or drain path before assuming the dishwasher drain pump is bad.
Tub empties, then water comes back later
The bottom looks clear at first, then dirty water shows up hours later.
Start here: Look for a sink-side blockage, clogged air gap, or a dishwasher drain hose with poor routing.
Only a small amount of clear water stays in the lowest spot
There is a thin layer in the sump area, but not a deep puddle and no odor.
Start here: Confirm whether it is just residual water in the low point before tearing into parts.
Most likely causes
1. Clogged dishwasher filter or sump
This is the most common reason for standing water, especially when the water is dirty or you find food grit, broken glass, paper label pieces, or grease sludge.
Quick check: Remove the lower rack and filter pieces, then look into the sump with a flashlight for debris packed around the drain opening.
2. Blocked or kinked dishwasher drain hose
A partial clog or sharp kink lets the dishwasher pump run but slows or stops the water from leaving the machine.
Quick check: Follow the dishwasher drain hose from the unit to the sink connection and look for a pinch, sag, or grease buildup point.
3. Sink-side drain blockage or clogged air gap
If the dishwasher drains into a backed-up sink branch or plugged air gap, water can stay in the tub or flow back in later.
Quick check: Run the kitchen sink, check whether it drains slowly, and inspect the air gap cap area if your sink has one.
4. Dishwasher drain pump jammed or failing
If the drain path is clear but the machine only hums, drains weakly, or never pushes water out, the pump may be jammed or worn out.
Quick check: After clearing the filter and hose path, listen during drain. A strong pump sound with no flow points to a blockage; a weak hum or silence points more toward the dishwasher drain pump.
Step-by-step fix
Step 1: Confirm whether it is truly a drain problem
Some dishwashers keep a small amount of clean water in the lowest sump area. You want to separate normal residual water from a real no-drain condition before taking things apart.
- Open the dishwasher after the cycle has fully ended, not mid-cycle.
- Look at the water level relative to the filter area.
- Note whether the water is clean or dirty and whether it smells sour or swampy.
- If there is enough water to cover the flat bottom or slosh when you move the rack, treat it as a real drain problem.
Next move: If it is only a small amount of clean water in the very lowest recess, you may not have a failure at all. If there is a visible puddle, dirty water, odor, or water above the filter area, move on to the blockage checks.
What to conclude: Dirty or deep standing water usually means the dishwasher is not clearing the drain path, or water is flowing back in from the sink side.
Stop if:
- Water is spilling onto the floor when you open the door.
- You see signs of an active leak under the dishwasher.
- The dishwasher is stuck running the drain pump continuously instead of simply leaving water behind.
Step 2: Clean the dishwasher filter and inspect the sump
This is the highest-payoff check on a dishwasher that leaves water in the bottom. Small debris can block flow or jam the pump inlet.
- Turn off power to the dishwasher at the breaker or unplug it if accessible.
- Remove the lower rack.
- Take out the dishwasher filter assembly and any cover pieces you can remove without forcing them.
- Wash the filter with warm water and mild dish soap. Use a soft brush if needed.
- Shine a flashlight into the sump and remove food scraps, glass, labels, seeds, or bone fragments carefully.
- Wipe sludge from the drain area and reinstall the filter pieces correctly.
Next move: If the next drain cycle clears the tub normally, the problem was a blocked filter or sump. If the water still sits there or the machine only hums, keep following the drain path.
What to conclude: Debris in the sump can choke off flow or physically jam the pump impeller area. A clean filter also rules out the most common easy fix.
Step 3: Check the dishwasher drain hose and sink connection
Once the inside is clear, the next most likely trouble spot is the hose run from the dishwasher to the sink drain or disposer inlet.
- Place towels under the sink area.
- Inspect the dishwasher drain hose for kinks, crushing, or a low sag that can trap sludge.
- Disconnect the hose at the sink-side connection if you can do it without straining the fitting.
- Check the hose opening and the sink-side nipple for grease, food paste, or debris buildup.
- Flush the removed hose section with water into a bucket if needed, then reconnect it securely.
- If your setup has an air gap on the sink, remove the cap and clean out debris there too.
Next move: If water now drains fast and stays out of the tub, the blockage was in the hose or sink-side connection. If the hose path is clear and the sink side is open, the remaining suspects are backflow from the house-side drain or a dishwasher pump issue.
Step 4: Run a short drain test and listen to the machine
Now that the easy blockages are cleared, the sound and behavior during drain tell you whether the dishwasher is moving water or just trying to.
- Restore power.
- Scoop out as much standing water as practical with a cup or towel so you can see fresh movement.
- Run a cancel-drain or short cycle that includes a drain segment.
- Listen for the drain portion: strong steady pumping, weak humming, rattling, or silence.
- Watch the sink-side drain point or air gap if visible to see whether water is being pushed out.
Next move: If you hear a strong pump and see a solid discharge, the dishwasher drain path is open again. If the machine hums with little or no water movement after the path is clear, the dishwasher drain pump is the likely failed part.
Step 5: Finish the repair or call for service before water damage starts
At this point you should know whether you had a simple clog, a hose problem, sink-side backflow, or a likely pump failure. The right next move is different for each one.
- If cleaning the filter or sump fixed it, run a full cycle and recheck the tub after it ends.
- If the hose was kinked, damaged, or packed with buildup you could not fully clear, replace the dishwasher drain hose.
- If the sink side is causing backup into the dishwasher, clear the sink drain problem before using the dishwasher again.
- If the drain path is clear and the machine still hums or will not push water out, plan on replacing the dishwasher drain pump or scheduling service.
- If you are not comfortable pulling the dishwasher out for hose or pump access, stop here and book an appliance tech.
A good result: If the tub is empty at the end of the cycle and stays empty later, the repair path was correct.
If not: If water still remains after these checks, professional diagnosis is the smart move because the next layer usually involves internal access and model-specific disassembly.
What to conclude: You have narrowed the problem to a confirmed clog, a hose issue, a sink-side drainage problem, or a likely dishwasher drain pump failure.
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FAQ
Why is there water in the bottom of my Asko dishwasher after the cycle?
Most of the time it is a clogged dishwasher filter, debris in the sump, or a restriction in the dishwasher drain hose or sink-side connection. A bad dishwasher drain pump is possible, but it is usually not the first cause to check.
Is a little water in the dishwasher bottom normal?
Sometimes, yes. A small amount of clean water in the very lowest sump pocket can be normal. A visible puddle across the bottom, dirty water, odor, or water above the filter area is not normal.
Can a clogged sink drain make my dishwasher leave water behind?
Yes. If the sink branch drains slowly or backs up, the dishwasher may not empty well, or dirty water can flow back into the tub later. That is why sink-side checks matter on this symptom.
How do I know if the dishwasher drain pump is bad?
After the filter, sump, hose, and sink connection are clear, run a drain cycle. If the dishwasher only hums, drains very weakly, or never pushes water out, the dishwasher drain pump becomes the likely failed part.
Should I run vinegar or drain cleaner through the dishwasher to fix this?
No drain cleaner. It can damage parts and create a mess when you open the hose or pump area later. For the filter, warm water and mild dish soap are the safe first choice. Use physical cleaning and blockage removal instead of chemicals.
Why does the dishwasher drain, then fill back up later?
That usually points away from the dishwasher itself and toward backflow from the sink side. Check for a clogged air gap, a slow sink drain, or poor dishwasher drain hose routing.