What this drain problem looks like
Standing water over the filter
There is enough water in the bottom that you can see a pool above the filter area or it sloshes when you pull the lower rack.
Start here: Start with the filter, sump well, and drain path to the sink before anything else.
A small puddle only
You see a thin ring or shallow puddle near the lowest part of the tub, but not a deep pool.
Start here: Confirm it is more than the normal low spot, then clean the filter and run a drain test.
Humming or buzzing during drain
The dishwasher sounds like it is trying to pump out, but the water level barely changes.
Start here: Look for a jammed sump, kinked dishwasher drain hose, or sink-side blockage before suspecting the pump.
Keeps draining or won’t move on
You hear repeated draining, or the machine seems stuck trying to empty water.
Start here: If it keeps draining continuously, the problem may fit a different symptom and needs a separate leak or overfill check.
Most likely causes
1. Clogged dishwasher filter or sump area
This is the most common reason for water left in the tub. Food scraps, broken glass, paper labels, and grease collect right where the drain path starts.
Quick check: Remove the lower rack and filter pieces, then look for sludge or hard debris in the sump opening.
2. Blocked or kinked dishwasher drain hose
If the pump can run but water cannot get out, the hose may be pinched behind the machine or packed with grease and debris.
Quick check: Check the visible hose routing under the sink for a sharp bend, sag, or clog near the sink connection.
3. Sink air gap or sink drain connection blocked
When the dishwasher drain path meets a clogged air gap, disposer inlet, or sink tailpiece, the dishwasher backs up even though the machine itself is fine.
Quick check: If your sink drains slowly too, or water spits from the air gap, inspect the sink-side connection first.
4. Dishwasher drain pump jammed or weak
After the filter, sump, hose, and sink connection are clear, a pump that only hums, trips, or moves very little water becomes more likely.
Quick check: Listen during drain. A healthy pump usually gives a steady drain sound and moves water quickly, not just a low hum with no flow.
Step-by-step fix
Step 1: Confirm you really have a drain problem
A little water in the low spot can be normal. You want to separate normal leftover moisture from true standing water before taking things apart.
- Open the dishwasher after the cycle has fully ended, not mid-cycle.
- Pull out the lower rack and look at the water level around the filter area.
- If water is above the filter or covers the sump area, treat it as a real drain problem.
- If the tub is nearly empty but just damp with a small low-spot puddle, wipe it dry and run a short rinse cycle to see whether water builds back up.
Next move: If the tub finishes nearly dry except for a trace in the low spot, you likely do not have a true no-drain failure. If water stands in the bottom again, move to the filter and sump checks.
What to conclude: This tells you whether you are chasing a real blockage or just normal residual water.
Stop if:- Water is hot enough to burn.
- You see loose broken glass in the tub and cannot remove it safely.
- The dishwasher is overflowing onto the floor.
Step 2: Clean the dishwasher filter and check the sump for debris
This is the highest-payoff check on a dishwasher that will not drain. Most no-drain calls end here.
- Turn off power to the dishwasher at the breaker or unplug it if the plug is accessible.
- Scoop out enough standing water with a cup or towel so you can reach the filter area.
- Remove the lower spray arm only if needed for access, then remove the dishwasher filter pieces.
- Wash the filter with warm water and mild dish soap. Use a soft brush only if needed.
- Look down into the sump area for labels, bones, glass chips, seeds, or greasy sludge.
- Remove debris carefully by hand or with needle-nose pliers. Do not force anything deeper into the opening.
Next move: If the dishwasher drains normally after reassembly, the blockage was at the filter or sump. If the tub still holds water, the restriction is likely farther down the drain path or the pump is not moving water well.
What to conclude: A dirty filter or jammed sump can stop water before it ever reaches the hose.
Step 3: Check the sink-side drain path and dishwasher drain hose
A dishwasher can only drain as well as the hose and sink connection allow. A clog under the sink is common and easy to miss.
- Look under the sink for the dishwasher drain hose and follow it from the dishwasher connection to the sink drain or air gap.
- Straighten any sharp kink or crushed section in the dishwasher drain hose.
- If you have an air gap on the sink deck, remove the cap and clean out debris inside.
- Disconnect the hose at the sink-side connection with a towel or shallow pan ready for water.
- Check the hose end and sink inlet for grease, sludge, or food buildup and clear it out.
- If the sink itself drains slowly, clear that problem first because the dishwasher may be backing up into a restricted sink drain path.
Next move: If water now pumps out strongly, the blockage was in the hose or sink-side connection. If the hose path is clear and the sink drains fine, listen closely to the dishwasher during the next drain attempt.
Step 4: Run a controlled drain test and listen to the pump
Sound and water movement tell you a lot. A blocked path and a failing pump do not sound the same in the field.
- Restore power and run a short cycle or cancel-drain function so the dishwasher tries to empty.
- Listen for one of three patterns: strong drain sound with good flow, a low hum with little flow, or silence when it should be draining.
- Watch the sink-side hose discharge if you can do so safely without creating a leak.
- If the pump hums but little or no water comes out after the filter and hose path are clear, suspect a jammed or weak dishwasher drain pump.
- If there is no drain sound at all, stop DIY and move toward service because electrical diagnosis inside the machine is the next step.
Next move: If you get a strong burst of water and the tub empties, recheck for a partial clog that may have broken loose and then verify with another full cycle. If the pump only hums or drains very weakly with a clear path, the drain pump is the leading suspect.
Step 5: Finish with the right repair path
By now you should know whether this was a clog you cleared, a hose issue, or a likely pump problem. The last step is to verify the fix or stop before guesswork starts.
- If you cleared debris from the filter, sump, air gap, or hose, run a full rinse or quick cycle and confirm the tub ends nearly empty.
- If the dishwasher drain hose is split, permanently kinked, or clogged beyond cleaning, replace the dishwasher drain hose.
- If the drain path is clear and the machine still only hums or drains weakly, plan on replacing the dishwasher drain pump or scheduling service.
- If the dishwasher keeps draining continuously instead of simply failing to drain, switch to the separate symptom path for a dishwasher that keeps draining.
- If you are not fully sure which condition you have, stop before ordering parts and get the exact failure confirmed.
A good result: If the dishwasher finishes the cycle and leaves no standing water above the filter, the repair path was correct.
If not: If the tub still fills with standing water after these checks, professional diagnosis is the clean next move.
What to conclude: You have either solved the blockage, confirmed a hose failure, or narrowed it to a pump-level repair.
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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 small low-spot puddle can be normal, but standing water above the filter is not.
How do I know if it is the dishwasher drain pump or just a clog?
If you have already cleared the filter, sump, hose, and sink connection and the dishwasher still only hums or drains very weakly, the dishwasher drain pump becomes much more likely. If clearing debris restores strong flow, it was a clog.
Can a clogged sink make my dishwasher not drain?
Yes. If the sink drain, air gap, or sink-side dishwasher connection is restricted, the dishwasher can back up even when the machine itself is fine. Slow sink draining is a strong clue.
Is it normal for an Asko dishwasher to leave a little water behind?
A trace of water in the lowest spot can be normal on some dishwashers. What is not normal is a visible pool above the filter area or dirty water that stays in the tub after the cycle ends.
Should I use drain cleaner in a dishwasher that will not drain?
No. Liquid drain cleaners can damage dishwasher parts and create a safety mess when you open hoses or reach into the sump. Stick with manual cleaning of the filter, sump, hose, and sink-side connection.