A deep pool of dirty water stays in the tub
Water is still covering the bottom well after the cycle ends, often with food bits or odor.
Start here: Start with the filter, sump, and visible drain opening for a clog.
Dishwasher Drain Problem
Dishwasher Leaving Water in Bottom
Direct answer: If your dishwasher is leaving water in the bottom, the most common cause is a blockage in the filter or drain path, not a bad part. Start with the filter, sump area, drain hose loop, and sink air gap before you suspect the drain pump.
Most likely: Food debris in the dishwasher filter or sump, a kinked or clogged dishwasher drain hose, or a blocked sink air gap if your setup has one.
First figure out what kind of water you have. A shallow puddle after a cycle can be normal on some machines. A deeper pool that smells bad, rises back in after the cycle, or leaves dishes dirty points to a real drain problem. One quick reality check: if the water comes back after the dishwasher has already drained, the trouble may be in the hose routing or sink-side drain connection, not inside the dishwasher itself.
Don’t start with: Don’t start by ordering a dishwasher drain pump. A lot of standing-water calls turn out to be a simple clog where the dishwasher meets the sink drain.
Water is dirty and smells bad?Check the dishwasher filter and sump first.
Tub drains, then water creeps back in later?Look at the dishwasher drain hose loop and sink air gap next.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-01
What standing water in the dishwasher usually looks like
Only a small amount of clean water is left
There is a thin ring or shallow puddle near the sump, but the dishwasher otherwise finished normally.
Start here: Confirm whether it is actually excessive before taking anything apart. Some machines retain a little water around the sump area.
The dishwasher drains, then water comes back later
The tub looks empty at first, then you find water in the bottom hours later.
Start here: Check for a low or sagging dishwasher drain hose, a blocked air gap, or a sink drain issue feeding water back.
You hear humming or straining during drain
The dishwasher tries to drain but sounds stuck, weak, or unusually loud.
Start here: Clear the filter and sump first, then suspect a jammed or failing dishwasher drain pump if the path is open.
Most likely causes
1. Clogged dishwasher filter or sump area
This is the most common reason for standing water. Food scraps, labels, glass bits, and grease collect where the water exits the tub.
Quick check: Remove the lower rack, take out the dishwasher filter if your model has one, and look for sludge or debris around the sump opening.
2. Blocked, kinked, or poorly routed dishwasher drain hose
If the hose is pinched behind the unit, packed with debris, or missing a proper high loop, the dishwasher may drain slowly or refill with dirty sink water.
Quick check: Look under the sink for sharp bends, a sagging hose, or a hose that runs low before rising.
3. Clogged sink air gap or sink-side drain connection
On many kitchens, the dishwasher drains through an air gap or into a branch on the sink drain. That connection clogs all the time.
Quick check: If you have an air gap on the sink deck, remove the cap and check for gunk. If not, inspect the dishwasher hose connection at the sink drain or disposal inlet.
4. Jammed or failing dishwasher drain pump
Once the filter and drain path are clear, a pump that only hums, drains weakly, or will not move water is a real possibility.
Quick check: After clearing blockages, run a drain cycle and listen. A strong drain sounds purposeful. A weak hum with little water movement points toward the dishwasher drain pump.
Step-by-step fix
Step 1: Confirm it is really a drain problem
A little water near the sump can be normal. You want to separate normal leftover moisture from a real standing-water problem before you start pulling parts.
- Cancel the cycle or run a drain cycle if your dishwasher allows it.
- Wait 10 to 15 minutes after the pump stops.
- Open the door and check the water level with a flashlight.
- If the water is just a shallow film or small puddle around the sump and dishes came out clean, compare it to the next cycle before tearing into it.
- If the water is deep, dirty, smelly, or covering the flat bottom of the tub, treat it as a real drain issue.
Next move: If you confirm it is only a small normal amount, no repair may be needed. If there is clearly too much water, move to the filter and sump check.
What to conclude: This keeps you from chasing a problem that may not exist and helps separate normal sump retention from poor draining.
Stop if:
- Water is hot enough to burn you.
- You see signs of an active leak under the dishwasher.
- The dishwasher trips a breaker or smells burnt when you try to drain it.
Step 2: Clean the dishwasher filter and clear the sump area
This is the first real fix on most standing-water dishwashers. Debris at the filter or sump blocks flow before the water ever reaches the hose or pump.
- Turn off power to the dishwasher at the breaker or unplug it if accessible.
- Remove the lower rack.
- Take out the dishwasher filter and rinse it with warm water. Use mild soap if greasy. Do not force brittle plastic parts.
- Wipe sludge and loose debris from the filter housing and sump area.
- Carefully check for labels, broken glass, bones, or seeds around the drain opening. Use gloves if you cannot see clearly.
- Reinstall the dishwasher filter securely so it seats flat and locks properly.
Next move: If the dishwasher drains normally on the next cycle, the blockage was at the filter or sump. If water still stands in the bottom, the restriction is likely farther down the drain path or the pump is not moving water well.
What to conclude: A dirty filter is the easy win. If cleaning it changes nothing, you have narrowed the problem without buying anything.
Step 3: Check the sink-side drain path, air gap, and hose routing
A dishwasher can be perfectly fine inside and still leave water because it cannot push through a blocked air gap, clogged sink connection, or badly routed hose. This is where a lot of people miss the real problem.
- Look under the sink and find the dishwasher drain hose.
- Make sure the hose is not kinked, crushed, or sharply bent behind stored items.
- Check that the hose rises high under the counter before dropping to the sink drain connection if your setup uses a high loop.
- If you have a sink air gap, remove the cap and clean out debris inside with warm water and a small brush or cloth.
- Disconnect the dishwasher drain hose from the sink-side connection only if you can do it without spilling onto cabinets. Check for grease or food blockage at the end of the hose and at the sink connection.
- If the dishwasher connects to a disposal inlet, make sure that inlet is not clogged.
Repair guide: How to Replace a Dishwasher Drain Hose
Step 4: Listen to the drain cycle and decide whether the pump is blocked or failing
Once the easy clogs are ruled out, the sound during drain tells you a lot. A healthy pump moves water with a steady rush. A jammed or weak one often hums, buzzes, or strains without much flow.
- Restore power and run a short cycle or cancel-drain sequence.
- Listen near the lower front of the dishwasher during the drain portion.
- If you hear a strong motor sound and water rushes through the hose, the pump is probably working and you still have a restriction somewhere in the path.
- If you hear a hum or weak grinding with little or no water leaving, shut power back off and inspect for debris in the sump again if accessible.
- If the dishwasher has had recent glass breakage or hard debris inside, a jammed dishwasher drain pump is more likely.
- If the unit has repeated weak draining with a clear path and no obvious clog, the dishwasher drain pump is a supported failure point.
Next move: If the pump sounds strong and the water exits fast, go back to the hose path and sink connection because that is still the better bet. If the pump only hums or drains weakly after the path is clear, plan on a dishwasher drain pump replacement or service.
Step 5: Finish with the right fix and verify it stays drained
You want to end with a clear action, not a guess. Either you corrected a blockage, replaced the supported failed part, or you have enough evidence to call for service without wasting more time.
- If cleaning the filter, sump, air gap, or hose fixed it, run a full cycle and recheck the tub one hour later to make sure water is not creeping back in.
- If you found a split, brittle, or permanently kinked hose, replace the dishwasher drain hose.
- If the drain path is clear and the dishwasher still only hums or drains weakly, replace the dishwasher drain pump or schedule appliance service.
- If the dishwasher now drains but makes loud grinding or whining noises, switch to the related dishwasher noise problem page because that points to a different issue.
- If the dishwasher still leaves water and you also have sink drainage trouble, clear the sink-side drain issue before blaming the dishwasher again.
If that issue is confirmed: Dishwasher grinding noise
A good result: If the tub stays empty after a full cycle and does not refill later, the repair is done.
If not: If standing water returns even after the path is clear and the pump issue is addressed, professional diagnosis is the smart next step because internal restrictions or wiring faults are left on the table.
What to conclude: You now know whether this was a simple blockage, a hose problem, or a likely pump failure, and you have a clean next move.
Replacement Parts
Repair Riot may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
FAQ
Why is there still water in the bottom of my 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 failed dishwasher drain pump is possible, but it is not the first thing to assume.
Is a little water in the dishwasher bottom normal?
Sometimes, yes. A small amount of water around the sump area can be normal on some models. A deep puddle across the bottom, dirty water, bad odor, or water that comes back later is not normal.
Can a clogged sink drain make my dishwasher leave water behind?
Yes. If the sink drain, air gap, or dishwasher connection at the sink is clogged, the dishwasher may drain slowly or dirty water may flow back into the tub after the cycle ends.
How do I know if the dishwasher drain pump is bad?
First clear the filter, sump, hose path, and air gap. If the drain path is open and the dishwasher still only hums, strains, or moves very little water during drain, the dishwasher drain pump becomes a strong suspect.
Should I run dishwasher cleaner to fix standing water?
Not as your first move. Cleaner will not solve a blocked filter, jammed sump, kinked hose, or bad pump. Start with physical cleaning and inspection first, then use routine cleaner later for maintenance if the machine is otherwise draining normally.
Why does my dishwasher empty, then fill back up later?
That usually points to backflow, not a pump that suddenly failed. Check for a low or sagging dishwasher drain hose, a clogged sink air gap, or a sink drain problem letting water return to the tub.