Standing water after the cycle
Water is still pooled in the bottom of the dishwasher when the cycle ends.
Start here: Start with the filter, sump opening, and visible debris checks before moving to the hose and sink connection.
Dishwasher drain troubleshooting
Dishwasher Not Draining
Direct answer: A dishwasher that will not drain is most often dealing with a clogged filter, blocked drain path, kinked dishwasher drain hose, or a sink-side blockage at the air gap or disposal connection. Internal pump failure is possible, but it is not the first thing to assume.
Most likely: Start with the easy branch: standing water in the tub after a cycle usually points to a blockage in the dishwasher filter area or drain route rather than an immediate electrical failure.
The goal is to separate a simple blockage from a true pump problem without making a mess or buying the wrong part. Begin with visible checks inside the tub, then follow the drain path out to the sink connection. If the dishwasher hums, drains slowly, or leaves dirty water after the cycle ends, those details help narrow the branch quickly.
Don’t start with: Do not start by ordering a dishwasher drain pump. Many no-drain complaints are caused by debris, a knockout plug left in place on a new disposal, or a hose problem you can confirm first.
Water only in the filter sump?A shallow puddle can be normal on some dishwashers. Focus on water that covers the filter area or reaches the bottom of the door.
Recently installed disposal or plumbing work?Check the sink-side drain connection early. A missed knockout plug or disturbed hose routing is a very common cause.
Last reviewed: 2026-03-17
What kind of no-drain problem do you have?
Drains slowly, not completely
Some water leaves, but the tub still has dirty water or sludge after draining.
Start here: Look for partial blockage in the dishwasher filter, dishwasher drain hose, air gap, or sink-side connection.
Hums or buzzes during drain
You hear the dishwasher trying to drain, but little or no water moves out.
Start here: Check for jammed debris in the sump or a blocked drain path before suspecting a failing dishwasher drain pump.
Water comes out of the air gap or backs up at the sink
Water spills from the countertop air gap or the sink drain area when the dishwasher tries to drain.
Start here: Go straight to the sink-side branch: air gap cap, hose blockage, disposal inlet, and nearby drain restriction.
Most likely causes
1. Clogged dishwasher filter or debris in the sump
Food particles, labels, glass, or grease can block water before it even reaches the drain hose.
Quick check: Remove the lower rack, inspect the filter area, and clear debris by hand with power off.
2. Blocked or kinked dishwasher drain hose
A hose that is pinched behind the dishwasher or packed with sludge can stop or slow draining.
Quick check: Look under the sink for sharp bends, low spots full of debris, or a hose that was recently moved.
3. Sink-side blockage at the air gap or disposal connection
If the dishwasher shares the sink drain, a clogged air gap, blocked disposal inlet, or nearby drain restriction can stop discharge.
Quick check: If you have an air gap, remove the cap and inspect it. If connected to a disposal, confirm the inlet is open and not blocked.
4. Dishwasher drain pump jammed or failing
If the drain path is clear but the dishwasher only hums, clicks, or never pushes water out, the pump branch becomes more likely.
Quick check: After clearing blockages, run a drain cycle and listen for strong water movement versus a weak hum or silence.
Step-by-step fix
Step 1: Confirm it is really a drain problem, not normal residual water
Some dishwashers keep a small amount of water below the filter to protect seals. You want to distinguish that from a true no-drain condition.
- Cancel the current cycle and start a drain or cancel-drain function if your dishwasher has one.
- Open the door after the drain attempt and note the water level.
- If water is only in a small recessed area below the filter, compare it to obvious standing water covering the tub bottom.
- If the dishwasher was interrupted mid-cycle, run a short rinse and let it reach the drain portion once before judging the result.
Next move: If the dishwasher drains normally on the second attempt, the issue may have been an interrupted cycle or temporary obstruction. If water remains across the bottom of the tub, continue with blockage checks inside the dishwasher.
What to conclude: This separates normal residual water from a real drain failure and avoids chasing a problem that is not there.
Stop if:
- Water is rising instead of draining.
- You smell burning, see smoke, or hear harsh grinding.
- The floor is getting wet and you cannot control the leak.
Step 2: Clean the dishwasher filter and check the sump opening
This is the most common and least invasive fix. Debris at the filter or sump can stop draining completely or make the pump sound weak.
- Turn off power to the dishwasher at the switch or breaker before reaching into the sump area.
- Remove the lower rack and take out the dishwasher filter if your model has a removable one.
- Rinse the dishwasher filter with warm water. Use mild soap only if greasy buildup is heavy, then rinse thoroughly.
- Wipe sludge from the filter housing and inspect the sump opening for labels, broken glass, seeds, bone fragments, or other debris.
- If you can safely access the area around the drain opening, remove loose debris by hand or with a towel. Do not force sharp objects into hidden components.
Repair guide: clean a dishwasher filter
What to conclude: A dirty filter points to restricted flow. A clean filter with no improvement shifts attention to the hose, air gap, sink connection, or pump branch.
Step 3: Check the dishwasher drain hose route under the sink
A kinked, sagging, or clogged dishwasher drain hose can stop drainage even when the dishwasher itself is clear.
- Look under the sink and trace the dishwasher drain hose from the dishwasher to the sink drain, air gap, or disposal connection.
- Straighten obvious kinks and make sure stored items are not crushing the hose.
- Check that the hose loops upward before connecting to the sink drain if your setup uses a high loop rather than an air gap.
- If the hose feels packed with sludge or you can disconnect it safely at the sink-side end, inspect the end for grease or food blockage and clear only what is easily reachable.
- Place a towel or shallow pan below the connection before loosening any clamp.
Repair guide: replace a dishwasher drain hose
Step 4: Inspect the air gap or disposal connection
Many dishwashers drain through the sink plumbing. A blocked air gap, clogged disposal inlet, or missed knockout plug can mimic a dishwasher failure.
- If you have a countertop air gap, remove the cap and clean out visible debris inside.
- Run a short drain cycle while watching the air gap area from a safe distance. Water spurting there often points to a downstream blockage.
- If the dishwasher drain hose connects to a garbage disposal, confirm the disposal inlet is open. On a recent disposal installation, a knockout plug may have been left in place.
- If there is no disposal, inspect the dishwasher branch connection at the sink drain tailpiece for buildup.
- If the sink itself drains slowly, treat that as a separate plumbing clue rather than a dishwasher part failure.
Repair guide: clean a dishwasher air gap
Step 5: Listen for pump behavior during a drain cycle
Once the filter, hose, and sink connection are confirmed clear, the sound and behavior during drain help identify a jammed or failed dishwasher drain pump.
- Restore power and start a drain or cancel-drain cycle.
- Listen for one of three patterns: strong water movement, a low hum with little flow, or no pump sound at all.
- If the dishwasher hums but does not move water after the drain path has been cleared, the dishwasher drain pump may be jammed or weak.
- If there is no drain sound and the dishwasher otherwise runs, the problem may be an internal electrical or control issue that is not a good guess-and-buy branch.
- If you are comfortable accessing the lower front area with power disconnected, look only for obvious signs such as a loose connector, water damage, or a pump area obstruction. Do not probe live wiring.
A good result: If you now hear strong draining and the tub empties, the earlier blockage was the likely cause.
If not: If the drain path is clear and the pump still only hums or stays silent, repair usually moves beyond simple cleaning and may require pump diagnosis or professional service.
What to conclude: A clear drain path plus weak or absent pump action is the strongest support for a dishwasher drain pump problem, but silent electrical faults should be confirmed carefully rather than guessed.
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FAQ
Why is there still water in the bottom of my dishwasher after the cycle?
A small amount of water below the filter area can be normal on some dishwashers. If water is spread across the tub bottom or reaches the door area, that points more toward a clogged filter, blocked drain path, sink-side restriction, or pump problem.
Can a garbage disposal cause a dishwasher not to drain?
Yes. A new disposal may still have the dishwasher inlet knockout plug in place, or the disposal connection can clog with debris. If the dishwasher started having trouble right after disposal work, check that branch early.
Should I use drain cleaner to clear a dishwasher blockage?
No. Chemical drain cleaners can damage dishwasher parts, hoses, seals, and nearby plumbing connections. Start with manual cleaning of the dishwasher filter, sump area, air gap, and accessible hose ends instead.
If my dishwasher hums but does not drain, is the pump bad?
Maybe, but not automatically. A hum can also happen when debris is jamming the pump area or the drain path is blocked. If the filter, hose, air gap, and sink connection are confirmed clear and it still only hums, the dishwasher drain pump becomes a stronger suspect.
Can I run the dishwasher again if it did not drain the first time?
You can usually try one drain or cancel-drain cycle after checking for obvious overflow risk. If water remains high, starts rising, leaks onto the floor, or backs up at the sink, stop and address the blockage before running more cycles.