Standing water after the cycle ends
A shallow pool or full tub of dirty water is still sitting in the bottom when the dishwasher should be done.
Start here: Start with the filter, sump opening, and the drain hose path under the sink.
Dishwasher Drain Problem
Dishwasher Won’t Pump Water
Direct answer: If your dishwasher won’t pump water out, the most common cause is a blockage in the filter or drain path, not a failed pump. Start with the standing water, filter area, drain hose route, and sink air gap before you open the machine further.
Most likely: Food debris in the dishwasher filter or sump, a kinked or clogged dishwasher drain hose, or a plugged sink air gap or sink drain connection.
When a dishwasher finishes with dirty water still in the tub, you want to separate a simple clog from a real pump problem fast. Reality check: a little clean water in the sump is normal on many machines, but a puddle covering the bottom is not. Common wrong move: running cycle after cycle with standing water just packs debris tighter into the filter and drain path.
Don’t start with: Don’t start by ordering a dishwasher drain pump. Pumps do fail, but a blocked drain path is a lot more common.
Water only in the very bottom sump?That can be normal. Look for water covering the flat tub floor or touching the filter screen.
Hums but does not drain?Check for a blocked filter, jammed debris in the sump, or a kinked drain hose before assuming the pump is bad.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-02
What this usually looks like
Dishwasher hums during drain but water does not move
You hear a motor sound for a few seconds, but the water level barely changes.
Start here: Look for a jam in the sump or a clog or kink in the dishwasher drain hose before chasing electrical parts.
Dishwasher drains slowly into the sink plumbing
Water leaves the tub, but it takes a long time, backs up, or returns after draining.
Start here: Check the sink air gap, garbage disposal inlet, and sink drain for a restriction.
Dishwasher will not start the drain portion cleanly
The cycle stalls with water inside, or the machine seems to stop and sit with a wet tub.
Start here: Make sure the dishwasher actually completed the cycle and the door latched properly, then move to the filter and drain path checks.
Most likely causes
1. Clogged dishwasher filter or sump area
This is the most common reason water stays in the tub. Bits of food, labels, glass, and grease collect around the filter and the pump inlet.
Quick check: Remove the lower rack, inspect the filter area, and look for sludge, paper, bone fragments, or broken glass around the sump opening.
2. Kinked or blocked dishwasher drain hose
A hose that is pinched behind the machine or packed with grease and debris can let the pump run without moving much water.
Quick check: Follow the dishwasher drain hose from the machine to the sink connection and look for sharp bends, sagging loops, or a section that feels packed solid.
3. Plugged sink air gap or sink drain connection
If the dishwasher drains through an air gap or into a disposal inlet, that connection can clog and make the dishwasher look like it has a pump problem.
Quick check: Pop off the air gap cap if you have one and check for debris. If the hose goes to a disposal, inspect the dishwasher inlet at the disposal neck.
4. Dishwasher drain pump jammed or failed
Once the filter and drain path are clear, a pump that only hums, trips out, or will not move water becomes more likely.
Quick check: After clearing blockages, run a drain cycle and listen. A strong pump sound with no flow points to a blockage downstream; a weak hum or silence points back toward the dishwasher drain pump or wiring.
Step-by-step fix
Step 1: Confirm it is really a drain problem
Some dishwashers leave a small amount of clean water in the sump by design. You want to make sure you are chasing standing water, not normal leftover water.
- Open the dishwasher after the cycle ends and look at the water level with the lower rack pulled out.
- If water is only down in a small recessed sump below the filter, that may be normal.
- If water is spread across the tub floor or covers the filter area, cancel the cycle and start a drain command if your machine has one.
- Listen for what happens during the drain attempt: strong pumping sound, weak hum, grinding, or no sound at all.
Next move: If a drain command clears the water normally, the problem may have been a one-time interruption or an incomplete cycle. If water stays put or only trickles away, move to the filter and sump check next.
What to conclude: You are separating normal sump water from a real no-drain condition and getting a useful sound clue before taking anything apart.
Stop if:
- Water is rising instead of draining and is close to spilling onto the floor.
- You smell burning insulation or see smoke.
- The dishwasher trips the breaker when drain starts.
Step 2: Clean the dishwasher filter and check the sump opening
This is the highest-percentage fix and the least destructive place to start. A clogged filter or jammed sump can stop draining completely or make the pump just hum.
- Turn off power to the dishwasher at the breaker or unplug it if accessible.
- Scoop out enough standing water with a cup or towel so you can reach the filter area safely.
- Remove the lower spray arm only if needed for access, then remove the dishwasher filter according to its locking tabs.
- Wash the dishwasher filter with warm water and mild dish soap. Use a soft brush if needed.
- Look down into the sump opening for labels, glass, seeds, twist ties, or sludge packed around the pump inlet.
- Remove debris carefully by hand or with needle-nose pliers. Avoid forcing anything deeper.
Next move: If the dishwasher drains normally after reassembly, the blockage was at the filter or sump. If the filter area is clean and the dishwasher still will not pump water out, check the drain hose path and sink connection.
What to conclude: A dirty filter points to a maintenance blockage. A clean filter with no improvement pushes suspicion toward the hose, air gap, sink connection, or pump.
Step 3: Check the dishwasher drain hose route, air gap, and sink connection
A dishwasher can have a perfectly good pump and still not drain if the hose is kinked or the sink-side connection is plugged.
- Under the sink, trace the dishwasher drain hose from the dishwasher to the air gap, disposal, or sink drain tailpiece.
- Straighten any sharp kink and make sure the hose is not crushed behind stored items.
- If you have a sink air gap, remove the cap and clean out debris inside with warm water and a small brush.
- Disconnect the dishwasher drain hose from the sink-side connection with a towel or shallow pan ready for water.
- Check the hose end and the sink inlet for grease, food paste, or a knockout plug that was never removed on a newer disposal connection.
- Flush the removed hose gently into a bucket or sink to see whether water passes freely.
Next move: If clearing the hose or sink connection restores normal draining, you found the restriction outside the dishwasher. If the hose route is clear and water still will not move, the problem is more likely inside the dishwasher at the pump or pump inlet.
Step 4: Listen for pump behavior and decide whether the hose or pump is the real hold-up
Once the easy clogs are cleared, sound and flow tell you a lot. This is where you separate a blocked path from a failing dishwasher drain pump.
- Restore power and run a drain or cancel-drain command with the hose reconnected properly.
- Listen at the lower front of the dishwasher during the drain portion.
- If you hear a strong, steady pump sound but little or no water reaches the sink connection, recheck the dishwasher drain hose for an internal clog or collapse.
- If you hear a weak hum, intermittent buzz, or brief grind and the water does not move, shut power back off and inspect the pump inlet area again for hidden debris.
- If the machine is silent during drain and the cycle otherwise runs, the drain pump or its control path may not be engaging.
Next move: If a second hose check finds a soft internal collapse or packed debris, replacing the dishwasher drain hose is a. If the hose is clear and the dishwasher still only hums or stays silent during drain, the dishwasher drain pump is the likely failed.
Step 5: Make the repair call: replace the confirmed blockage part or schedule pump service
By now you should know whether you have a drain-path problem you can finish or an internal pump problem that needs deeper access.
- Replace the dishwasher filter if it is damaged, warped, or will not lock back in place after cleaning.
- Replace the dishwasher drain hose if it is split, permanently kinked, internally collapsed, or still restricted after flushing.
- If the drain path is clear and the dishwasher drain pump only hums, grinds, or stays dead during drain, plan for drain pump replacement or book an appliance service tech.
- If the dishwasher also has startup issues, door latch trouble, or odd fill-and-drain behavior, switch to the matching symptom page before buying parts.
Repair guide: How to Replace a Dishwasher Filter
Related repair guide: How to Replace a Dishwasher Drain Hose
A good result: If the dishwasher now drains fully at the end of a cycle, run one more rinse cycle and check under the sink and under the machine for leaks.
If not: If a clear hose and clean filter did not change anything and pump access is beyond your comfort level, stop here and have the dishwasher serviced.
What to conclude: You have narrowed the problem to a damaged filter, a bad hose, or a likely internal pump issue instead of guessing and buying random parts.
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FAQ
Why is my dishwasher humming but not pumping water out?
Most often the pump is trying to run against a blockage. Check the dishwasher filter, sump opening, and drain hose first. If those are clear and it still only hums, the dishwasher drain pump becomes more likely.
Is some water in the bottom of a dishwasher normal?
Yes. Many dishwashers keep a small amount of clean water down in the sump area. What is not normal is water spread across the tub floor or standing high enough to cover the filter area.
Can a clogged sink stop a dishwasher from draining?
Yes. A slow sink drain, plugged air gap, or blocked disposal inlet can keep dishwasher water from leaving even when the dishwasher itself is fine.
Should I use drain cleaner in a dishwasher or drain hose?
No. Chemical drain cleaners can damage dishwasher parts, seals, and nearby plumbing, and they do not solve debris packed in the filter or hose very well. Clean the blockage mechanically instead.
When should I suspect the dishwasher drain pump?
Suspect the dishwasher drain pump after the filter, sump, drain hose, air gap, and sink connection are confirmed clear. A pump that only hums, grinds, or stays silent during drain after those checks is a stronger pump-failure clue.
What if my dishwasher fills and then drains by itself?
That is a different pattern than a simple no-drain problem. If it keeps draining during fill or right after filling, move to the dishwasher fills then drains symptom page instead of buying drain parts.