Dirty water left after the cycle
Cloudy water, food bits, or grease sitting across the bottom when the cycle should be finished.
Start here: Go straight to the filter, sump, and lower drain path for a blockage.
Dishwasher not draining
KitchenAid Dishwasher Leaves Water in Bottom
Direct answer: If your KitchenAid dishwasher leaves water in the bottom, the most common cause is a blockage in the filter, sump, drain hose, or sink-side drain connection rather than a failed internal part.
Most likely: Start with the filter screen, the sump well under it, the drain hose loop, and any sink air gap or disposal connection. Food sludge, glass chips, labels, and grease are the usual culprits.
A little clean water in the sump area can be normal on some dishwashers. What is not normal is a puddle covering the bottom after the cycle ends, dirty water backing up, or water returning after you already drained it once. Reality check: most no-drain calls end with debris removal, not a major part swap. Common wrong move: running cycle after cycle and hoping it clears itself while the filter and hose stay packed with sludge.
Don’t start with: Don’t start by ordering a drain pump. Pumps do fail, but on this symptom they’re behind clogs far more often than they’re the first problem.
If the water is dirty with food bitsCheck the dishwasher filter and sump first.
If it drains, then water creeps back in laterCheck the sink drain, air gap, disposal inlet, and drain hose routing.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-17
What the standing water is telling you
Clean water returns hours later
The tub looks empty at first, then a shallow pool shows up later without running the dishwasher again.
Start here: Check for sink-side backup, a clogged air gap, a disposal knockout plug, or a drain hose that is routed too low.
Dishwasher hums or buzzes during drain
You hear the drain portion of the cycle, but the water level barely changes.
Start here: Look for debris jamming the drain pump area or a kinked dishwasher drain hose before assuming the pump is bad.
Only a small amount stays in the sump pocket
A little water remains down in the low spot under the filter, but dishes are clean and no water spreads across the floor of the tub.
Start here: That can be normal. Verify the water is only in the sump pocket and not covering the flat bottom of the tub.
Most likely causes
1. Clogged dishwasher filter or sump area
This is the most common cause when water is dirty, smelly, or full of food debris. Small bones, glass, paper labels, and grease collect under the lower filter and choke off flow.
Quick check: Remove the lower rack, unlock the filter, and look for sludge or hard debris in the sump well.
2. Blocked or poorly routed dishwasher drain hose
A kink, grease plug, or low hose loop can slow draining or let sink water run back into the tub after the cycle.
Quick check: Inspect the hose under the sink for kinks, sags, or a connection point packed with gunk.
3. Sink air gap or garbage disposal connection blocked
If the dishwasher shares the sink drain, a clog at the air gap or disposal inlet can stop draining even when the dishwasher itself is fine.
Quick check: If you have an air gap on the sink, pop the cap and check for debris. If the dishwasher was recently installed, confirm the disposal knockout plug was removed.
4. Dishwasher drain pump jammed or failing
This moves up the list when the filter and hose are clear, the unit hums during drain, or the pump gets power but cannot move water.
Quick check: After clearing blockages, run a drain cycle and listen for a strong water rush versus a weak hum or clicking.
Step-by-step fix
Step 1: Confirm whether it is really a drain problem or just normal sump water
Some dishwashers keep a small amount of water in the sump to protect seals. You want to separate normal leftover sump water from a true no-drain condition before taking anything apart.
- Open the dishwasher after the cycle has fully ended, not mid-cycle.
- Look at where the water sits. A shallow amount down in the sump pocket can be normal; water spread across the flat bottom is not.
- If the water is dirty, greasy, or has food bits floating in it, treat it as a drain problem.
- If the dishwasher first empties and then water reappears later, suspect a sink-side backup or drain hose routing issue early.
Next move: If you only see a little clean water down in the sump pocket, you likely do not have a repair problem. If water is covering the tub bottom or returning later, keep going.
What to conclude: This tells you whether you are chasing a real blockage or just seeing the normal low-point water that many dishwashers keep.
Stop if:
- Water is leaking onto the floor when you open the door.
- You smell burning insulation or see signs of melted plastic near the bottom access area.
Step 2: Clean the dishwasher filter and check the sump for hard debris
This is the highest-payoff check on a dishwasher that leaves water behind. Most of the time the restriction is right under the lower rack where food sludge and broken debris collect.
- Turn off power to the dishwasher at the breaker or unplug it if the plug is accessible.
- Pull out the lower rack.
- Remove the dishwasher filter assembly and rinse it with warm water. Use mild dish soap if grease is heavy.
- Wipe the filter housing clean and look down into the sump area with a flashlight.
- Carefully remove labels, seeds, glass chips, bone fragments, or sludge you can reach without forcing anything.
- Reinstall the dishwasher filter so it locks fully into place.
Next move: If the next drain cycle clears the tub, the blockage was at the filter or sump. If the water level barely changes, move to the drain path under the sink.
What to conclude: A packed filter or obstructed sump starves the drain path and can also make the pump sound weak even when the pump itself is still good.
Step 3: Check the sink-side drain path, air gap, and disposal connection
When the dishwasher and sink share a drain, the restriction is often outside the dishwasher. This is especially likely if water drains out and then slowly comes back.
- Look under the sink and trace the dishwasher drain hose from the dishwasher to the sink drain or disposal.
- If there is an air gap on the sink or countertop, remove the cap and clean out any food sludge inside.
- If the hose connects to a garbage disposal, disconnect power to the disposal first, then inspect the dishwasher inlet for buildup.
- If the dishwasher was recently installed with a new disposal, confirm the disposal knockout plug was removed.
- Check that the dishwasher drain hose rises in a high loop under the counter before dropping to the drain connection.
Next move: If cleaning the air gap or sink connection restores a strong drain, the dishwasher itself was not the failed part. If the sink-side path is clear, inspect the dishwasher drain hose itself next.
Step 4: Inspect the dishwasher drain hose for kinks, grease plugs, or backflow setup problems
A drain hose can look fine from the front and still be pinched behind the machine, clogged with grease, or routed in a way that traps dirty water.
- With power still off, inspect the visible dishwasher drain hose under the sink for sharp bends, flattening, or sagging sections.
- If accessible, disconnect the hose at the sink-side end and check for heavy grease or debris buildup inside.
- Flush the removed hose with water into a bucket if you suspect a soft clog.
- If the hose is split, badly kinked, or stays restricted after cleaning, replace the dishwasher drain hose.
- Reconnect the hose securely and keep the high loop in place before testing.
Next move: If the dishwasher now drains fast and stays empty, the hose or hose routing was the problem. If the hose path is clear and the dishwasher still only hums or drains weakly, the drain pump becomes the likely fault.
Step 5: Test the drain cycle and decide whether the drain pump is the remaining likely failure
Once the filter, sump, air gap, disposal inlet, and drain hose are all clear, a weak or jammed dishwasher drain pump is the main remaining cause.
- Restore power.
- Run a cancel-drain or short cycle and listen during the drain portion.
- A healthy drain usually sounds like a steady rush of water moving out, not just a low hum.
- If you hear humming with little or no water movement after the drain path has been cleared, the dishwasher drain pump is likely jammed or failing.
- If you are comfortable with appliance disassembly, plan a drain pump inspection or replacement. If not, this is the clean point to call for service and tell them the full drain path has already been cleared.
A good result: If the dishwasher drains strongly now, verify it stays empty for a few hours and then put it back in service.
If not: If it still leaves water after all drain-path checks, the drain pump is the most supported repair part on this symptom.
What to conclude: At this point you have ruled out the common blockage spots, so a pump problem is no longer a guess-buy situation.
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FAQ
Is a little water in the bottom of a KitchenAid dishwasher normal?
A small amount of clean water down in the sump pocket can be normal. Water spread across the flat bottom of the tub after the cycle ends is not.
Why does my dishwasher drain and then fill back up later?
That usually points to backflow from the sink side. Check the air gap, sink drain, disposal inlet, and make sure the dishwasher drain hose has a proper high loop.
Can a clogged filter really keep a dishwasher from draining?
Yes. A packed dishwasher filter or debris in the sump can slow the flow enough that the tub never fully empties, even though the pump still runs.
How do I know if the dishwasher drain pump is bad?
Suspect the dishwasher drain pump after the filter, sump, air gap, disposal connection, and drain hose are all confirmed clear. A weak hum with little water movement is a common clue.
Should I use drain cleaner to clear a dishwasher that leaves water behind?
No. Drain chemicals can damage dishwasher hoses, seals, and pump parts. Start with manual cleaning of the filter, sump, air gap, and drain hose instead.