Dishwasher Won’t Drain? Here’s What’s Usually Wrong
Standing water in the bottom of the tub after a cycle has finished is one of the most common dishwasher complaints we get, and it is nearly always down to one of four things.
Start with the filter
Most dishwashers have a removable filter sitting at the bottom of the tub to catch food debris, and when it clogs the water simply cannot get away. This is the single most common cause and it is a five-minute check: pull the filter out, rinse it under the tap, and run the machine again. It solves a surprising number of these calls on its own, and it costs nothing.
The drain hose
The hose that carries water out to the sink drain or the disposal connection can kink over time or build up a partial clog. This is more likely if it was never installed with a proper high loop, which is a common shortcut on older fittings.
A failing drain pump
If the filter is clean and the hose is clear and unkinked, the pump itself may be wearing out. It is the more involved of these repairs, though in most cases still a fairly straightforward one.
The garbage disposal connection
If your dishwasher drains through a garbage disposal, a clog on that side can back water up into the tub. The same thing happens with a newly fitted disposal whose knockout plug was never removed, which catches people out more often than you would expect.
When to call someone
If the filter is clean and water is still standing after a full cycle, it is worth having it looked at rather than left. Food particles sitting in standing water start to smell fairly quickly, and on older machines the backup can travel further than the tub.
Dishwasher still not draining? Book a dishwasher repair or give us a call. We cover Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead.