Is your dishwasher leaving standing water after a cycle? Learn the most common causes and step-by-step fixes to get it draining properly again.
Dishwasher Not Draining? Here's How to Fix It
Opening your dishwasher after a full cycle only to find a puddle of dirty water sitting at the bottom is frustrating. The good news is that a dishwasher that won't drain is one of the more common appliance problems — and in many cases, you can fix it yourself without calling a technician.
This guide walks you through the most likely causes and exactly what to do about each one.
Why Your Dishwasher Isn't Draining
Before you start pulling things apart, it helps to understand what's actually supposed to happen. At the end of a wash cycle, your dishwasher pumps water through a drain hose and into your home's plumbing — usually through the garbage disposal or a dedicated drain connection under the sink.
If anything blocks that path, water backs up and stays in the tub. The issue could be inside the dishwasher, in the drain hose, or even in your kitchen sink plumbing.
Step 1: Check the Filter First
The most overlooked part of any dishwasher is the filter. Most modern dishwashers have a removable filter assembly at the bottom of the tub, usually near the spray arm.
How to clean it:
1. Remove the bottom dish rack.
2. Twist and lift out the cylindrical filter.
3. Rinse it under warm running water.
4. Use a soft brush to remove grease and food debris.
5. Reinstall it firmly — it should click or lock into place.
A clogged filter restricts water flow and is the number one reason dishwashers fail to drain properly. If you haven't cleaned yours in several months, this fix alone may solve the problem.
Step 2: Inspect the Drain Hose
The drain hose runs from the dishwasher pump to your sink drain or garbage disposal. If it's kinked, clogged, or installed incorrectly, water can't exit the machine.
What to look for:
- Pull the dishwasher out slightly (or check under the sink) and look at the hose path. It should have a high loop or air gap — meaning the hose rises up before connecting to the drain. Without this, water can siphon back into the dishwasher.
- Feel along the length of the hose for kinks or bends that might be pinching it shut.
- Disconnect the hose from the drain connection and check for blockages inside. You can run water through it to test flow.
If the hose is cracked or has a buildup you can't remove, replacement hoses are inexpensive and available at most hardware stores.
Step 3: Check the Garbage Disposal
If your dishwasher drains into a garbage disposal, a clogged or newly installed disposal could be the culprit.
Two things to check:
- Run the disposal first. If food waste is sitting in it, that can block the dishwasher drain line. Turn on the disposal and let it run for about 30 seconds before starting a wash cycle.
- Check the knockout plug. If you recently installed a new garbage disposal and the dishwasher stopped draining right after, the knockout plug inside the disposal's dishwasher inlet port may not have been removed. This is a small plastic cap that must be knocked out during installation. If it's still in place, water has nowhere to go. Use a screwdriver and hammer to knock it out, then remove the plug from inside the disposal.
Step 4: Clean the Drain Basket
Inside the dishwasher, just below where the filter sits, there's often a drain basket or screen that catches larger debris. Food particles, broken glass, and even pieces of labels from dishes can collect here.
Remove the filter and look into the drain opening with a flashlight. Use a paper towel or a damp cloth to carefully remove any debris you see. Don't use your bare fingers — broken glass or sharp objects can hide in there.
Step 5: Check for a Faulty Drain Pump
If the filter is clean, the hose is clear, and the disposal is working — but water
