Dishwasher not draining: the order to check things

Is it actually not draining?

A small amount of water in the sump under the filter is normal on many models. A cycle that ends with water reaching the filter, the bottom spray arm or the rack is not. Run a drain or cancel cycle once to see whether the water goes down before you start taking things apart.

The checks, from easiest to hardest

1. Remove standing water and the bottom rack.Scoop water with a cup, then pull out the lower rack so you can see the filter and sump.
2. Clean the filter.Lift out the filter and the fine mesh. Food particles, labels and glass chips collect here. Rinse under the tap. Check the sump below for a stray olive pit or piece of glass.
3. Check the drain hose.Look under the sink. The hose should run smoothly up (the “high loop” or air gap), then down. A kinked or crushed hose stops drainage.
4. Look at the disposal connection.If you recently installed a disposal, a plastic knockout plug on the dishwasher inlet may still be in place. Removing it is a common fix, but it needs care and the disposal should be unplugged.
5. Run the disposal.If the dishwasher drains into the disposal, a clogged disposal will back up into the dishwasher.
6. Check the air gap.Some sinks have a small cylinder next to the faucet. Unscrew the cap and clear any debris.
7. Test the sink.If the kitchen sink is draining slowly, the problem is in the household drain, not the dishwasher.

What a technician checks next

• Drain pump and impeller. The pump moves water out; a jammed impeller or a failed motor stops it.
• Check valve or drain solenoid. Some models use a valve that can stick closed or leak backward.
• Drain hose and connection clogs. Food buildup can form in the hose or at the tailpiece.
• Controls and sensors. A drain error may be a sensing problem even though the pump works.

Error codes vary between brands. Some commonly show drain-related codes such as “E24” or “OE,” but the meaning differs between manufacturers, so the model’s manual is the only reliable translation.

Why the smell?

Standing water in a closed dishwasher turns stale and can smell within a day or two. After the drain problem is fixed, run a hot cycle with a dishwasher cleaner designed for your machine to clear remaining residue.

Prevent the next one

• Scrape rather than rinse; remove bones, seeds, labels and toothpicks.
• Clean the filter monthly.
• Run the disposal before starting a load if the dishwasher drains through it.
• Avoid overloading; items blocking the spray arm cause residue to pile up.

When to call

If you have cleaned the filter, confirmed the hose and the disposal path are clear and it still holds water, the pump or a valve is probably at fault. A repair visit is the next step, and the technician will find it much faster if you tell them what you have already ruled out. You can connect with local appliance repair help in Austin through the home page, check the dishwasher repair service page, or send a request here. If the disposal looks like the real problem, see garbage disposal repair. To see what else we repair, visit the home page.

Questions people ask

Last updated October 13, 2026. This page offers general information to help you describe and understand a problem; it is not a diagnosis. Always follow your appliance manual and local safety rules.