How to Fix a Dishwasher That Won’t Drain — Step-by-Step Instructions
Standing dishwasher water can hide glass shards — bail with a cup, not bare cupped hands.
Tools
- Cup and towels for bailing
- Screwdriver
- Wet/dry vac (helpful)
Parts
- None for most fixes; drain pump if the whole path checks clear
Step by step
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1 Bail the standing water
Cup, towels, or wet-vac the pool so you can see the tub floor.
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2 Clean the filter and sump
Twist out the filter (see the filter guide) and check the sump beneath for the usual suspects: glass, labels, a pistachio shell perfectly sized to block the drain port.
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3 Check where the hose ends
Under the sink: is the drain hose kinked? If it connects to a garbage disposal installed in the last year, verify the knockout plug was punched out — the #1 "new disposal" mystery.
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4 Clear the air gap if you have one
The chrome cylinder by the faucet: pop its cap and clean out the debris. A clogged air gap backs the whole system up.
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5 Run a rinse cycle and listen
A healthy drain pump makes a steady hum with gurgling water. Silence or grinding with a clear path = the drain pump itself — cheap part, moderate access.
If the path is clear and the pump is silent, replacing it means tipping the machine out from the counter on most models — a fair place to hand off, and still a modest repair bill. If you'd rather skip it entirely, find a dishwasher repair pro near you →
Step-by-step instructions for your exact model
The same repair, tailored with your machine's error codes, known quirks, and typical costs.
What this repair costs professionally
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