What it usually means
| A blocked filter | Food and glass in the filter at the bottom of the tub. The most common cause, and a two-minute fix. |
|---|---|
| A new garburator with the plug left in | A new unit has a knockout plug in the dishwasher inlet. If nobody removed it, nothing can drain. |
| A kinked or blocked drain hose | Pushed flat behind the machine, or packed with grease where it meets the sink drain. |
| No high loop | The hose should rise to the underside of the counter before it drops. Without that, sink water runs back into the dishwasher. |
| A blocked sink drain | If the sink is slow too, the blockage is past where they join. See kitchen sink will not drain. |
| A failed drain pump | The machine hums at the end of the cycle and the water stays. That is an appliance repair. |
What to check yourself
- Take out the bottom rack and twist out the filter. Wash it under the tap and clear the sump beneath it.
- Run the garburator with cold water for thirty seconds, then run the dishwasher's drain cycle.
- Look under the sink. The drain hose should loop up high and have no kinks.
- Loosen the clamp where the hose joins the sink drain or garburator and check the fitting is not packed with grease. Have a towel ready.
- Fill the sink and let it go. If the sink is slow, deal with that first.
Call a plumber if
- The sink backs up when the dishwasher drains
- Water comes into the dishwasher from the sink
- You find water under the machine or in the cabinet
- The filter and hose are clear and it still will not drain
Call 1-800-604-0631, any hour.
What fixing it costs
If the blockage is in the sink drain, clearing it is a flat price: from $329 in regular hours (9 to 5, Monday to Friday). What a sink clog costs and why.
Re-routing a drain hose or connecting a dishwasher properly is covered under dishwasher installation. A failed pump inside the machine is a job for an appliance technician, and we will tell you if that is what it is.
Questions people ask
Is a little water in the bottom normal?
Yes. A small amount stays in the sump below the filter to keep the seals wet. Water covering the bottom of the tub is not normal.
Why does my dishwasher smell?
Usually the filter, or dirty sink water running back in because the hose has no high loop.
Do I call a plumber or an appliance repair company?
If the sink is slow or water moves between the sink and the dishwasher, a plumber. If the plumbing is clear and the machine will not pump, an appliance technician.