Dishwasher Not Draining?

Standing water at the bottom of your dishwasher? Most drainage problems are easy DIY fixes that take less than 10 minutes.

Start with our complete troubleshooting guide →

What's Happening?

Standing water after cycle?

Clogged filter — the #1 cause of drainage issues

Checked everything, still won't drain?

Hidden causes like pump or check valve failure

Small amount of water remains?

May be normal, or partial clog in the system

Pump runs but water stays?

Check valve or drain hose issue

The #1 Fix: Clean Your Filter

  1. 1 Remove the bottom dish rack
  2. 2 Locate the cylindrical filter at the bottom
  3. 3 Twist counterclockwise and pull up
  4. 4 Rinse under hot water, scrub with soft brush
  5. 5 Check sump area for debris
  6. 6 Reinstall and run a test cycle

Done? If that fixed it, you're all set. If not, keep reading for the full guide.

A clogged filter causes the majority of dishwasher drainage issues. If this doesn't fix your problem, use the diagnosis cards above or find your brand below.

Guides by Brand

Different brands have different filter locations, error codes, and quirks. Find yours:

Samsung Error codes 5C, 5E, SC Whirlpool Two-part filter system GE Model-specific filters Bosch E24 error code KitchenAid Similar to Whirlpool Kenmore Varies by manufacturer

Component Guides

Need to understand or replace a specific part?

Drain Pump Testing, troubleshooting, and replacement Drain Hose Installation, high loop, and clearing clogs