Your dishwasher won't drain. Here's the fix.
If there's an inch of dirty water at the bottom of your dishwasher after a cycle, don't panic. In about 80% of cases, the fix takes 10 minutes and zero parts. Here's how to work through it from most likely to least.
Step 1 — Clean the filter (fixes most cases)
Open the dishwasher. Pull out the bottom rack. At the very bottom of the tub, near the back, there's a cylindrical filter that twists out. Lift it out (it'll be gross, that's the point) and rinse it under hot water until the mesh is clear.
While you're in there, scoop out any food bits sitting in the well underneath. Twist the filter back in until it locks. Run a short cycle. If it drains, you're done.
Step 2 — Check the drain hose
Pull the dishwasher out a few inches (carefully — there's a water line and a power cord). The drain hose runs from the dishwasher to either the garbage disposal or the kitchen sink drain. Squeeze along its length. You're feeling for a kink, a sag, or a hard clog. If the hose feels weirdly stiff in one spot, that's where the blockage is.
Disconnect the hose at the disposal end (have the towel ready — water will come out). Blow through it or run water through it from a hose spigot. If it's clear, reconnect. If it's not, replace it.
Step 3 — Check the disposal knockout plug
If your dishwasher drains into a garbage disposal, and the disposal is new, there's a plastic knockout plug inside the disposal's dishwasher inlet that needs to be removed. Stick a screwdriver in the inlet and tap. If there's a plug, it'll knock loose into the disposal. Run the disposal to grind it up, then test the dishwasher.
Step 4 — Test the drain pump
If Steps 1–3 didn't fix it, the drain pump is the next suspect. You'll hear it: when the dishwasher is supposed to drain, listen. A healthy pump makes a clear motor sound. A failed pump is silent, or just hums.
Replacing a drain pump is a 30–45 minute job and usually a $40–$90 part. At that point, decide whether you want to do it yourself (Jin can walk you through it once we open TestFlight) or call a tech.
Parts and tools you might need
- Universal dishwasher drain hose (corrugated, ⅞" inner diameter) Find on Amazon →
- Replacement drain pump (search your model number) Find on Amazon →
- Hose clamp pliers (if your clamps are the spring kind) Find on Amazon →
Amazon links above are affiliate links. If you buy through them, SokoJin earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure.
Stop and call a pro if you see this
- Water leaking onto the kitchen floor mid-cycle — kill the breaker AND shut the water-supply valve under the sink before doing anything else.
- A burning smell from the motor compartment, or any visible smoke.
- Repeated failure after a pump swap — that points at the control board, and board misdiagnosis costs more than a tech visit.
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