Why is my dishwasher not draining?

Bosch says food blocking the filter or the pump is the most common reason a dishwasher stops draining. Whirlpool says a dirty filter is the most likely cause. Whirlpool adds that the drain hose, the air gap or the garbage disposal can also be the problem. Start with the checks below, and follow your manual.

Sources: Bosch, Dishwasher Troubleshooting: Dishwasher is not draining (undated, read October 11, 2026); Whirlpool, How to Unclog a Dishwasher Drain in 5 Steps (updated November 19, 2020).

It can be. GE says one to two cups of clean water can be normal on its models without an Ultra Fine filter. On its models with that filter, GE says water in the filter area is normal, but it shouldn’t cover the tub floor. Check your manual for your model. Whirlpool says the dishwasher may be clogged if an inch or more of water stands in the tub time after time. It says gurgling, or water backing up into the sink, can also be signs of a clog. And it says a cycle stopped partway can leave water behind.

Sources: GE Appliances, Dishwasher - Not Draining (undated, read October 11, 2026); Whirlpool, How to Unclog a Dishwasher Drain in 5 Steps (updated November 19, 2020).

GE lists a blocked sump, a kinked or blocked drain hose, a clogged sink drain or air gap, a new disposal’s drain plug, and too many suds. Whirlpool adds a cycle that stopped partway. A sign can have more than one cause, so the table below is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Sources: GE Appliances, Dishwasher - Not Draining (undated, read October 11, 2026); GE Appliances, Dishwasher - Water in the Bottom of the Tub (undated, read October 11, 2026); GE Appliances, Dishwasher - Water Leaks From the Air Gap (undated, read October 11, 2026); Whirlpool, How to Unclog a Dishwasher Drain in 5 Steps (updated November 19, 2020); Bosch, Dishwasher Troubleshooting: Dishwasher is not draining (undated, read October 11, 2026).

1. Did a cycle stop partway? Whirlpool says that can leave water in the tub, and suggests resetting the dishwasher. Check your manual for how.
2. Before the checks below, Whirlpool says to empty the dishwasher and turn off its power. Unplug it or switch off its breaker, and put towels on the floor in front of it.
3. Scoop out standing water with a cup, then soak up the rest with towels, as Whirlpool describes.
4. Whirlpool says to check your manual to see if the filter comes out. If it does, take out the bottom rack and remove the filter as the manual shows. Bosch says to clean it with soap and a soft brush under running water. Whirlpool warns that anything rough can damage it.
5. Remove only large pieces of food you can clearly see and reach. GE names noodles, lettuce and bones. Bosch warns that some debris may be sharp, so don’t reach blindly into water. Leave the pump cover alone unless your manual shows how to remove it.
6. GE says to check the drain hose under the sink for kinks.
7. If you have a garbage disposal, GE says to run it to clear the drain, and never to put your hand inside it. GE says to run it before every dishwasher load, too.
8. If you have an air gap, a small chrome or plastic cylinder at the back of the sink, by the faucet, GE says to unlatch the dishwasher door first. Lift off the air gap’s cover. GE says the plastic cap under it may unscrew or unsnap. Clear out the buildup, then put the cap and the cover back.
9. Is the disposal new? GE says the drain plug inside a new disposal must be removed, and the disposal’s installation instructions show how. Whirlpool calls it the knockout drain. If you’re not sure it was removed, tell the technician.

Sources: Whirlpool, How to Unclog a Dishwasher Drain in 5 Steps (updated November 19, 2020); Bosch, Dishwasher Troubleshooting: Dishwasher is not draining (undated, read October 11, 2026); GE Appliances, Dishwasher - Not Draining (undated, read October 11, 2026); GE Appliances, Dishwasher - Cleaning the Air Gap (undated, read October 11, 2026); GE Appliances, Dishwasher - Water Leaks From the Air Gap (undated, read October 11, 2026).

GE says never to use a chemical drain cleaner in a dishwasher: it’s caustic and can damage the rubber parts inside. Use dishwasher detergent only, never dish soap, as Whirlpool advises. GE says the wrong detergent, or too much of it, can make suds that stop the drain.

Sources: GE Appliances, Dishwasher - Use of Drain Cleaner (undated, read October 11, 2026); GE Appliances, Dishwasher - Not Draining (undated, read October 11, 2026); Whirlpool, How to Unclog a Dishwasher Drain in 5 Steps (updated November 19, 2020).

Call when water still stands after these checks. GE says service is needed at that point. A technician then finds the cause, which Bosch says can be food blocking the pump. Whirlpool says broken glass can even get into the pump.

Sources: GE Appliances, Dishwasher - Not Draining (undated, read October 11, 2026); Bosch, Dishwasher Troubleshooting: Dishwasher is not draining (undated, read October 11, 2026); Whirlpool, How to Unclog a Dishwasher Drain in 5 Steps (updated November 19, 2020).

CostAndPrice lists three repairs for a dishwasher that won’t drain. Its Salt Lake City estimates run from $90 to $395, plus a service call. Clearing a clogged filter or drain hose starts at $90. A new drain pump reaches $395. CostAndPrice builds these estimates from national repair-cost guides, adjusted for Salt Lake City labor costs. They aren’t Dash prices or a record of local repair bills.

CostAndPrice separately lists a typical service-call or diagnostic fee of $75 to $150, often credited toward the repair.

Source: CostAndPrice, Appliance Repair Cost in Salt Lake City, UT (2026) (reviewed July 2026).

The Utah State Tax Commission says dishwasher repair charges, both parts and labor, are taxable, even when the dishwasher is built in.

Source: Utah State Tax Commission, Publication 42: Sales Tax Information for Sales, Installation & Repair of Tangible Personal Property Attached to Real Property (revised July 2026).