Why is my dishwasher not draining?
Most of the time something is blocking the drain path: a clogged filter, food in the sump, a kinked drain hose or a blocked garbage disposal inlet. Clean the filter first, then check the hose and the disposal. A pump that hums but moves no water, or grinding, means a repair visit.
Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.
By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished
Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.
Step by step
Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.
Step 1: Cut the power
Turn off power to the dishwasher at the circuit breaker, and confirm the display is off.[1]
Step 2: Bail out the water
Use a cup, towels and a bucket, or a turkey baster, to remove the standing water from the tub and sump.[1]
Step 3: Clean the filter
Take out the filters, rinse them under warm water with a soft brush, and put them back locked in place.[1]
Step 4: Look in the sump
With the filter out, shine a flashlight into the sump and pick out labels, seeds, toothpicks or glass.[1]
Step 5: Check the hose
Look under the sink and behind the toe panel for a kinked, crushed or sagging drain hose, and confirm it still loops high under the counter.[1]
Step 6: Clear the disposal side
Run the garbage disposal to clear it, and clean the cap of an air gap if you have one.[1]
Step 7: Restore power and test
Switch the breaker back on, run a short cycle and listen for the drain pump.
The usual answer is a blockage somewhere between the tub and the sink drain. Whirlpool's own troubleshooting guide says most drain issues trace back to restricted water flow somewhere in the drain path.[1] That means you can often fix it yourself in the order below, cheapest check first.
Read the symptom first
Where the water sits tells you something. Water slightly above the filter screen often indicates a partial restriction in the filter, sump, or hose.[1] Water near the door opening suggests a severe blockage or a non-running pump.[1]
Sound helps too. A steady hum with no water movement points to a jammed impeller or obstruction in the pump.[1] Grinding noises can mean hard debris (such as glass) is in the pump area.[1]
Get ready and bail the water out
Turn off power to the dishwasher at the circuit breaker,[1] not just at the control panel. Lay towels down, then bail the water out with a cup or a turkey baster so you can see what you are doing.
Do not reach for drain cleaner. Do not use drain-opening chemicals inside the dishwasher; they can damage components and create safety hazards.[1]
Clean the filter and the sump
A clogged filter is the most common cause. Pull it out, rinse it and look into the sump with a flashlight for labels, seeds, toothpicks or glass. The full method is in how to clean a dishwasher filter. Whirlpool's rule is to clean your filter once a month, particularly with frequent use.[2]
Check the hose and the sink side
Look under the sink for a hose that is kinked or crushed. The hose should also rise into a loop: check that a proper high loop is secured to the underside of the counter,[1] or that an air gap, if you have one, is clean. Whirlpool says a proper high loop or a working air gap prevents wastewater from flowing back into the dishwasher.[1]
Then look at the disposal. Run it to clear any food in the inlet. If a disposal was recently installed or replaced, ask whether the knockout plug in its dishwasher inlet was taken out. A retained plug blocks drainage completely.[1]
Run a short cycle. If the tub empties, you are done.
Stop and call a pro if
- The pump hums or grinds and nothing moves. That points to a jammed impeller or hard debris in the pump,[1] which means opening the machine.
- Water stays near the door after cleaning. Whirlpool says that suggests a severe blockage or a non-running pump.[1]
- There is a burning smell, damaged wiring or a breaker that trips repeatedly. If you smell burning, see damaged wiring, or the breaker trips repeatedly, stop and contact a qualified service technician.[1]
- The fix needs wiring or plumbing changes, such as a new drain connection. Virginia licenses tradesmen: no individual shall engage in, or offer to engage in, work as a tradesman as defined in § 54.1-1128 unless he has been licensed,[3] so hire a licensed pro for that work and check the licence on the DPOR website first.
Keep it from happening again
Scrape plates before loading to reduce large food particles entering the filter system.[1] Cleaning the filter on a schedule keeps debris out of the sump.
Getting help in Virginia
If cleaning does not fix it, read what dishwasher repair costs in Virginia and whether a dishwasher is worth repairing. Browse appliance repair answers or appliance repair businesses on Loclis.
When you want a diagnosis and a written quote, describe the problem and local repair pros will respond.
Common questions
- Why is there water sitting in the bottom of my dishwasher?
- Usually a partial blockage. Whirlpool says water slightly above the filter screen often indicates a partial restriction in the filter, sump or hose, so clean the filter and look at the hose and the disposal connection first.
- Can I pour drain cleaner into the dishwasher?
- No. Whirlpool says not to use drain-opening chemicals inside the dishwasher because they can damage components and create safety hazards.
- My dishwasher hums but does not drain. What is wrong?
- A steady hum with no water movement points to a jammed impeller or an obstruction in the pump, according to Whirlpool. If cleaning the filter and sump does not help, book a repair visit rather than forcing the pump.
- The dishwasher stopped draining after a new garbage disposal went in. Why?
- Check whether the knockout plug in the disposal inlet was removed. Whirlpool notes that a retained plug blocks drainage completely. Also confirm the drain hose still has its high loop.
- How often should I clean the filter to avoid this?
- Whirlpool's rule of thumb is to clean the filter once a month, particularly with frequent use. See how to clean a dishwasher filter for the steps.
Sources
- [1] Dishwasher Not Draining, Whirlpool Product Help. Checked October 28, 2026.
- [2] How to Clean the Dishwasher Filters, Whirlpool Product Help. Checked October 28, 2026.
- [3] Va. Code 54.1-1129, Tradesman license required, Code of Virginia, Virginia General Assembly. Checked October 28, 2026.
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