Dishwasher not draining?
Five checks that can fix the issue — no tools needed.
1. Let it finish — or make it drain.
An interrupted cycle leaves water in the bottom by design. Close the door and press Start to resume, or hold Cancel — on most machines that triggers a drain-only run.
2. Clean the filter.
At the bottom of the tub, under the lower rack, there's a twist-out filter. Food scraps and glass shards collect there. Twist it out, rinse it under the tap, and put it back.
3. Run the garburator.
The dishwasher usually drains through the sink's plumbing. A full garburator blocks that path — run it for ten seconds with hot water flowing.
4. Check the hose under the sink.
The drain hose loops through the sink cabinet. If something stored under there has crushed or kinked it, water has nowhere to go.
5. Check the air gap.
That small chrome cylinder next to the faucet — if water spits out of it while the dishwasher drains, the hose between it and the drain is clogged. Pop the cap and clear what you can see.
Still standing water? Stop there.
If none of that worked, the likely causes — drain pump, check valve, drain solenoid — aren't do-it-yourself territory.
Get connected with a local technician now.
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This guide is general reference, not repair instructions. Unplug any appliance before touching more than its controls. Repairs beyond these checks should be done by a qualified technician.