It's never a pretty sight—you open the dishwasher at the end of a cycle, and a pool of soapy, murky water still lingers at the bottom. Before you get on the phone with a dishwasher professional, remember that learning how to drain a dishwasher is a doable DIY task once you understand how the system works. You may even find out why your dishwasher isn't draining in the first place. Let's take a look.
Why Your Dishwasher Is Not Draining
Unfortunately, a clog in your dishwasher isn’t terribly uncommon, and there are a few things that can lead to a clog:
Leaving too much food on your dishes. Not scraping leftovers into the garbage before loading your dishwasher is the primary cause of dishwasher clogs. Food gradually builds up in the filter and can cause a complete clog, as well as lead to your dishwasher not cleaning properly.
Failing to clean your dishwasher regularly. Even if you don’t have large pieces of food clogging your filter, things like coffee grounds and small crumbs can eventually lead to a clog. Cleaning your dishwasher once a month or every other month is a good way to avoid this problem.
Hard water deposits. If you live in an area with hard water, calcium and other minerals in the water can build up and mix with your detergent to create soap scum. Over time, this can create total blockages.
Clog in your drain pipes. Your dishwasher typically drains into the same drainpipe that your sink does, so a clog in that drainpipe could cause water to backup into your dishwasher during use.
Internal damage. Issues with your dishwashers drain hose, drain valve, and other interior components can also contribute to backups.
Prepping to Drain Your Dishwasher
Before you get to more complex fixes, start with the easiest possible solution: an interrupted cycle. There is always the chance that your dishwasher stopped mid-cycle—like if someone tried opening the door or there was a brief power outage.
In this case, press and hold the cancel button on your control panel for at least three seconds to activate the drain mechanism, and the standing water should drain.
If this doesn't do the trick, you’ll need to turn off the power to the dishwasher before manually draining it. Look for the outlet under your sink or in a cabinet next to the dishwasher. If the outlet isn't accessible, turn off the circuit breaker switch for your kitchen area.
Angi Tip
Home projects that involve water are risky. One wrong move can cause severe water damage to your home. If you have an appliance—such as a washer or dishwasher—with severe drainage issues, we strongly recommend hiring a professional to repair it.
And if your dishwasher is full of dishes, it’s a good idea to empty it before working on the steps below. Additionally, you can protect your floors by putting down some old towels. Don’t forget to cover up your baseboards to prevent water from seeping into the cracks.
Manually Remove the Water
It's important to drain your dishwasher manually before searching for the root of the issue. If there is a complete clog, there's no way to force water through the drain hose. Begin by scooping out the water with a cup and mopping up the rest of the water with a sponge or cloth. Eventually, you should be able to see and access the drain filter at the bottom of your dishwasher.
Did you know there’s a cleanable filter at the bottom of your dishwasher? Slip off the bottom dish rack to access the removable filter in the center. While each model differs, you should be able to turn the filter basket counterclockwise to release it from the machine.
Check the basket and surrounding filter for large pieces of food or grease buildup. You can scrape any gunk off into the garbage with a paper towel, and then rinse any remaining residue off in the sink.
Clear the Air Gap
If your drain filter is clear, check the air gap. You will find the air gap next to the faucet up at the top of your sink. It may look like a small metal cap or soap dispenser. This mechanism relieves air pressure in your dishwasher hose hookup and keeps dirty water from heading back into your dishwasher after it leaves.
Not every dishwasher setup includes an air gap. Some states don’t require an air gap device as long as you have a high-mounted loop in the drain hose. If you don’t have one, move on to the next step. If you have an air gap, turn the top of the air gap counterclockwise and check for debris, food, or grease buildup. You can also use a bottle brush to check the pipe for debris and clear out minor blockages.
Run the Garbage Disposal
Photo: Bill Oxford / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Your dishwasher and garbage disposal often share access to the sink drain. If your garbage disposal or the drainpipe beyond it becomes clogged, water may not be able to flow as easily through the system. Run your garbage disposal to check for signs that it may need to be repaired or replaced. Bad smells, the sound of trapped food, or your garbage disposal not turning on may be signs that it's also affecting your dishwasher.
Since the same drainpipe usually services your kitchen sink as well, you might notice a slowly draining sink if a clog in your garbage disposal or the drain line is the issue.
If you turn on the power to check for issues with the garbage disposal functionality, be sure to turn it back off before proceeding.
Check the Drain Hose for Kinks
Besides a clog, your drain hose may be giving you problems if it’s kinked. If you just installed your dishwasher or recently moved it out from under the cabinet and put it back, this could be the issue. Otherwise, it’s unlikely, unless the part of the hose that passes through your cabinet wall and into your under-sink area got damaged by an item under your sink. Take a close look at your hose and make sure that there’s no damage. If you see a kink, you may be able to fix it by straightening the hose out.
Minor damage to drain hoses usually happens because it’s getting caught in between objects. Clear the area around the drain hose to avoid the same problem from happening again.
Disconnect the Drain Hose
The most common reason your dishwasher won't drain is a clog or issue with your drain hose. You'll find the drain hose connected to the drainage pipe below your sink, the air gap, or your garbage disposal.
Begin by placing a towel and bucket underneath your drain hose in case water trapped in the hose comes out when disconnected. Next, check the hose for exterior kinks or items that may have been pressing against it.
If all looks good, disconnect the drain hose connected to your sink's drain pipe, air gap, or garbage disposal. You may need a pair of pliers or a flathead screwdriver to remove the clamp on the outside of the pipe. We recommend snapping a photo of the connection before removing it.
Clear the Clog
Place the open end of the hose in the bucket and try to shake the debris free. If nothing appears, use a bottle brush or straightened wire hanger to fish out potential clogs. Go easy with the end of the hanger to avoid causing any damage to the tube.
It’s also a good idea to clear out any residual gunk and hard water deposits while you have the drain hose free. Prop the hose up so that the ends are higher than the middle, and then sprinkle some baking soda into both ends. Then, fill the hose with a mixture of warm water and white vinegar in a 1:1 ratio and let the solution sit for about a half hour.
Finally, empty the hose into your sink, give it a quick rinse from the faucet.
Reconnect the Hose
Photo: Oleg Opryshko / Adobe Stock
Attach the hose back to its original position, using the photo from earlier to ensure you seal the clamp correctly.
Test the Dishwasher
At this point, flip back on the circuit breaker and run your dishwasher for several minutes. Press and hold the cancel button for at least three seconds—or the amount indicated—to activate the draining mechanism. Once the drainage sound completes, and your dishwasher shuts off, check the inside of the unit for standing water.
Call in the Pros If You’re Still Having Issues
Photo: Svitlana / Adobe Stock
If DIY dishwasher repair tips like clearing your drain hose, air gap, garbage disposal, and drain filter still don't clear the clog, it's time to call a plumber or a local dishwasher repair pro. There may be a more complex issue, such as a burnt-out circuit, a clogged dishwasher pump, or an issue with the float. All of these issues demand professional help from a dishwasher installation and repair expert.
If DIY dishwasher repair tips like clearing your drain hose, air gap, garbage disposal, and drain filter still don't clear the clog, it's time to call a plumber or a local dishwasher repair pro. There may be a more complex issue, such as a burnt-out circuit, a clogged dishwasher pump, or an issue with the float. All of these issues demand professional help from a dishwasher installation and repair expert.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Drain a Dishwasher
Professional dishwasher repair costs between $160 and $300 on average, depending on the extent of the repair. Dishwasher pump replacement, for example, costs between $150 and $350, while a new filter runs between $50 and $100. You might also run into hourly rates instead of a flat rate for the repair, which range from $75 to $100.
If you follow the steps above for how to drain water from a dishwasher, you could rule out the source of a clog or issue before calling a dishwasher repair specialist and save yourself a few hundred dollars. Sometimes, a quick reset or clearing out an obvious clog is all it takes—and it will barely cost you a dime. And generally speaking, fixing a clogged dishwasher is easier than figuring out how to vent a washing machine drainpipe.
If the steps we’ve discussed above don’t work, though, or you run into any issues along the way, we recommend hiring a professional dishwasher repair professional near you. This DIY method is easy enough for most homeowners to tackle, but mistakes made during more complex repairs or solutions could end up damaging your appliance and end up costing you more than hiring a pro in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Water may linger at the bottom of your dishwasher if the cycle is interrupted or if there’s a clog in the system. Begin by pressing and holding the cancel button to ensure the cycle finishes. You may need to check the filter, hose, air gap, and garbage disposal for clogs if it still doesn't drain. If the problem persists and there is no visible clog, a professional will need to assess and fix the problem for you.
You should never use drain cleaner in your dishwasher because the harsh cleaner will damage your appliance and could cause damage to your plumbing as well. Drain cleaner is highly caustic and can eat away at the dishwasher drainline and internal components. If you have a clog in your dishwasher lines, you should always try to clear it manually or call in a plumber to clear it for you.
Your dishwasher drains through a hose that attaches to the plumbing below your sink or snakes out the back of your machine. In most cases, you can access one side of the hose from below your sink, as it usually ties into the same drainline that your sink uses. Otherwise, you may need to pull the dishwasher out of the counter to access it.
If your dishwasher isn’t draining, some common causes include a clogged drain filter, drain hose, or air gap. Also, if you have a garbage disposal, a clog in the disposal can back up your dishwasher since they share plumbing, as can a clog in your kitchen sink’s plumbing. A handy DIYer may be able to figure out how to unclog a dishwasher, but you may need to call in a plumber if you can’t locate and clear the clog yourself.
Several signs can tip you off to a clogged dishwasher drain. At first, you may notice that it’s taking longer than usual for the dishwasher to drain, or you may hear gurgling sounds during the draining part of the cycle. You might also notice water backing up into your sink or excess food at the bottom of the dishwasher after a load. The most obvious sign, though, is seeing standing water at the bottom of your dishwasher after the cycle has finished.
Dan is a writer and property manager and can be found sharing his home improvement tips on sites like EcoWatch and Today’s Homeowner. He loves sharing his years of hands-on experience and love of DIY to help homeowners bring their visions to life.
Dan is a writer and property manager and can be found sharing his home improvement tips on sites like EcoWatch and Today’s Homeowner. He loves sharing his years of hands-on experience and love of DIY to help homeowners bring their visions to life.
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