Dishwasher Not Draining? What to Try Before Repairing It

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A dishwasher that won’t drain leaves standing water at the bottom of the tub when the cycle ends, or stops on an error code. Manufacturers point first to clogged filters, debris in the drain pump or a kinked hose. According to Bosch, clearing the pump takes a few minutes.

Common symptoms and causes: why your dishwasher is not draining

• Standing water at the bottom of the dishwasher at the end of the cycle.
• Cycle interrupted, sometimes with a drain error code.
• Clogged filters.
• Foreign objects (glass shards, food) in the pump or the filter.
• Drain hose kinked, twisted or blocked by an object.
• Drain pump out of order.

Good to know: if the display shows an error code, write it down exactly as shown and look up its meaning in your model’s manual. Keep it for customer service too.

Before you start

Have gloves, a sponge, a spoon and a bucket ready. A shard of glass or ceramic can hide in the filter. Write down your appliance’s model number as well.

Warning: unplug the appliance before opening anything, and ideally switch off the dishwasher’s circuit breaker. Never work on a plugged-in appliance. The capacitors in some appliances (TVs, microwaves, power supplies) stay charged after unplugging: do not touch them.

Warning: opening the appliance can void the warranty, so check when your warranty ends first. Bosch advises against taking apart the inner wall of the tub.

Tip: lay a thick towel at the foot of the door. Standing water often spills over when you take the filter out.

Solution 1: clean the clogged dishwasher filter

The filter sits at the bottom of the tub. Its cylindrical part comes apart from the rest for cleaning.

1. Take out the top rack, then the bottom rack.
2. On some models (NEFF in particular), also remove the lower spray arm to reach the filter.
3. Unscrew or release the filter at the bottom of the tub, then lift it out.
4. Separate the cylindrical filter from the rest of the filter.
5. Rinse each part under running water and scrub it with a small brush, with no abrasive product.
6. Put the filter back by lining up the arrows, then lock it.

The filter should be clean and locked in place. Run a short program: when it ends, there should be no water left at the bottom of the tub.

Solution 2: check the drain hose

A kinked, twisted or blocked drain hose keeps the water from leaving. It is the first suspect if the dishwasher stops draining right after the appliance has been moved.

Tip: take a photo of how the hose runs behind the appliance before you touch it. You can then put it back exactly as it was, without a new kink.

1. Straighten any kink or twist in the drain hose along its whole length.
2. Feel along the hose for a clog or a stuck object.
3. Put the end of the hose in a bucket: the water coming out can be hot.
4. Start a drain cycle into the bucket and check that nothing leaks at the connector.
5. Detach the hose and clean it with hot water.
6. Replace the hose if it stays very dirty.
7. Reconnect the hose and run the shortest program to test.

Water should flow out of the hose freely into the bucket. Once the hose is reconnected, the tub should be empty at the end of the short program.

If the hose stays very dirty or damaged, here is a universal drain hose to compare with yours before you replace it.

Wpro TVS159 universal drain hose, straight/straight, 1.5 m

Replaces a kinked, cracked or too short drain hose on a washing machine or dishwasher. Check the connector diameter of your machine before ordering.

• AmazonSee at Amazon

Solution 3: clean the drain pump

The drain pump pushes the water from the tub into the hose. Its cover sits under the filter. A glass shard or a bit of food can jam its impeller.

1. Make sure the appliance is unplugged or the circuit breaker is off.
2. Remove the racks and the filter as in solution 1.
3. Sponge up the water left at the bottom of the tub.
4. Slide a spoon under the edge of the pump cover and lift it.
5. Grip the cover by its rib and ease it out at an angle toward the inside.
6. With gloves on, remove the debris stuck in the impeller.
7. Check that the impeller turns freely.
8. Refit the cover and press until it clicks.
9. Put the filter back, then the racks.
10. Plug the appliance back in and run a test cycle.

The impeller should turn with no stiff spot. The test cycle should end with an empty tub.

Warning: Bosch flags a risk of injury during this job. Keep your gloves on until the cover is back in place.

If nothing works

Clean filter, clear hose, free pump, and the water stays? The pump may have failed. According to Bosch, other signs point to it: irregular draining, an unusual noise, a leak or an error code.

Stop there and contact the manufacturer’s customer service. At Bosch, a technician tests the pump with an ohmmeter and replaces it if needed, in or out of warranty. Check your country’s Bosch support page for phone numbers and opening hours.

Have the model reference ready (for Bosch, the E-Nr and FD numbers) and the error code on the display.

Same fault on your washing machine? See our guide on a washing machine that won’t drain. For the other common end-of-cycle problem, read dishwasher not drying.

Take better care of your dishwasher: our toolbox

A few useful products to maintain the appliance and avoid the next drainage fault.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my dishwasher not draining completely?

Most often the water’s path is blocked. Manufacturers cite dirty filters, debris (food, glass shards) in the pump, a kinked hose or an object stuck in the hose. Clean the filters first, then check the hose and the pump.

How do I get the water out of a dishwasher that won’t drain?

Unplug the appliance, take out the racks and the filter, then sponge the water from the bottom of the tub. If you detach the drain hose, put a bucket under it first: the water can be hot.

How do I clean a dishwasher drain pump?

You reach it from inside the tub, under the filter. With the appliance unplugged, sponge up the water, lift the pump cover with a spoon, remove the debris from the impeller and check that it turns freely. Refit the cover until it clicks, then put the filter and the racks back.

What should I do if my Bosch dishwasher is not draining?

Follow the same order: filters, hose, then pump. If the display shows an error code, write it down and look it up in your model’s manual. If the pump is clear and the water stays, call Bosch customer service with the appliance’s E-Nr and FD numbers and that code.