Dishwasher
not draining?
Let’s work out what’s stopping the water from leaving.
A few things you’ve already noticed can help narrow it down. Find a safe next step, usually in about a minute.
- 1Tell us what you’ve noticedNo need to run a cycle or identify a part.
- 2Understand the likely causeFrom a filter restriction to a shared sink drain.
- 3Choose your safe next stepIncluding when an installer, plumber or engineer can help.
No tools needed to answer. No pressure to DIY.
Dishwasher problem
Let’s work out what’s going on.
Let’s get to the bottom of it.
Tell us what you’ve noticed. We’ll help narrow down the cause and find a safe next step.
Safety before troubleshooting. Always.
Burning, sparking, repeated electrical trips or water near electrics? Stop using the dishwasher and get appropriate professional help. Don’t touch wet or sparking parts. If there is smoke or fire, leave and call 999 or 112 in the UK.
Don’t open a hot or running dishwasher, reach into the sump or remove pump or electrical covers. Before a manual-approved user check, switch off and unplug only if access is dry and safe. If you cannot do that safely, including with a hard-wired appliance, get help. Never move the appliance, bypass a safety device or force a stuck part for this check.
Water left behind?
Start with what you know.
The guided check above compares your observations. These answers explain the possibilities without asking you to take anything apart.
Back to the guided checkIs a little water below the filter normal?
Some models retain a small amount below the filter. Pooling above the filter after a completed programme is a different observation. Check your model’s manual rather than assuming every trace of water means a fault. Don’t open a running or hot dishwasher to find out.
Why might a dishwasher not drain?
Food caught in a removable filter, a restricted drain path, a kinked hose or a backed-up sink waste can prevent drainage. Recent sink or disposal work can also affect the connection. A pump, control or sensor fault may need an engineer. Several causes can produce the same symptoms.
Can I clean the filter myself?
Only when your exact model’s manual describes a removable user filter and you can follow its procedure safely. Let the appliance and water cool, and disconnect power only with dry, safe access. Don’t reach into murky water or the sump, handle broken glass or remove a pump cover. Stop if a part is stuck, tools are needed or the instructions are unclear.
Could the sink or a waste disposal be involved?
A dishwasher often shares a sink waste connection. Existing slow drains or backing up point towards plumbing; recent installation work can point towards the connection. Where a disposal is fitted, an installation plug is one possibility for an installer to check. Don’t run the disposal, disconnect plumbing, reach inside it or add drain chemicals to investigate.
What if I hear humming, or nothing at all?
Use only a previous drain attempt. A usual whirring sound can fit a restriction; unusual humming or silence can also involve the pump or controls. Sound alone does not confirm which part is at fault. You do not need to run another cycle or identify a pump to use the tool.
What do the result and error code tell me?
The result is a starting point, not a confirmed fault. Observed issue, Strong match, Possible match and Unclear describe match strength: how specifically your observations fit a troubleshooting pattern, not a measured probability. The rules have not been calibrated against repairs or reviewed by an appliance professional. Make, model and an optional error code stay with your result for reference; the tool does not interpret brand-specific codes. Use your manual or manufacturer support.
Informed by Bosch’s drainage guidance, Whirlpool’s drainage guidance and Electrical Safety First. Can I Fix This? provides independent, evidence-informed guidance limited to manual-approved user checks. Always follow your exact model’s manual. We are not affiliated with these organisations.