Dishwasher Not Draining? Here’s Everything You Should Try Before Calling in a Pro

After a long day of accumulating dishes — from morning coffee to an after-dinner snack — it’s nice to load the dishwasher and let it do the work. If you’ve hand-washed many dishes in your lifetime, as I have, you probably appreciate having an appliance that lets you relax. However, if your dishwasher is not draining correctly, you can get stuck hand-washing your dishes after all while you scratch your head over what could be wrong.

To get to the root of what could be causing your dishwasher to not drain, I consulted three experts: one plumber and two appliance pros. While you can, of course, always call a pro, whether it’s a plumber or a technician, it can be pricey. Fortunately, there are a few avenues you can take before calling in the heavy hitters to diagnose the issue. Here’s what experts had to say about what to do when your dishwasher won’t drain.

According to Moniqueca Sims, appliance expert and owner of SGG Appliance Academy, dishwashers are a bit finicky. “They don’t have the best track record for keeping clean and working well,” she says. However, when your dishwasher is cycling but not draining, you can usually narrow it down to one of two problems. 

The most common reason dishwashers don’t drain properly is because food particles, grease, or pieces of broken dishes may be lodged in the drain path, causing a blockage. The other possibility is more complicated and typically involves calling in a professional. “It could be something more insidious, like a bad drain valve, a hose that has turned into a pretzel, or a pump issue,” Sims adds.

If you find your dishwasher isn’t draining, you don’t necessarily need to call a pro right away. Here’s what to do as you investigate the issue, in the order you should do it.

To check your filter, slide the bottom rack out of your dishwasher so that you can see clearly and check for obstructions. “Clean out any food particles and other debris,” advises Omarr Picken, the founder of OP Plumbing. Water passes through the filter so the dishwasher can empty, so clogged filters are relatively common. 

Depending on your dishwasher’s model, it may also have a prefilter. Matthew Morrison, the appliance expert for JustAnswer, says it is a circular cap on the bottom interior of the dishwasher. Just twist and release to clear it of debris. If the filter was clogged, run a cycle to see if that solved the problem.

Fortunately, forcing a drain cycle is simple. “Try pressing and holding the start or cancel button on the top of the controls,” Morrison says. Of course, the method for draining your dishwasher depends on your model, but forcing the cycle may flush out any particles causing a clog. Some dishwashers have a dedicated cleaning cycle, which may also help clear obstructions. 

Baking soda solves many cleaning problems and can also help flush grease and other small particles. “Pour the mixture into the bottom of your dishwasher, let it sit for a while, and then pour some boiling water over it,” Picken advises. Pouring this mixture inside may help loosen things up so your dishwasher drains properly.

The drain hose runs from the dishwasher to the sink or garbage disposal, and it could be blocked or kinked. “Remove the drain hose and inspect the opening and where the hose was connected for any physical obstruction,” Morrison says. Clear it out and reconnect the hose. Then, press and hold the start or cancel button (like forcing a drain cycle above) to see if it functions properly. 

If you see a twist in the hose, simply move it back into place so water can flow. Additionally, if you’ve just installed a garbage disposal, the installer may not have removed the plastic disc (called a knockout), so check for obstruction if you have a new disposal.

Working with the drain pump is best left to a professional, but it’s not an impossible feat if you’re an avid DIYer or want to try it. The pump is under the unit, so you must slide out your unit to gain easy access. Morrison recommends heading to YouTube and typing in the dishwasher’s make and model with the words “drain pump removal.” Watching the video for a minute or two should give you enough information to see if this is a task you want to manage. If it looks too complicated, call in a pro.

After following all the steps above — or if you don’t feel like tackling issues with the hose or pump — it’s time to call a pro. They can diagnose the problem and tell you whether it’s a simple fix or if it’s time to replace your unit. If your dishwasher is old, broken, or defective, detecting the issue and getting a replacement is sometimes the best route to avoid handwashing.