Dishwasher not draining but no blockage
Call for appliance repair help during posted hours on the referral page for this service.
Water left in the bottom of a dishwasher after a cycle often comes from a clogged filter, a kinked drain hose, or a disposal plug that was never removed. This guide stays with parts you can reach from the tub. It does not cover pump motor repair.
Safety first: when to call a pro
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before you touch settings, filters, or hoses you can reach without tools. If you smell gas, leave and call the gas utility or 911 from outside. Never open a gas appliance, refrigerant lines, or an electrical panel. Use pesticide products only as the label directs.
These checks stay on the safe side of the door: lint paths, drain filters, thermostat mode, and housekeeping. Burning smells, repeated breaker trips, gas odor, or work inside sealed panels belong to a qualified technician. Dial Home Help connects calls to independent providers and does not perform repairs.
Did you clear the tub filter and sump?
Remove the bottom rack and twist out the cylindrical filter many models hide in the tub floor. Rinse debris under running water and reinstall firmly. Wipe glass shards with a towel instead of bare hands. Run a cancel-drain cycle if the manual lists one. Do not run the dishwasher without the filter seated.
Food grit in the sump can block the drain path even when the sink drain works fine.
Is the drain hose or air gap clogged?
Under the sink, check the dishwasher drain hose for kinks and verify the air gap cap lifts off for cleaning if your install has one. Flush the air gap with water into a bucket. If the hose runs to a garbage disposal, confirm the disposal knockout was removed at install. Keep a pan under hose clamps you loosen.
A high loop on the drain hose matters on some installs. The manual diagram shows the correct path.
Are you using the right cycle and detergent amount?
Heavy soil cycles use more water before drain; canceling early can leave a normal-looking puddle. Use detergent amounts the label lists for your water hardness. Suds from the wrong soap can slow draining without a mechanical clog. Scrape plates but avoid blocking the spray arms.
ENERGY STAR notes that running full loads saves water and energy versus partial loads. That habit does not fix a pump, but it sets realistic expectations for water in the tub mid-cycle.
Steps
- Cancel and run drain if available. Follow the control guide for your model.
- Clean the tub filter and sump. Reinstall the filter before the next run.
- Check hose, air gap, and disposal knockout. Remove kinks and rinse the air gap.
- Use labeled detergent amounts. Avoid suds that mimic a drain fault.
- Call if standing water remains. Describe filter cleaning and hose checks already done.
Questions
Should I pour drain cleaner into the dishwasher?
No. Chemicals can damage seals and pumps.
Is water after every cycle a failure?
A small film can be normal on some cycles; an inch or more is not.