Dishwasher not draining
A shallow puddle under the lower rack after a cycle is the most common dishwasher complaint, and it is usually a blockage rather than a failed pump.
Soon Standing water is a hygiene and odour problem and can overflow at the door if another cycle is run, so stop running it; the water itself is contained unless the tub is filled past the door seal.
What this symptom usually means
A shallow puddle under the lower rack after a cycle is the most common dishwasher complaint, and it is usually a blockage rather than a failed pump. Food and glass fragments collect in the filter and the sump beneath it; the drain hose can kink behind the machine or clog where it joins the sink drain or disposer; and a new disposer installed without its knock-out plug removed will block the dishwasher completely. GE also lists over-sudsing from the wrong detergent as a cause: foam backs up and the pump cannot clear it.
If the filter and hose are clear and the dishwasher still will not empty, the possibilities move inside: a drain pump with a jammed impeller or a failed motor, a check valve stuck shut, or a control that never commands the drain. A dishwasher that has never drained properly since installation may also have the hose routed without the high loop or air gap that lets it empty.
Checks you can do yourself
- Clean the filterRemove the lower rack, twist out the cylindrical filter and lift the flat mesh filter beneath it. Rinse both under the tap with a soft brush. Feel around the sump opening (carefully, there can be glass) and remove anything solid.
- Check the drain hoseUnder the sink, look at where the hose enters the disposer or drain tee. Straighten any kink and make sure the hose rises in a high loop near the countertop before dropping to the drain, or passes through an air gap if one is fitted.
- Clear the air gapIf there is a chrome cap on the sink deck, lift it off and clean out debris.
- Run the disposerIf the dishwasher drains into a disposer, run it with water for 30 seconds. A full disposer chamber blocks the dishwasher's outlet. If the disposer is new, check the knock-out plug was removed.
- DetergentUse only automatic dishwasher detergent in the amount the manual specifies. Hand dish soap or too much powder creates suds that block draining.
- Cancel and drainMost models drain when you press Cancel or hold Start for a few seconds. Try it after the filter is clean and see whether the water leaves.
Nothing above involves gas, wiring, refrigerant or removing panels.
What our technician checks
These need panels off, live electrical tests or a licensed trade, so they are left to the technician:
- Removing the sump cover or pump from beneath the tub
- Electrical testing of the pump or control
- Work on household drain plumbing beyond the dishwasher connection
Gas appliances, commercial equipment, and Thermador, Miele, Viking, Wolf and Fisher & Paykel appliances: $129 + tax.
Waived when you proceed with the repair. You get the cause, the price and our repair-or-replace verdict in writing before any work.
Repairs a technician may recommend
After inspection, not from the symptom alone.
Drain pump replacement
When the pump hums or is silent and the path to the sink is clear. The technician clears any impeller jam first; a jam is not a failed pump.
Drain hose replacement or re-routing
When the hose is clogged internally, split, or installed without a high loop.
Check valve or sump cleaning
When debris has passed the filter and blocked the valve flap behind the pump.
Control board or drain relay replacement
When the pump tests fine but is never energised.
Disposer connection correction
When the knock-out plug is still in place or the connection is blocked. Plumbing beyond the dishwasher connection is a plumber's work.
Brands we see with this problem
Codes, parts and access differ by brand; the brand pages cover where the model label is and what to expect.
Cost, and whether to fix it
What the repair costs depends on the part, the labour and whether a second visit is needed for an ordered part; the written finding gives the total before any work. Our guides on what drives repair costs, dishwasher repair costs and repair versus replacement explain how to weigh it.
Who to call
RepairWell diagnoses and repairs this in homes and businesses across Ottawa and Gatineau; the diagnostic ($89 + tax at home, $129 + tax for a business) is waived when you proceed with the repair. If the dishwasher is still under the manufacturer's warranty, contact the manufacturer first: warranty repairs usually have to go through their authorized network.
Have an LG? See the LG error codes for this problem.
When to book
Book if water still sits in the tub after you have cleaned both filters, checked the hose under the sink and run a Cancel/drain. Book sooner if the pump hums without moving water or the dishwasher has never drained fully since it was installed. Tell us the model and whether it drains into a disposer or an air gap; it changes what we bring. The diagnostic is $89 + tax and is waived when you proceed with the repair. Dishwasher repair explains what the visit covers, and dishwasher installation covers hose routing on new units.
We handle this across Ottawa and Gatineau
Related problems
Dishwasher not draining: questions
A little water in the bottom after a cycle: is that normal?
A small amount in the sump well below the filter is normal on many models; it keeps the seals wet. Water covering the tub floor or reaching the lower rack is not.
Can I pour drain cleaner in the dishwasher?
No. Chemical drain cleaners damage seals and pump parts and can splash back. Clean the filter and the hose connection instead.
The dishwasher stopped draining right after a new garbage disposer was installed. Coincidence?
Probably not. Disposers ship with a knock-out plug in the dishwasher inlet. If it was not removed, the dishwasher cannot drain. Whoever installed the disposer can remove it.
Is a drain pump worth replacing on an older dishwasher?
Usually yes if the tub, racks and door are in good shape. The finding shows the repair number against a replacement so you can decide.
Sources
Sources checked 2026-09-24.
From the repair blog
Repair stories and guides, with real photos from our work.
Book the diagnostic
Tell us this symptom and your postal code; it helps us bring the right parts.
Pick a preferred day and arrival window online; we confirm by email once a technician is assigned.
- $89 + tax diagnostic$129 + tax for gas or commercial appliances and for Thermador, Miele, Viking, Wolf or Fisher & Paykel; waived when you proceed with the repair
- Written finding on every visitCause, price and our repair-or-replace verdict
- 90-day warrantyOn parts replaced; labour depends on the work done