Why Is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Standing water at the bottom of the tub after a wash cycle is one of the most common dishwasher complaints, and it almost always comes down to something blocking the drain path.

A clogged filter. Most modern dishwashers have a removable filter at the bottom of the tub that catches food debris. When it's clogged, water can't drain properly. This is worth checking and cleaning first.

A kinked or clogged drain hose. The hose that carries wastewater to the drain can develop a kink, especially after the dishwasher or disposal has been moved, or can clog with debris over time.

A garbage disposal knockout plug left in place. If your dishwasher drains through your garbage disposal and it was recently installed, a knockout plug inside the disposal may not have been removed, blocking the connection entirely.

A failed drain pump. If the filter and hose are clear, the drain pump itself may have failed and will need to be replaced.

Checking the filter is the easiest first step — it takes just a minute and solves the problem more often than you'd expect.