Dishwasher Not Draining in Houston, TX
Water sitting at the bottom of the tub after a cycle finishes is one of the most common dishwasher complaints, and it's almost always a blockage somewhere in the drain path.
What Usually Causes This
Standing water specifically at the bottom of the tub — rather than throughout a failed wash — points directly to the drain stage of the cycle rather than the fill or wash stages.
Common causes
- A clogged filter at the bottom of the tub
- A kinked or clogged drain hose
- A garbage disposal knockout plug that was never removed during installation
- A failed drain pump or drain solenoid
- A clogged air gap on models that have one
Safe checks you can do first
- Remove and clean the dishwasher's filter, usually located at the bottom of the tub
- Check the garbage disposal (if your dishwasher drains through it) for a knockout plug that may not have been removed
- Check the drain hose where it connects under the sink for kinks
When Professional Repair Makes Sense
If the filter is clean and the disposal connection is clear, the drain pump itself has likely failed and needs to be diagnosed and replaced by a technician.
Call (281) 200-7303Dishwasher Not Draining FAQ
Yes — this is a surprisingly common cause right after a disposal is installed or replaced, if the knockout plug for the dishwasher connection wasn't removed.
You can safely remove standing water to inspect the filter, but the underlying blockage or pump issue still needs to be addressed.
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