Dishwasher Not Draining: What to Check First and What Usually Fails

Water left in the bottom of the dishwasher is the most common dishwasher complaint we get. In our review of 6,405 Florida service calls, 30% of the dishwasher problems owners described were drainage, and leaks were close behind at 28%. Several of the causes are things you can fix yourself, so start with the checks below.

A small amount of water around the filter after a cycle is normal on many models. An inch or more, dirty water, or a cycle that stops with an error is not.

Checks you can do first

1. Clean the filter

Most dishwashers sold in the last ten years have a manual filter under the lower rack. Twist it out, rinse it under the tap and scrub the fine mesh with a soft brush. A filter packed with food is one of the most common causes of slow draining. In South Florida, hard-water scale adds to the clog; our hard-water maintenance guide covers that.

2. Check the sink and the disposal

The dishwasher usually drains through the garbage disposal or the sink drain. If the sink is slow too, the clog is in the house plumbing. Run the disposal for a few seconds before starting the dishwasher. If the disposal was just installed, check that the installer knocked out the plastic plug in the dishwasher inlet; a new disposal with the plug still in will stop a dishwasher from draining on the first run.

3. Look at the drain hose

Pull the bottom kick panel or look under the sink. The hose should not be kinked or crushed behind the cabinet. It should also rise in a high loop, or go through an air gap on the countertop, before it connects to the drain. If your sink has an air gap, its small cap can clog; take it off and clean it.

4. Read the error code

Many machines report a drain problem with a code. On Bosch, E24 points to a kinked or blocked drain hose and E25 to a blocked drain pump cover under the filter. LG uses OE for a drain error. If your dishwasher shows a code, look it up in the manual before booking, since the code often narrows it down to one part.

When it is the drain pump

If the filter, hose and sink are clear and the dishwasher still won’t drain, listen at the end of the cycle. A hum with no water moving often means something is jammed in the pump, such as a piece of glass, a fruit pit or a label. On many models the pump cover sits under the filter and can be opened. Silence at the drain step points to the pump motor, its wiring or the control board. Pump and board work is where we usually come in.

If it is leaking as well

Drainage and leaks often show up together, since a backed-up machine can overflow the door seal. On Bosch dishwashers, water that reaches the base pan lifts a float switch and shows error E15; our Bosch E15 guide explains how to find the source.

What it costs

Across 233 dishwasher repairs in our 2025 to 2026 data, the median bill was $322, with the middle half between $227 and $401. A cleared pump or hose sits at the low end; a new drain pump or control board sits higher. Our service call is $59 and is credited toward the repair if you go ahead. If the checks above didn’t solve it, book a dishwasher repair or call (754) 345-4515.

What these repairs cost in Florida: our appliance repair cost guide has median bills by appliance, by problem and by county, from 2,539 paid repairs.