Check these first, whatever the brand
- Clean the filter
Lift out the filter in the bottom of the tub and rinse it under the tap. Clear any food, glass or labels from the space underneath, and put it back exactly as it came out.
- Check the sink
The dishwasher drains into the sink plumbing. If the sink is slow too, clear the trap first.
- Waste disposal unit?
Run it to clear it. On a newly fitted one, check the knockout plug in the dishwasher inlet was removed: it's a common cause on new installations.
- Check the drain hose
It shouldn't be kinked or squashed behind the dishwasher, and should rise in a loop, or run through an air gap, before it joins the drain.
- Listen for the pump
Start a drain (often by cancelling the cycle). A hum without water moving usually means something is jammed in the pump, like a piece of glass or a cherry stone.
When it's time for an engineer
If the filter, sink and hose are clear and it still won't pump out, the drain pump has probably failed.
Parts people end up buying
Only once the checks point to a part. Match it to your model number: it's on a label on the edge of the door or the side of the tub.
- Drain pumpSearch on Amazon
- Drain hoseSearch on Amazon
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Questions people ask
Why is there water in the bottom of my dishwasher?
A little water under the filter is normal on many dishwashers. Standing water above it usually means a blocked filter, a kinked drain hose or a blocked sink.
How do I unblock a dishwasher drain?
Clean the filter, clear the sink trap and any waste disposal unit, and straighten the drain hose. If a hum comes from the pump but nothing moves, look in the sump for anything jamming it.