Don’t be alarmed if you see a puddle of water in the bottom of your dishwasher after a cycle.
Although standing water may indicate that your dishwasher need expert repair, it’s usually a small problem that you can resolve on your own.
Clogs in the filter, trash disposal, drain hose, drain pump, or air gap cause water in the bottom of the dishwasher. The dishwasher will not drain correctly if food or silt accumulates inside these systems. The problem can be solved by locating the blockage and cleaning the debris.
In this article, I go further into what’s causing water to pool in the bottom of your dishwasher and explain how to troubleshoot in plain English.
Even if you don’t consider yourself handy, you might be amazed at how simple (and affordable) it is to get your dishwasher functioning well on your own.
Let’s get started!
The Most Common Reasons Your Dishwasher Doesn’t Drain
The first step in dealing with water in the bottom of your dishwasher is to identify the source of the problem.
Clogs, inadequate maintenance, operational errors, and broken or malfunctioning parts are the most typical causes of water in the bottom of your dishwasher.
Clogs
The most common cause of water not draining correctly is blockages. Dishes should be rinsed before being placed in the dishwasher to avoid clogging.
There are a variety of parts and systems in your dishwasher that may become clogged, and I go through how to clean each one in detail in under a minute.
Poor Maintenance
The majority of people are unaware that regular maintenance is required to keep their dishwasher in good working order.
Emptying the drain basket, examining the hoses, and cleaning the filters are all examples of routine maintenance.
Cleaning and inspecting the spray arm every six months, or as indicated in your owner’s handbook, is also an excellent idea.
Operation Errors
To guarantee appropriate operating practices, always reference your owner’s handbook. It is critical to understand how to use the machine and which products are advised.
In a pinch, using ordinary dish soap might cause a blockage and result in water in the dishwasher’s bottom.
Broken Parts
To avoid voiding your guarantee, get parts replaced by a certified technician when they wear out.
If you’re not sure who to call, Home Advisor can help you locate highly-rated, credentialed providers in your region.
Obtaining absolutely free, no-obligation quotations takes only a few minutes.
Understanding the Parts of Your Dishwasher
Before I go into how to fix standing water, it’s useful to understand the sections of your dishwasher and how they function.
Dishwashers contain a lot of the same parts, however they might differ depending on the brand.
Here are some of the most typical components I’ll discuss in this article:
An air gap, also known as an air cap, is a mechanism that keeps unclean water out of your dishwasher, ensuring that the water used to wash your dishes is clean. Although an air gap is not required by all dishwashers, it is required by some states’ plumbing standards.
Dishwasher Filter: You may have a manual or self-cleaning filter, depending on the manufacturer. This filter is normally found in the bottom of the dishwasher, but your owner’s handbook will provide more specific information. Its aim is to capture food and other particles during the wash cycle in order to keep the recirculating water clean.
Drain Hose: This is a hose that links the drain pump on your dishwasher to your trash disposal or air gap.
Drain Pump: Water from the dishwasher is pushed into your drain line or garbage disposal by the drain pump.
Spray Arm: During the cleaning cycle, the spray arm spins and sprays water onto the dishes.
Don’t know what parts your dishwasher has or where they are?
Fortunately, you can get complete product manuals for your dishwasher brand and model online.
If you have an older model, contact the manufacturer for assistance. They may be able to provide you with phone-based customer care to help you solve the problem.
The majority of dishwashers lack a separate plumbing connection. Instead, they connect and drain through the trash disposal, which is attached to a drain pipe outside.
Food and debris can build up in your trash disposal if you don’t run it or clean it often enough, preventing water from draining correctly out of your dishwasher.
With a flashlight, peer into the disposal and scent the area.
A blocked disposal might be the source of your problem if you notice accumulation around the disposal blades or smell a strong stench.
To begin, run hot water through your disposal and then turn it on to ensure it is free of food debris.
Then run a dishwashing cycle to determine whether the problem has been resolved. If not, perform the instructions outlined below to thoroughly clean your garbage disposal.
Instructions:
- Unplug your trash disposal or turn off the circuit that powers it in your electrical panel to turn off the electricity. Even if you have unplugged the power, switch it on to make sure it is totally disconnected.
- Look down into the disposal using a flashlight. Tongs should be used if you see something that has to be removed. Even if the disposal is turned off, never put your hands in it.
- Place two cups of ice and a half-cup of rock salt in the disposal if you observe accumulation on the blades.
- Reconnect the garbage disposal to the power source, turn on the water, and run the disposal for one minute.
- Check the blades for cleanliness using the flashlight. If not, go back to step 4 and try again. Cut the power off the same manner you did in step 1 after the blades are clean.
- After that, pour one cup of white vinegar down the disposal, followed by half a cup of baking soda. Allow at least 15 minutes for the solution to fizz.
- As it fizzes, carefully clean the inside of your disposal with an old toothbrush.
- Finally, turn on the garbage disposal and use a stopper to fill the sink with warm water.
- Remove the plug and run the disposal while allowing the water to drain. Once the water has fully emptied, turn off the disposal.
- Place lemon or orange peels in the disposal, run water, then turn on the disposal until the peels are totally gone to freshen the fragrance.
After you’ve completed these instructions, run your dishwasher without any dishes to determine whether the problem has been resolved. If it doesn’t work, move on to the next option.
Ways 2:Clean the Filter and Drain Basket
During the wash cycle, the dishwasher filter and drain basket work together to capture food particles, preventing contaminated water from recirculating onto your dishes.
Food crumbs and soap scum can clog them over time, causing water to back up in your dishwasher.
The filter and basket are normally found in the bottom of your dishwasher, but check your owner’s handbook to see where they are situated.
Some dishwashers feature separate filters and drain baskets, whereas others have a single element that performs both functions.
My dishwasher basket and filter are one item, as you can see in the photo below.
Take a good check at the filter and basket once you’ve found them to see whether any food or debris has accumulated.
If there is, unblock the obstruction by following the procedures below.
Even though there isn’t a visible obstruction, it’s a good idea to clean the drain basket and filter on a regular basis to avoid future blockages.
Instructions
- To begin, always turn off the power to your equipment for safety reasons.
- To clean a drain basket or filter, follow the directions in your owner’s handbook to remove the items.
- Empty the basket and clean it with a warm water and mild detergent solution with an old toothbrush.
- Rinse the drain basket completely to eliminate any soapy residue before placing it back in the dishwasher.
Some filters are self-cleaning, so keep that in mind.
If your dishwasher lacks a detachable basket, clean the filter instead and focus on the drain region.
With the hook of a wire hanger or needle-nose pliers, remove trash and other things blocking water flow.
To test if the problem has been resolved, run your dishwasher through a cycle without any dishes. If it doesn’t work, try a new approach.
Ways 3: Unclog or Straighten the Drain Hose
The drain hose is the tube that drains the filthy water from your dishwasher, as its name implies.
Food particles might block the drain hose, or folds or kinks in the line can prevent water from flowing.
When this happens, water cannot drain correctly, resulting in a dishwashing backlog.
Here’s how to resolve the problem.
Instructions
Note: This approach will include crawling down on your hands and knees and searching beneath your dishwasher and nearby sink.
- Make sure your dishwasher isn’t getting any electricity.
- Track down the drain hose. The drain hose is usually attached to the garbage disposal on one end and the pump on the rear of the dishwasher on the other. Check your owner’s handbook if you can’t find your drain hose immediately. In addition, this brief video demonstrates how to find and remove the drain pipe.
- Make sure the hose isn’t folded or bent before using it. Things under the sink frequently hinder the hose’s ability to hang freely. Check for blockages if your hose is in good condition.
- You’ll need a straightened wire hanger or auger to look for and remove a clog in your drain pipe (also known as a snake).
- Disconnect the hose according to the directions in your owner’s handbook. Make sure you have a small basin handy to catch any spilled water once you’ve disconnected.
- After disconnecting the hose, gently remove the blockages with the hanger or snake. A high-pressure spray of water from a garden hose can also be used to flush the drain hose.
Use the high-loop installation approach to keep your drain line from becoming blocked in the future.
Fasten the drain hose to the bottom of the countertop or up against the top wall of the cabinet to create a high loop. The loop’s top should be at least 32 inches above the ground level.
Gravity helps water in the drain hose flow in the appropriate direction and prevents water and debris from accumulating in the hose when it is looped high above the floor.
Ways 4: Unclog the Drain or Drain Pump
Food waste or other material can clog the dishwasher drain or pump at any time.
To inspect the drain or pump for obstructions, remove the filter and expose the drain and pump at the dishwasher’s bottom.
I’ll guide you through the processes, but be aware that this solution is significantly more difficult than the others I’ve discussed thus far.
So, if you’re unsure about any of the actions below, contact an expert through Home Advisor.
Instructions
- Disconnect the electricity to your dishwasher before troubleshooting.
- Locate the drain and drain pump using your owner’s handbook. To access the drain, you may need to remove the filter and drain basket, however this depends on your model.
- With a straightened wire hanger or a drain snake, clear any obvious obstructions.
- Remove the remaining dirt and sludge using a combination of white vinegar and baking soda once you’ve removed what you can.
- Pour one cup of vinegar down the drain after a half-cup of baking soda.
- Allow at least 15 minutes for the bubbly solution to rest in the drain.
- After that, flush the drain with hot water. Chemical items are not suggested because to the possibility of chemical contamination of your meals.
- Next, look for the drain pump and make sure it’s not clogged. Wear protective gloves if you need to reach inside since you could come across sharp items like glass shards or shell pieces. If there is too much water in the pump, you may need to soak it away with a sponge before checking for obstructions.
After you’ve cleaned all the clogs, turn the power back on and run a cycle without the dishes to check if the issue has been resolved.
Ways 5: Unclog the Air Gap
Although not all dishwashers have an air gap, if yours does, it’s possible that it’s become blocked with debris, causing water to back up in your machine.
How do you know if you have an air gap?
It’s a little plastic cylinder with a protective metal covering that’s commonly seen near the sink. Here’s an illustration:
You can skip this section if you don’t notice anything similar.
Instructions
- Disconnect the dishwasher and garbage disposal from the power source.
- The casing and the diverter, a plastic cap that seals the air gap, should then be removed.
- Any food particles should be removed. Tweezers or needle-nose pliers may be required.
- Clean the interior thoroughly with a tiny tube or pipe brush and warm, soapy water.
- If there are blockages deep in the air gap, feed a slender drain snake through it until it appears at the waste disposal area. You’ll know the entire pipe is clear this way.
- Replace the air gap, turn on the power, and start the garbage disposal.
- After that, perform a wash cycle without the dishes to see if the problem persists. If the water at the bottom of your dishwasher is still pooling, try a different remedy.
Ways 6: Clear Blockages on the Spray Arm
Although improbable, a clogged spray arm might be the cause of water gathering in the dishwasher’s bottom.
Spray arms, as a reminder, are propellers that spin and spray water on your dishes during the cycle.
Food or hard water deposits might clog the spray arm’s small perforations, preventing water from flowing freely.
Cleaning the spray arms on a regular basis is a good idea not just to avoid water from accumulating in your dishwasher, but also to enhance the cleaning power of your dishwasher.
If the spray arm becomes clogged, it will not be able to disperse water evenly across the chamber.
