A dishwasher may stop draining because of an accessible filter blockage, a kinked drain hose, a disposal connection issue, a drain pump problem, or a control fault. Standing water does not identify one specific failed part, so the appliance should be diagnosed before parts are ordered.
Common possible causes
A symptom can have more than one cause. These are common possibilities—not a diagnosis of your specific appliance.
- Food debris in the accessible filter or sump area
- A restricted or incorrectly positioned drain hose
- A sink disposal or connection affecting dishwasher drainage
- A drain pump, check valve, sensor, or control problem
Safe basic checks
Use only checks that do not require removing panels, touching wiring, or working with gas or internal refrigeration components.
- Cancel the cycle and select the drain function once.
- Clean only the user-accessible filter according to the owner manual.
- Check whether the sink or disposal is also draining slowly.
- Stop using the appliance if water is leaking onto the floor.
When to call an appliance technician
Request service when water remains after a drain cycle, the pump makes an unusual noise, an error returns, or there is a leak. Do not open panels or work on live wiring.