Dishwasher not draining: causes and solutions
You open the door for clean plates and look into a puddle of cloudy water. The dishes do not dry, it smells musty and you cannot use the machine again. Often it is a simple blockage that you can clear yourself.
Safety first, then check
Why is my dishwasher not pumping out the water?
First unplug the machine, or switch off the fuse, before you put your hands in the water.
A dishwasher that cannot get rid of its water is one of the most common faults. Below you can read what you can check yourself and when you are better off booking a technician.
How it works, in 3 steps
Prices
How much does dishwasher repair cost?
Whether your dishwasher won't drain, doesn't dry or shows an error code: you pay the same fixed price, whatever the brand.
A technician finds out at your home why your dishwasher isn't working properly. If you don't go ahead with the repair, you only pay for the diagnosis.
If the technician can repair your dishwasher, you pay €110. No time limit: even if it takes long or a second visit is needed.
Spare parts are not included. The technician tells you in advance if a part is needed and what it costs.
Chrono surcharge for a visit in the evening, at the weekend or just a few hours after your request.
Second appliance during the same visit? The technician can check and repair it too for €80.
Maintenance as well? The technician can also clean and check your appliance thoroughly, for €50 per appliance on top of the diagnosis and repair.
Prefer remote help first? A video repair costs €49. See all our prices →
What can you check yourself first?
Check these three causes before you book a repair.
Blocked filters at the bottom
At the bottom of the dishwasher sit a coarse and a fine filter. If they are full of food scraps, toothpicks or grease, the water cannot reach the drain pump. Scoop most of the water out with a cup, unscrew the filter cylinder and lift out the plate. Rinse everything thoroughly under the hot tap, with a brush.
A piece of glass in the drain pump
Under the filter is the inlet of the drain pump. On many brands, such as Bosch and Siemens, a small plastic cover sits over it. Remove it and look for a piece of glass, a hard corn kernel or a bone splinter stuck near the pump blades. Take it out carefully. Then click the cover firmly back on, because without the cover the machine does not drain properly.
A blocked trap or drain hose
The drain hose of the dishwasher is usually connected to the trap of your kitchen sink. Turn the sink tap on fully. If the water drains slowly there too, the blockage is in your kitchen plumbing and not in the dishwasher. Clear the sink first and check that the drain hose is not kinked anywhere.
When do you need a technician?
Are the filters clean, does the pump blade turn freely and does your sink drain well? Then a part is faulty or blocked inside. These are the four usual causes.
A burnt-out drain pump
If the pump has tried too long to clear a blockage, for example a piece of glass, the coil can burn out. The pump then does nothing at all.
An internal blockage in the drain hose
A long ribbed hose runs between the pump and the sink connection. If it is full of a plug of hardened grease, it has to be cleaned or replaced.
A faulty non-return valve
This small rubber flap stops dirty water from the sink running back into the dishwasher. If it sticks, the water stays in the machine.
A control module problem
The circuit board no longer passes on the signal to pump. That is rarer, but it happens.
Do not pry with a screwdriver in the pump chamber. That causes leaks and makes the repair more expensive.
What does the error code on your dishwasher display mean?
Most dishwashers have a sensor that monitors the water level. If the level does not drop after a few minutes of pumping, the programme stops and an error code appears.
| Brand | Error code or message for a drain problem |
|---|---|
| Bosch and Siemens | E24 or E25: the drain is not working. Check the pump cover and the filters |
| AEG, Electrolux and Zanussi | i20 (or 2 flashes): the machine cannot get the water out in time |
| Miele | F11: problem with the water drain, often the pump or the non-return valve |
| Samsung | 5C or 5E: water drain error |
Is your code not listed? Check the manual for your brand or book a diagnosis, and the technician reads the fault on site.
Why is the pump cover so important?
Many people clean the filter, remove the cover plate of the pump and forget to put it back. The machine then no longer drains properly, which looks like a faulty pump.
So always check that the cover is back on and clicked in before you call a technician. That sometimes saves a visit.
Repair or replace: what does a technician advise?
If it is the drain pump, repairing is almost always the best choice.
Why repairing pays off
A drain pump is a relatively small and cheap part. Because a dishwasher is often built in, a new appliance brings extra costs, such as fitting it and moving the front panel across. Having a technician replace the pump is often cheaper, and your familiar machine keeps going for years.
How do you find out which it is?
After the diagnosis at your home you know the cause and whether repairing pays off. You then pay a maximum of €179 for diagnosis and repair together, parts extra. A new dishwasher costs €400 to €800.
How do you prevent blockages in your dishwasher?
Three habits greatly reduce the risk of a blocked pump.
Scrape off hard scraps
You do not need to rinse plates clean, but hard scraps such as bones, corn kernels and toothpicks go in the bin.
Clean the filter every week
Rinse the filter at the bottom every week. That stops food scraps rotting and blocking the drain.
Use a machine cleaner every month
Grease builds up in the hoses. Once a month, run a hot programme with an empty machine and a dishwasher cleaner. That dissolves the grease layer before it turns into a hard plug.
Where do we repair dishwashers at home?
Our technicians work in Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region, East Flanders, West Flanders, Flemish Brabant, Limburg, Liège, Namur, Hainaut and Walloon Brabant.
Do your technicians have to travel from Vilvoorde every morning?
No. Our technicians live all over Belgium and set off every morning from their own municipality. The parts they need are delivered straight to their homes. That way we get to you quickly, without long drives and often as soon as the next working day.
Is your dishwasher broken?
Our dishwasher repair page covers all symptoms, error codes and brands. Water under the appliance? Read dishwasher leaking. The diagnosis at your home costs €69, a repair €179 in total at most, parts extra. See also all our prices.
Frequently asked questions about a dishwasher that does not drain
No. The base of the dishwasher is designed to hold a good layer of water. As long as nothing overflows, you can safely open the door to reach the filters.
If you hear a constant low hum, the drain pump is getting power but the blade is stuck, often because of a piece of glass or an elastic band. Switch the machine off straight away so the pump does not burn out.
No, never do that. Chemical drain cleaners are very aggressive and can attack the rubber hoses and the plastic pump. The liquid can also end up on your plates and cutlery later.
Better not. Let the water run out through the filters, clean them and check the drain. If the water still stays, book a diagnosis instead of restarting the machine again and again.
The diagnosis at your home costs €69. If the technician can repair it, you pay €179 in total at most, parts extra, with a 3-month warranty on the repair.
No. If your dishwasher is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, contact the manufacturer or the shop where you bought it.
Use the button on this page to choose a day and a time slot yourself. You can also call 02 615 45 20. Give the brand, the model number and the error code.