If a pool of dirty water sits in the bottom after the cycle ends, the water usually has no way out; the machine did try to drain. We work from the easiest check to the hardest, and you can follow the same order.
Do not start cycle after cycle hoping it will clear. Each extra cycle adds more dirty water to the tub, and it hides the real clue, which is how much water remains and how quickly it leaves.
Check the Filter and Sump
- Look at the floor of the tub first.
- Lift out the filter the way your owner’s manual shows.
- Take out any broken glass, seeds or label scraps.
- Rinse the filter, then seat it again.
Look at the Drain Hose and Disposal
If the dishwasher drains into a garbage disposal, a knockout plug that was never removed on a new disposal can stop the water. A kinked drain hose behind the machine has the same effect. Slide the unit out only if you can do so without straining the water or power connections.
Is It Draining at All?
Listen at the end of a cycle. A humming sound with no water leaving can mean a jammed pump impeller or a stuck valve. A silent pump may not be getting power at all. We cannot tell which from the sound alone.
What a Standing Pool Does Not Tell Us
The same standing water can come from a clogged air gap, a blocked sink line or a failed part inside the machine. That is why we test the drain path before ordering anything.
Older Machines
After a decade or more, pump seals wear and hoses turn brittle. We explain the options, give a written price before work, and tell you if replacement is wiser. Our dishwasher repair page covers what we handle.
To book, call us or use the online form; the technician arrives within a three-hour window.