For a dishwasher not draining, I'd check the filter first, then the drain hose, the sink and any garbage disposal. The blockage is usually somewhere between the filter in the tub floor and the drain under the sink. The drain pump comes last, because it's the one part on that list that usually needs a technician.
A dishwasher drains by pumping used water out of the sump, which is the small well under the filter. The water goes up a flexible drain hose and into the sink drain, a disposal or a countertop air gap. When any point on that path is clogged, kinked or sealed off, water stays in the tub.
I co-own Merit Home Furniture on Vancouver Island and work out of Duncan. The dishwashers Merit lists, among the kitchen and laundry machines we carry, are at our Campbell River and Port Alberni stores. Every step below comes from the help pages and manuals of Bosch, KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Frigidaire, LG and Samsung. Where they disagree, I say so.
Why is my dishwasher not draining?
A dishwasher that won't drain is worth checking from the cheapest fix to the dearest. Here are the checks in the order the makers' own pages point to:
| Check | What points to it | Makers that name it |
|---|---|---|
| Filter and sump | Water sitting over the filter, a gurgle or hum, a cycle that pauses | Bosch, Frigidaire, LG, Samsung, Whirlpool |
| Drain hose | Bins crushing it under the sink, or the machine pushed back onto it | All six |
| High loop or air gap | Slow draining, or dirty sink water back in the tub | Bosch, KitchenAid, Frigidaire, LG, Samsung |
| Disposal knockout plug | A new disposal or a new dishwasher that has never drained | Bosch, Frigidaire, LG, Samsung, Whirlpool |
| Sink drain | The sink itself drains slowly | Samsung |
| Suds | Foam in the tub after hand dish soap went in | KitchenAid |
| Drain pump or a failed part | Everything above is clear and the water still sits | Bosch, LG |
The first few checks need nothing more than a towel, a cup and a flashlight. The pump is the point where I would hand the job to a technician.
Power off before reaching into a dishwasher full of water
A dishwasher full of standing water still has power to its pump, heater and controls, so switch it off before your hands go in. Technical Safety BC, the province's safety regulator, says to turn appliances off before unplugging them. Pulling the plug on a running appliance can make electricity arc across the gap. If the plug is out of reach, or the machine is wired in, use its breaker at the panel.
KitchenAid says to turn the power off before pulling a dishwasher out from the wall to look at its hose. LG says the same before cleaning the air gap or anything inside the tub. To drain a dishwasher by hand, follow these steps:
- Stop the cycle. Switch the machine off, then unplug it or flip its breaker.
- Give it time to cool. The water and the heating element can still be hot after a wash.
- Put towels down. Then slide out the lower rack.
- Bail, then sponge. A cup gets most of the water out. Bosch says to sponge up what's left in the pump area and to watch for sharp debris.
A clogged filter: the usual reason for water not draining from a dishwasher
A clogged filter is the first place to look when water isn't draining from a dishwasher. Bosch says the most common reason a dishwasher stops draining is food stuck in the filter or the pump. The filter is the mesh cup and screen in the tub floor that catches scraps before the water recirculates.
LG's routine is typical. Pull out the lower rack and lift out any large debris. Turn the mesh filter counterclockwise to free it, then scrub it under running water with a soft brush. Put it back and turn it clockwise until it clicks. Bosch's manual says a soft brush, never an abrasive one or steel wool. LG warns that a stainless steel filter can have sharp edges. Frigidaire's Canadian page calls its version a glass trap and filter, rinsed out with warm water. The same dirty filter is often behind a dishwasher that smells sour.
How do I know if my dishwasher filter is clogged?
Bosch lists the signs on its E24 page: water pooling in the bottom after a cycle, a machine that pauses or stops partway, and gurgling or humming. On a Bosch, the E24 code itself means the drain filter is blocked. A filter you can't see through when you hold it up to the light needs a scrub either way. A cycle that simply runs long isn't a drain fault, so check how long a normal cycle runs before worrying.
Dishwasher drain hose kinks, the high loop and the air gap
The drain hose is the ribbed hose running from the back of the dishwasher to the sink plumbing. LG says heavy things stored under the sink can crush or kink it, and its hose is usually white or grey. Samsung's Canadian page adds that a newly installed dishwasher can press on its own hose. Frigidaire Canada says a hose that gets bumped can kink too. Its advice is to straighten it and start a new cycle so the machine drains and resets.
The high loop is the hose rising up under the counter before it drops to the drain, so sink water can't run back into the tub. The makers give different heights:
| Maker | Drain hose height |
|---|---|
| KitchenAid | At least 20 inches from the floor; below that, use an air gap |
| Frigidaire Canada | A minimum of 32 inches from the floor |
| LG | Hose end 30 to 100 cm (12 to 40 inches) above the floor, and the hose no longer than 3.6 m (12 ft) |
| Samsung Canada | An air gap or a high loop, as local regulations require |
| Bosch | A high loop; the manual I read gives no height |
The installation instructions for the model in your kitchen are the ones that count. Some kitchens use an air gap instead: a short capped fitting on the counter beside the faucet that the drain water passes through. LG's fix is to switch the dishwasher off, lift the cover and clear the debris with a toothpick or brush.
New dishwasher or new disposal not draining? Check the knockout plug
A new garbage disposal has a plug sealing its dishwasher inlet. Bosch's E24 page says the installer may have forgotten to remove it. Frigidaire, Whirlpool and LG name the same plug, and Samsung Canada calls it a disposal cap. If a dishwasher hasn't drained once since it or the disposal went in, this is my first suspect. Getting the plug out means taking the hose off the disposal, so I'd call whoever did the install.
Sink drain clogs, and a dishwasher not draining with no garbage disposal
A dishwasher usually drains into the kitchen sink's plumbing, so a slow sink stops it too. Samsung Canada's test is to run water in the sink for 30 seconds. If the sink doesn't drain, the problem is the house plumbing, and that's a plumber's job. With a disposal, Samsung says to clear it and check that it runs. With no disposal, look at the direct drain connection for anything blocking it.
A portable machine works the same way at the sink. The Whirlpool 24 in. portable, listed at both stores for $1,099.99 before applicable taxes, empties into the sink, so a blocked sink stops it as well. Samsung also mentions frozen drain lines, which matter at an Island cabin left cold in a January snap. It suggests warming the area or leaving the cabinet open, and says warranty service does not cover frozen lines.
Dishwasher not draining after hand dish soap made suds
Hand dish soap in a dishwasher foams up, and KitchenAid says only automatic dishwasher detergent belongs in it. Its fix is to cancel the cycle and mop up any overflow before it seeps into cabinets or floorboards. Then pour 1/4 cup of vegetable oil into the bottom and run a Quick cycle with no detergent or dishes. Repeat if suds remain. KitchenAid says spray-on dish soaps leave residue that does the same, and scraping plates is enough.
Dishwasher is not draining water and nothing looks blocked: the drain pump
A dishwasher that is not draining water with a clean filter, a straight hose and a clear sink points to the drain pump. It sits in the sump under the filter, behind a clip-on cover. On a Bosch, the E25 code means the pump is blocked or that cover is loose or missing.
Bosch's E25 steps start with the filter out. Pry the pump cover off with a spoon, lift it until you feel resistance, then pull it forward. Sponge out the water and any debris, carefully, since some of it may be sharp. The Bosch manual I read says the pump won't work properly unless the cover is snapped in until it clicks. Past that cover, I'd leave the machine to a technician. LG says that if its OE code returns after the filter, hose and air gap are sorted, a part may be faulty. If it's the washer holding water instead, the filters on a washing machine are a separate job.
How to reset a dishwasher and make it drain, maker by maker
Resetting a dishwasher clears a stuck cycle, and on these machines it also empties the tub. The makers do it differently:
| Maker | Cancel and drain | Power reset |
|---|---|---|
| Bosch | Hold Start for about 3 seconds, then wait about 1 minute while it drains | Disconnect power for at least 5 seconds |
| Frigidaire Canada | Hold Cancel for 5 to 10 seconds, then start a new cycle | Breaker off, or unplugged for 3 minutes |
| Whirlpool | Hold Cancel to drain, for example after a power outage | Unplugged or breaker off for 30 seconds |
Samsung's advice runs the other way: troubleshoot first. Its support page warns that clearing a code before fixing the cause lets the error come back and may harm the machine.
Is there a reset button on my dishwasher?
None of the maker pages I read names a button marked Reset. Bosch's manual calls holding Start its reset, and Frigidaire and Whirlpool use Cancel. All three also list cutting the power. The exact button is in the manual for your model.
Dishwasher drain error codes from Bosch, Frigidaire, LG and Samsung
A drain error code is the dishwasher telling you water stayed in the tub. These are the codes each maker confirms:
| Code | What the maker says it means |
|---|---|
| Bosch E24 | Drain filter blocked; also check the hose and the disposal plug |
| Bosch E25 | Drain pump blocked, or its cover loose or missing |
| Frigidaire i20 | Unit did not drain completely |
| Frigidaire i40 | Clogged filter or sump |
| LG OE | Not draining properly |
| Samsung 5C, SC, 5E, SE | Drain error: the dishwasher can't drain |
Some Frigidaire models flash their indicator lights when a drain fails, which its Canadian page says typically signals a drainage issue. The Whirlpool help page I read lists no code at all. It treats a stop mid cycle as a possible drain problem and points to the filter, hose and disposer.
Dishwashers Merit lists at Campbell River and Port Alberni
Merit lists 53 dishwashers at our Campbell River and Port Alberni stores, read from our listings on November 1, 2026. The six makers in this guide account for 38 of them, priced online before applicable taxes:
| Maker | Models listed, and where | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Bosch | 5, all at Campbell River | $1,099.00 to $1,899.00 |
| Frigidaire, Gallery and Professional | 12, mostly at Port Alberni | $479.00 to $1,849.00 |
| KitchenAid | 9, at both stores | $1,099.99 to $2,699.00 |
| LG | 5, at both stores | $699.99 to $1,699.99 |
| Samsung | 1, at Campbell River | $1,249.99 to $1,299.99 |
| Whirlpool | 6, at both stores | $699.99 to $2,049.00 |
A few examples: the Bosch 300 Series with 15 place settings is $1,099.00 at Campbell River. The Frigidaire 24 in. with front controls is $479.00 at Port Alberni, and the LG FlushFit with QuadWash Pro is $949.99 there. The KitchenAid 41 dBA front control runs $1,099.99 to $1,199.99 at both stores. The Samsung with AI Wash is $1,249.99 to $1,299.99 at Campbell River. Merit also lists 78 more as special orders with no store attached.
When a dishwasher not draining needs a technician or a replacement
A dishwasher that still holds water after the filter, hose, plug and sink checks needs service, not more home fixes. I'd stop and call in these cases:
- The same drain code comes back after the fix. LG says a part may be faulty, and Samsung Canada points to its service centre.
- Water is leaking onto the floor. KitchenAid warns against letting it seep into cabinets or floorboards.
- The breaker trips, or anything smells electrical. Leave the power off until someone qualified has looked.
- The sink is slow too, which is a plumber's job by Samsung's account.
Who repairs it can matter. Some makers void the warranty when anyone but their authorized servicer works on the machine, as our guide to maker warranties explains for Danby. With a Merit dishwasher, call the store that sold it before booking anyone. I can't diagnose a machine from a description, and nothing here replaces a technician who can see it.
How long do dishwashers usually last?
A 2019 study in the Journal of Cleaner Production cites 12.4 years as the average first useful life of a dishwasher in Germany. That's European data, and I couldn't find a Canadian figure. On a machine past ten years old with a failed pump, I'd price a new built-in dishwasher before booking the repair.
Where the dishwasher draining steps come from
- Technical Safety BC, Electrical safety, checked November 2026.
- Bosch, Dishwasher Troubleshooting and Repair Guide, checked November 2026.
- Bosch, Dishwasher Error Code E24, checked November 2026.
- Bosch, Dishwasher Error Code E25, checked November 2026.
- Bosch, Operating instructions, dishwasher SHE3AR7*UC (English and Canadian French), checked November 2026.
- KitchenAid Product Help, Checking the Drain Loop Height, checked November 2026.
- KitchenAid Product Help, Removing Suds, Bubbles or Soap Foam, checked November 2026.
- Whirlpool Product Help, Stops Mid Cycle, checked November 2026.
- Frigidaire Canada, Dishwashers: Not Draining, checked November 2026.
- Frigidaire Canada, Dishwasher Error Codes and Alarms Guide, checked November 2026.
- LG, How to Fix an LG Dishwasher That Is Not Draining (OE Error), checked November 2026.
- Samsung Canada, Steps to take if your Samsung dishwasher is not draining, checked November 2026.
- Samsung, Samsung dishwasher is displaying an error code, checked November 2026.
- Tecchio P, Ardente F and Mathieux F, Understanding lifetimes and failure modes of defective washing machines and dishwashers, Journal of Cleaner Production 215:1112-1122 (2019), checked November 2026.
- Merit Home Furniture's 131 dishwasher listings, with stores and prices, read November 1, 2026.
Calling Campbell River or Port Alberni about a new dishwasher
I send dishwasher questions to our Campbell River and Port Alberni stores, since that's where Merit's dishwashers are listed. A call before the drive saves a wasted trip: ask which models are set up to look at. Bring the width of the opening, the model number of the old machine, and whether your sink has a disposal or an air gap.
- Campbell River, 1300 A Homewood Rd, lists 33 of the dishwashers. Phone (250) 286-0868.
- Port Alberni, 2935 Third Ave, lists 32 of them. Phone (250) 724-6644.
Call Campbell River, (250) 286-0868
Call Port Alberni, (250) 724-6644
Ask on that call how the new machine gets home and hooked up. Special orders go through (250) 746-5527, and our page on deposits and exchanges covers how those work. If the cabinet next to the new dishwasher is getting a cooler, the same two stores carry those too. I've written about deciding between a wine cooler and a beverage centre. Every model is in the full dishwasher collection, and the sink-draining portables have a portable dishwasher list of their own. Merit's appliance help beyond dishwashers is gathered on one page.