If you opened your dishwasher only to find a sudsy puddle along the bottom of your appliance, have no fear. All you have to do is follow these troubleshooting tips to get your dishwasher draining properly again in no time.

Garbage Disposal
The drain hose from the dishwasher empties into the garbage disposal drain. If the disposal unit contains underground food, or if food sludge settles in the drainpipe, it could stop the dishwasher from draining properly. Sometimes, simply running the disposal is all it takes to get a dishwasher draining again.

Remove Standing Water
If running the disposal doesn’t help, drain the water to find the real problem. Place absorbent towels around the base of your appliance and remove the bottom dish tray by sliding it out. Use a plastic cup to scoop the water into a bucket for disposal. When the water level is too low to scoop, use towels to absorb the last bit of water at the bottom of the machine.

The Drain Basket
The drain basket can be found at the bottom of your dishwasher’s interior. Its cover looks like an upside-down basket, which either snaps off or is held in place by a couple of screws. Remove the cover, and check for the food buildup in the basket beneath. Use your hand or a spoon to remove any debris, replace the cover, and run the dishwashing cycle again.

The Drain Hose
A kinked drain hose, which connects the dishwasher’s drain pump to the garbage disposal, can prevent water from draining. If something large or heavy was shoved under the sink it might have damaged the hose. If it’s kinked, try straightening it out manually. Unfortunately, once a drain hose kinks, it usually happens again in the same spot. If this happens consistently, replace the drain hose.

Call the Plumber
Most of the time, when dealing with a dishwasher not draining, one of these techniques will help. However, the problem could very well lie in a faulty pump or the appliance’s timer or motherboard. Replacing these parts should only be done by a licensed plumber.

If you opened your dishwasher only to find a sudsy puddle along the bottom of your appliance, have no fear. All you have to do is follow these troubleshooting tips to get your dishwasher draining properly again in no time.

Garbage Disposal
The drain hose from the dishwasher empties into the garbage disposal drain. If the disposal unit contains underground food, or if food sludge settles in the drainpipe, it could stop the dishwasher from draining properly. Sometimes, simply running the disposal is all it takes to get a dishwasher draining again.

Remove Standing Water
If running the disposal doesn’t help, drain the water to find the real problem. Place absorbent towels around the base of your appliance and remove the bottom dish tray by sliding it out. Use a plastic cup to scoop the water into a bucket for disposal. When the water level is too low to scoop, use towels to absorb the last bit of water at the bottom of the machine.

The Drain Basket
The drain basket can be found at the bottom of your dishwasher’s interior. Its cover looks like an upside-down basket, which either snaps off or is held in place by a couple of screws. Remove the cover, and check for the food buildup in the basket beneath. Use your hand or a spoon to remove any debris, replace the cover, and run the dishwashing cycle again.

The Drain Hose
A kinked drain hose, which connects the dishwasher’s drain pump to the garbage disposal, can prevent water from draining. If something large or heavy was shoved under the sink it might have damaged the hose. If it’s kinked, try straightening it out manually. Unfortunately, once a drain hose kinks, it usually happens again in the same spot. If this happens consistently, replace the drain hose.

Call the Plumber
Most of the time, when dealing with a dishwasher not draining, one of these techniques will help. However, the problem could very well lie in a faulty pump or the appliance’s timer or motherboard. Replacing these parts should only be done by a licensed plumber.