When water stays behind
A dishwasher that will not drain leaves the job unfinished.
Standing water at the end of a cycle is more than an inconvenience. It can leave dishes sitting in dirty water and make the kitchen harder to use until you know what is happening. A visible filter issue, a drain-path concern, or a dishwasher component may be involved, but you do not need to determine which one before arranging help.
Do not keep restarting a dishwasher that is holding an unusual amount of water, leaking, smelling hot, or making a sharp new sound. If the model allows an owner-accessible filter check, the owner's manual is the right guide. Beyond that, a clear description of where the cycle stopped and what you noticed is enough to begin.
Read safe checks for a dishwasher that will not drain →


