Standing water in the bottom of the dishwasher after a cycle has four common causes, and two of them you can check yourself in five minutes. Here is the order we work through, and what affects the cost. Call or email for a quote.
- Clear quote before any work starts
- Licensed, insured technicians
- All major brands: Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, GE, Bosch, Frigidaire, Maytag, KitchenAid, Miele
- Serving York Region and North York
The two things to check before you call
The filter. At the bottom of the tub, under the lower spray arm, there is a cylindrical filter that twists out. Food, glass, fruit pits and labels collect there and block the sump. Pull it, rinse it, and run a drain cycle. On Bosch, Miele and newer Samsung and LG units this is the cause of a third of drain calls.
The drain hose under the sink. Follow the hose from the dishwasher to where it joins the sink drain or the garbage disposal. A kink from something pushed against it, a sag holding water, or a disposal with its knockout plug still in place will all stop the drain. If the hose connects to an air gap on the counter, pull the cap and clear it.
If either of those fixes it, you are done. If not, the fault is inside the machine.
Inside the machine
- Drain pump. The impeller is jammed by broken glass, a fruit pit or a toothpick, or the pump motor has failed. On Bosch it is very often glass. We carry drain pumps for Bosch, KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Samsung, LG and Frigidaire, so it is a one-visit repair.
- Check valve. A small flap in the drain path that stops water flowing back. When it sticks, the machine drains slowly or refills itself with dirty water.
- Drain solenoid or timer. On older units the pump runs but the drain valve never opens.
- Control board. The pump is never told to run. Less common, and we quote against the machine's age.
Won't drain and shows a code
Codes point us straight at the fault: E24 or E25 on Bosch, OE on LG, 5E on Samsung, F24 on Miele, and 2H or a blinking clean light on Whirlpool and KitchenAid. All mean the same thing, the machine tried to drain and could not, and the order above still applies.
What to do in the next hour
- Bail the standing water with a cup and a towel.
- Twist out and rinse the filter.
- Check the drain hose under the sink for a kink, and the air gap cap if you have one.
- Run a drain or cancel cycle. If it drains, you are done. If not, call.
What it costs
Pricing depends on the appliance, the brand, the fault and the part, so we do not publish a price list. Tell us what it is doing and we will tell you what to expect before anyone comes out. Call or email for a quote.
Where we work
We serve Richmond Hill, Markham, Aurora, Newmarket, Stouffville and Thornhill, and North York and King City. Call or email for the earliest available appointment. More on dishwasher repair across York Region.
Questions we get asked
How much does dishwasher repair cost?
It depends on the brand, the fault and the part. Call (905) 000-0000 or email hello@yorkregionappliancepros.ca with the symptom and we will tell you what to expect.
What are the most common dishwasher problems you fix?
Dishwasher not draining; Dishes come out dirty; Dishwasher leaking; Won't start or no lights; Not filling with water.
Which brands?
Bosch, Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, KitchenAid, GE, Miele, Frigidaire, Maytag and most others.
Where do you offer dishwasher repair?
Richmond Hill, Markham, Aurora, Newmarket, Stouffville, Thornhill, North York and King City.
There is an inch of water in the bottom. Is that normal?
A small amount of water in the sump, below the filter, is normal and keeps the seals wet. Water covering the bottom of the tub after the cycle ends is not. Bail it out with a cup, and check the filter and the drain hose before you call; those two fixes cover about a third of drain calls.
My dishwasher stopped draining right after we had a new garbage disposal installed. Related?
Almost certainly. New disposals ship with a knockout plug in the dishwasher inlet, and if the installer did not remove it the dishwasher has nowhere to drain. It is a two-minute fix, and we tell you rather than charge for a part.
Related
Need it fixed fast?
Call or email and we will give you the earliest available appointment. No-cooling fridges and active leaks get priority.
Call (905) 000-0000