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Bosch dishwasher won't drain
Common reasons your Bosch dishwasher won't drain
The most common reasons your Bosch dishwasher won't drain are a failed drain pump, faulty pump and motor assembly or a cracked drain hose.
31% of the time it's the Drain Pump
25% of the time it's the Pump and Motor Assembly
15% of the time it's the Drain Hose
29% of the time it's the Something else
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Most common repairs needed to fix a Bosch dishwasher
Drain Pump Replacement
A dishwasher that won’t drain often has a failed drain pump. The drain pump motor could be bad or the drain pump impeller could be damaged. The drain pump may make a loud noise when the impeller is damaged. The motor may make a loud buzzing noise or not make any noise at all if it isn’t spinning the impeller during the drain portion of the dishwashing cycle. The drain pump is hard to access so you’ll need to have a Sears Home Services Technician check out the drain pump and replace it if it isn’t working.
Pump and Motor Assembly Replacement
When the dishwasher won't drain, the pump and motor assembly that drains the water is often faulty. The motor spins a pump impeller and the impeller that moves the water through the drain hose could be damaged. A faulty motor could also be failing to spin the impeller properly. You'll likely hear a grinding or whining noise when those failures are happening. Have a Sears Home Services Technician repair the dishwasher when a faulty pump isn’t draining the water properly.
Drain Hose Replacement
If your dishwasher isn't draining properly, a blocked or damaged drain hose may be the culprit. The drain hose links to the drain pump and directs wastewater to the sink drain. Equipped with a check valve, the hose prevents drain water from flowing back into the dishwasher once the drain cycle is complete. However, if the hose or check valve is cracked, water may flow back into the tub when the drain pump ceases operation. Since accessing the drain hose is challenging, it's best to enlist the help of a Sears Home Services Repair Expert to address any cracks or damages.
What to do if a Bosch dishwasher is not draining?
First, clean the dishwasher filter. Foreign objects such as paper labels from jars can clog the filter and prevent draining.
Follow the procedure shown in this video to clean the filter in your Bosch dishwasher:
Check the dishwasher drain system
If the filter inside your Bosch dishwasher is clear, follow the steps in this DIY troubleshooting video to check for a clog in the drain system:
Check sink drain and garbage disposal for clog
Before you blame the dishwasher, check the sink drain or garbage disposal for a clog. The dishwasher can’t drain if the sink is clogged.
Run the water to see if the water drains. If not, clear the sink drain and your dishwasher should drain properly.
If your sink has a garbage disposal, run the disposal to see if the water drains then. If your disposal is clogged, clear it out. But if it’s broken, you’ll likely need to replace it or it will clog again.
By the way, if you just installed a new garbage disposal and forgot to remove the knockout plug, do that now. The knockout plug prevents water from leaking through the dishwasher drain opening until you install the drain hose. It's easy to skip this important step when installing a new garbage disposal. Refer to the installation guide for your garbage disposal for more information on removing the knockout plug.
Check for a grease clog
If the sink or garbage disposal drains okay, pull off the dishwasher drain hose from the sink or garbage disposal connection and check the end of the drain hose for a grease clog. Grease often builds up in this area. Clear the grease clog and reinstall the drain hose.
See if the dishwasher drains by running the drain pump. You can run the drain pump on many Bosch dishwashers by pressing the cancel button or by starting a cycle and then pressing the cancel button.
The drain pump runs for about 3 minutes on most models that have this feature.
Examine the sink air gap for a clog
If your Bosch dishwasher uses an air gap, you’ll need to check that for clogs as well.
Not all dishwashers use an air gap, so you may not see this component next to your sink faucet. If you have an air gap, check for water stains or water trails coming from the vent holes in the air gap cap. Water coming out of the air gap vent holes indicates a clogged air gap.
Remove the air gap cap and then the cover. Run a plumber's snake through the drain hose between the air gap and the sink drain or garbage disposal to clear the clog. Or clear the clog by blowing air through the drain hose or by using a wet/dry shop vac to suck out debris.
Reassemble the air gap and run the dishwasher drain pump to see if the dishwasher drains properly.
Check the dishwasher drain hose
If the air gap is clear, you’ll need to unplug the dishwasher power cord or shut off the house circuit breaker for your dishwasher to disconnect electrical power and check the entire drain hose for a clog.
For a Bosch dishwasher, you’ll typically need to pull the entire appliance out of the counter to check the drain hose. Use the installation instructions as a guide to pull the dishwasher out if you intend to complete this task on your own.
Clearing a clog in the drain hose should fix the draining problem in your Bosch dishwasher.
If you’re not confident that you can check this issue yourself or you’re unable to find the cause of the drain problem on your own, schedule dishwasher repair service and we’ll send a Sears Home Services technician to your home to fix the drain problem for you.
What to expect when you experience a Bosch dishwasher won't drain issue
How is the won't drain problem fixed?
Correcting most won't drain problems usually involves replacing the drain pump, pump and motor assembly or drain hose. However, there are many potential causes, so a thorough diagnosis is key to fixing the problem. An accurate diagnosis is essential to understanding how much the repair will be.
Sears Home Services recommendations for a dishwasher that won't drain
When the dishwasher won't drain it can be for many reasons. To avoid replacing unneeded parts we recommend having a Sears Home Services professional perform diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of the problem. Our technicians are experienced at diagnosing all types of dishwasher failures.
What to look out for with a dishwasher won't drain diagnosis
Diagnosing modern appliances without proper knowledge and training can be difficult. Without using proper diagnostic techniques, fixing your dishwasher problem will only be achieved through changing parts on a hunch. Appliances, especially in the last 10 years, have become extremely advanced, and many models have electronic parts that are difficult to test. DIY repairs on the latest appliance models are becoming increasingly difficult.
Troubleshooting a Bosch Dishwasher that is Not Draining
Fixing a Bosch dishwasher that is not draining begins with checking the sink drain. Make sure the sink drain isn’t clogged and that the garbage disposal isn’t filled with food. Run the garbage disposal and clear the drain path through the sink drain if that’s is what is preventing the dishwasher from draining.
Check the air gap for a clog if your Bosch dishwasher is not draining and it has an air gap on the kitchen sink to prevent drain water from backing up into the dishwasher. Clear the clog in the air gap if drain water doesn’t flow freely through that device.
If these basic troubleshooting steps don’t help your Bosch dishwasher that is not draining, schedule dishwasher repair service and we’ll send a Sears Home Services technician to diagnose and repair the problem.
When your Bosch won’t drain at the end of a cycle, food debris or a failing drain motor might be the culprit. Pooled water is a breeding ground for odors and poor results. Don’t wrestle with a soggy aftermath; opt for dishwasher appliance repair near me. Once cleared, your Bosch flushes out each cycle’s dirty water as intended.
What our customers say about us
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Thorough
James called to give an estimated arrival time. He was professional and personable. He had 2 professional ideas of the problem and found 1 was correct, but he didn't stop there. He did a thorough check of the appliance. 1 small part was needed. He ordered the part to my house. Fortunately, he was able to schedule for the next week, just before Thanksgiving. As before, he called ahead, arrived and quickly fixed the problem. My appliance is working perfectly.
Kirsten A, Oxford, PA
Service Call
Luke was great. Polite and knowledgeable even though the dishwasher was older than he!
James G, Hillsboro, MO
Daniel
Daniel went above and beyond to fix my dish washer. Very pleasant to deal with.
Paul F, Hghlnds Ranch, CO
Frequently Asked Questions
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If the dishes in your dishwasher are no longer getting clean, it could be the spray arm is clogged.
Glossary Terms
A dishwasher diverter motor controls the direction of water flow to different spray arms within the dishwasher, ensuring optimal water distribution during each wash cycle for thorough cleaning.
A dishwasher drawer is a compact, space-saving kitchen appliance designed to clean dishes efficiently, resembling a standard kitchen drawer that slides out for easy loading and unloading.
Hard water is water that contains high levels of dissolved minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium. It contrasts with soft water, which has lower concentrations of these minerals.
A dishwasher filter is designed to trap food particles, debris, and other residues during the wash cycle to prevent them from redepositing on dishes and clogging the drain.