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  1. Repair
  2. KitchenAid
  3. KitchenAid Dishwasher
  4. Dishwasher not draining

KitchenAid dishwasher not draining

Common reasons your KitchenAid dishwasher is not draining

The most common reasons your KitchenAid dishwasher is not draining are a failed drain pump, cracked drain hose or a defective electronic control board.

  • 48%

    48% of the time it's the
    Drain Pump

  • 22%

    22% of the time it's the
    Drain Hose

  • 11%

    11% of the time it's the
    Electronic Control Board

  • 19%

    19% of the time it's the
    Something else

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    Most common repairs needed to fix a KitchenAid dishwasher

    Drain Pump Replacement

    A dishwasher that’s not draining 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.


    Drain Hose Replacement

    When the dishwasher will not drain properly, a cracked or clogged drain hose could be causing the failure. The drain hose connect to the drain pump and carries wastewater to the sink drain. The drain hose has a check valve to prevent drain water from siphoning back into the dishwasher at the end of the drain routine. A cracked hose or check valve can let water blow back into the tub when the drain pump stops. Accessing the drain hose is difficult so you’ll need to have a Sears Home Services Repair Expert fix the drain hose when it’s cracked or damaged.

    Electronic Control Board Replacement

    If your dishwasher is not draining, you can suspect that it has a defective electronic control board if the drain pump doesn’t run. The control board should send electrical current to the drain pump during the drain portion of the dishwashing cycle. A failed relay or corrupted logic on the circuit board could prevent the control board from sending electrical current to the drain pump. Determining whether an electronic control board is defective is difficult. Have a Sears Home Services Repair Expert visit your home and fix the dishwasher when it is not draining.

    What to expect when you experience a KitchenAid dishwasher not draining issue

    How is the not draining problem fixed?

    Correcting most not draining problems usually involves replacing the drain pump, drain hose or electronic control board. 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 is not draining

    When the dishwasher is not draining 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 not draining 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 Kitchen Aid Dishwasher Not Draining

    When your Kitchen Aid dishwasher is not draining, check the kitchen sink drain. A garbage disposal that is full of food scraps won’t allow the dishwasher to drain. Run the garbage disposal to clear it and allow the dishwasher to drain.

    If the kitchen sink is clogged, the dishwasher won’t be able to drain. Have a plumber fix the kitchen sink drain if it’s clogged.

    If you recently installed a new garbage disposal, failing to remove the knock-out plug on the garbage disposal dishwasher drain connection will keep the dishwasher from draining. Remove that knock-out plug according to the guidelines in the garbage disposal installation guide if you failed to remove it when installing the new garbage disposal.

    A clogged drain hose can prevent the dishwasher from draining. Check the end of the drain hose for grease buildup and/or debris. Clear the drain hose so the dishwasher will drain freely.

    If your Kitchen Aid dishwasher is still not draining, check the air gap on the sink if you have one installed in the dishwasher drain line. Clean the air gap if it’s clogged.

    If these basic troubleshooting tips don’t help you resolve the problem with your Kitchen Aid dishwasher not draining, schedule dishwasher repair service to have a Sears Home Services technician diagnose and repair the drain problem in your dishwasher.

    One of these problems could be preventing the dishwasher from draining:

    • Failed drain pump.
    • Defective electronic control board.
    • Clog in dishwasher sump.
    • Wiring failure.

    Our experienced technician will be able to quickly determine the cause of the drain failure and will repair the dishwasher in no time.

    When you need KitchenAid dishwasher repair, trust the pros at Sears Home Services to fix the problem.

    What our customers say about us

    With more than 1.3 Million 5 Star Reviews, you don't have to take our word for it

    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

    Repair Dishwasher Resources

    Title image for blog article "How Does a Rinse Aid Dispenser Work?"
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    Learn how a rinse aid dispenser works in a dishwasher and how to troubleshoot problems.

    Title image for blog article "How Does a Dishwasher Air Gap Work?"
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    Learn how an air gap works in the drain system of a dishwasher.

    Title image for blog article "How Does a Portable Dishwasher Work?"
    7 min readNov. 13

    Learn how a portable dishwasher works.

    Title image for blog article "How Does a Recirculation Pump Work?"
    5 min readNov. 13

    Learn how a recirculation pump works in a dishwasher and how to troubleshoot pump problems.

    Glossary Terms

    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 French-door refrigerator features two doors that open side-by-side on the top section for the refrigerator compartment, with a bottom freezer drawer, combining style, efficiency, and easy access to both refrigerated and frozen goods.

    A furnace is a major appliance that heats air distributed throughout a home or building via a ductwork system.

    A furnace blower motor is a crucial component of a home heating system that drives the fan responsible for circulating air throughout the HVAC system and into the living spaces of the home.

    Additional possible KitchenAid dishwasher symptoms you may experience