Pump Clogged - Dishwasher Drain

Don't jump straight to the pump. Check the drain filter at the bottom of the dishwasher tub for food particles. Next, check the drain hose (usually connected to your garbage disposal or sink drain) for kinks or clogs. If these are clear and water remains, it’s time to check the pump.

A small, unglamorous impeller of plastic and magnet, the drain pump lives in the murky sump beneath the lower spray arm. Its purpose is singular and brutal: to expel the fetid, particulate-laden water that has just scrubbed our lasagna pans and cereal bowls. It is the dishwasher’s exhalation. And when it clogs, the machine does not merely break; it drowns.

Once you have access, locate the pump assembly. It typically looks like a small motor attached to a plastic housing. Place towels underneath to catch the rush of water that will escape when you detach the pump.