GE dishwasher won't drain

What to expect when you experience a GE 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.

How do you fix a GE dishwasher that isn't draining?

When your GE dishwasher won’t drain, the problem may be as simple as a clogged sink drain, but there are other places that can get clogged, too.

This helpful DIY video shows you how to find and clear a clog to get your GE dishwasher draining again.

Check the sink drain and garbage disposal for a 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.

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 the dishwasher drain hose for a 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 GE 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. If you have a dishwasher with a timer, you can find the drain portion of the cycle by turning the timer to the end of the cycle.

Check the sink air gap

If your GE 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 drain hose at the drain pump

If the dishwasher still won't drain, you'll need to access the drain hose connection on the drain pump as shown in the video.
Check the drain path between the drain pump and the sink drain for a clog. Place the pump end of the drain hose in a shallow pan and pour some water through the drain hose from the sink end of the hose. If you have an air gap, you'll need to pour water through the dishwasher side of the air gap to check the drain hose. You've already checked or cleared the sink side of the air gap drain hose. If water doesn’t move through the drain hose, then you know there's a clog somewhere in the drain hose.

You have to pull the dishwasher out to check the entire drain hose for clogs. Carefully pull the dishwasher out from under the counter as shown in the video.

Check each section of the drain hose until you find the clog. Use a plumber's snake to clear the clog from the drain hose. Reassemble the dishwasher, add some water to the tub and run the drain pump to see if water drains. If it does, then you've fixed the problem. If water flows from the sink or the air gap to the pump end of the drain hose, then you know the drain hose is clear.

You also know the drain hose is clear if you found and cleared a clog.

GE dishwasher drain problems requiring a service technician

If water doesn't drain from the dishwasher and you know the drain hose is clear, then a clog in the drain pump, the sump or a defective drain pump is preventing the dishwasher from draining.

The dishwasher could also have a defective electronic control board or timer that isn't sending voltage to the drain pump.

If you haven't found the cause of the drain problem by now, we recommend that you have a Sears Home Services technician examine the dishwasher. The technician may need to perform live voltage checks, which only should be done by someone with proper training and equipment.

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.

If your GE dishwasher ends cycles with leftover water, clogged filters or a failing drain motor might be the issue. Standing water leads to odors and can ruin upcoming loads. Rather than manual siphoning, book dishwasher repair services near me. Proper draining assures each cycle concludes on a fresh note.