Dishwasher Guide
GE Dishwasher Not Draining — Where to Look
A puddle in the bottom of the tub after a cycle almost always comes down to a blockage somewhere between the filter and the sink drain. Most of it you can check in ten minutes.
The steps below apply to GE and the same logic works on most brands, including Bosch — only the filter shape changes.
Work the drain path in order
- Pull the bottom rack and lift out the cylindrical filter. Rinse off food debris and grease — a clogged filter is the number-one cause.
- Scoop out standing water, then check the sump for glass, bones, or a stray bit of plastic blocking the pump.
- Inspect the drain hose for kinks behind the unit, and where it ties into the sink drain or disposer.
- If the dishwasher drains into a garbage disposer, confirm the knockout plug was removed when it was installed — a forgotten plug blocks drainage entirely.
When it's the pump
If the filter, hose, and air gap are clear and water still sits in the tub, the drain pump itself may have failed or jammed. You'll often hear it hum without moving water.
Replacing a drain pump means pulling the dishwasher and disconnecting water and power — a job worth handing to a technician unless you're comfortable with that.
Rather have a pro handle it?
Our technicians repair this across Toronto and the GTA — same-day in many cases, with clear pricing and a warranty on the work.