How to Fix Standing Water in the Dishwasher?

It’s annoying when you see there is water at the bottom of the dishwasher even after cleaning.  Unmoving water in a dishwasher can happen due to several reasons like obstructs in the filter, drain hustle, garbage disposal, or air gap.

When food residues are stacked up through these systems, the dishwasher won’t draw out appropriately. In that situation, finding the congestion, and weeding out the remains will solve the problem.

In this write-up, it has been described what causes water to store in a dishwasher’s bottom and given a number of methods that can be followed to get rid of the problem without any professional help. So, stay tuned, and keep reading.

How to Fix Standing Water in Dishwasher [The 5 Effective Methods]

Many dishwasher owners get panicked when water is accumulated at the bottom of the dishwasher and hire a professional. Others prefer using dishwashers with septic tanks to keep themselves away from these types of problems. Indeed, there are some of the best dishwashers for septic systems that will keep you away from the problem, but what will you do, if you own a dishwasher without a septic system and the water gets clogged?

Keeping these things in our mind, we have come up with solutions that will surely help you out to fix standing water in a dishwasher. Let’s check them out below.

Method-1: Clean The Garbage Disposal

Not all dishwashers come with dedicated plumbing lines. As a replacement, they attach and flow via the garbage disposal which is affixed to the outward drain pipe.

If the garbage disposal is not run or cleaned frequently, food and debris can raise and stop water from correctly draining out of your dishwasher.

Check the disposal with a flashlight and give the place a snuff-up. If you notice a buildup throughout disposal blades, this could be causing your problem.

To get rid of the problem, initially, run hot water, then turn the disposal on to ensure it is away from food matter.  After that, turn on a dishwasher cycle to inspect if that resolved the problem.

Method-2:  Wash Out The Filter and Drain Basket

To detain food matter at the time of the wash cycle, the drain basket and the filter of the dishwasher act jointly to stop polluted water from reproducing onto your dishes as they are washed out. With the passage of time, they can get congested with remains, causing water to stand in your dishwasher.

On that account, you have to clean the filter and the drain basket. So, you have to find out the filter and the basket first. You can find them at the bottom of your unit as they are usually placed here. If you don’t get them, then check your owner’s manual.

Once you have found the filter and basket, check them out if there are any fragments built up. If there is, then extract the filter and basket first, then clear the basket and rinse it with an unused toothbrush and a mixture of hot water and light detergent. When the basket is washed out, keep it back into the dishwasher properly.

If the basket of your dishwasher is not removable, then clean the filter and draw out the debris and other objects in the right way. Hopefully, the problem will be fixed.

Method-3: Unblock The Drain Hose

The drain hose is a tube that discharges the contaminated water out of your dishwasher. This can get blocked with scraps and can terminate the water flow. When it happens, the water from the dishwasher can’t drain properly. If you confront the problem, follow the instructions below to solve it.

• Turn off the power of your dishwasher.
• Find the drain hose. To locate it quickly, read the owner’s manual.
• Look into it to make sure it is not bent or folded. If the hose is alright, then check for congestion.
• To test it out and extract a congest, you have to bring a wire hanger which is known as a snake too
• Detach the hose and bring a tiny bowl to store extra water that may flow after detaching.
• Once it is separated, use a hanger to get the clogs out gently. You can clean it with a high-pressure stream of water. That’s it.

Method- 4: Clean The Drain or Drain Pump

A blocked drain or drain pump is one of the most common reasons for standing water in the dishwasher. The dishwasher drain or drain pump can be congested with food debris. That’s why you have to check it out.

The filter must be removed first to disclose the drain pump at the dishwasher’s bottom. However, we have given the entire procedure below that you can follow to unclog a drain or drain pump.

• Turn off the power on your dishwasher.
• Locate the drain and drain pump as the location of them varies depending on the model.
• Once it is found out, remove any congestions using a wire hanger
• After drawing out the clogs, make a mixture of white vinegar and baking soda to clean the remains from the drain line. [A half cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar]
• Let the solution sit in the drain for a minimum of 15 minutes.
• Now, pour hot water down the drain, but never use chemical products.
• After that, find the drain pump and inspect it for obstructions. If there is water in the pump, take a sponge to soak it up before checking for congestion.
• Remove all the clogs, give it power again and run a cycle without dishes to see if it is fixed or not.

Method-5: Clean The Air Gap

The air gap is not available in every dishwasher, but if you have an air gap in your dishwasher, it can become blocked due to food debris that can be the reason for standing water in the dishwasher.  The air gap looks like a small cylinder that is usually placed around the sink and is made of plastic with a protective casing. However, if your dishwasher comes with an air gap and it is congested, here is the solution.

• Turn off the power on the dishwasher and garbage disposal.
• Remove the case that covers the air gap.
• Clean food particles.
• Take a small tube or brush to clean the inside properly.
• If you see any clogs in the air gap, use a wire hanger to clean it.
• Reasonable the air gap and place it.
• Turn the power on and run the garbage disposal.
• Run a wash cycle without dishes to see if it is fixed.

Final Thought

So, it was all about how to fix standing water in a dishwasher. We have given 5 consecutive methods in this article that are effective and easy to apply. Hopefully,  After reading out the article, you will be up to fixing the unmoving water in your dishwasher on your own. You don’t have to spend money by hiring a professional. However, if you find any method difficult to apply to fix the problem, let us know by putting your comment in the comment section below.