Maytag Dishwasher Not Draining – Fix It Fast

1. Clogged or Dirty Filter (Most Common)

The filter traps food debris with every cycle, and once it becomes packed with buildup it blocks water from reaching the drain. Cleaning it takes under five minutes and fixes the problem more often than any other step.

1. Cancel the cycle and open the door. Remove the bottom rack.
2. Locate the cylindrical filter assembly in the back corner of the tub floor.
3. Turn the upper filter counterclockwise and lift it out, then lift out the flat lower mesh filter beneath it.
4. Rinse both pieces under warm running water, scrubbing gently with a soft brush and dish soap.
5. Reinstall the lower filter, then lock the upper filter back in by turning clockwise until it clicks.
6. Run a short rinse cycle and check that the water drains fully.

2. Blocked or Kinked Drain Hose

The drain hose carries water from the dishwasher to your sink drain or garbage disposal, and a kink, clog, or improper high-loop installation will trap standing water in the tub. This requires no special tools to inspect.

1. Pull the dishwasher away from the cabinet slightly, or open the cabinet under the sink to access the drain hose.
2. Trace the hose from the dishwasher pump outlet to the sink drain or disposal connection.
3. Straighten any visible kinks and ensure the hose forms a high loop (secured near the top of the cabinet) before it descends to the drain connection. This prevents backflow.
4. Disconnect the hose at the drain/disposal end and check for a blockage by blowing gently through the hose. Clear any debris with a long brush.
5. If the hose is cracked, crushed, or permanently kinked, replace it.

3. Garbage Disposal Knockout Plug Not Removed

If you recently installed a new garbage disposal and connected your dishwasher drain hose to it, a factory knockout plug inside the disposal inlet may never have been removed, completely blocking drainage.

1. Turn off power to the garbage disposal at the wall switch or breaker.
2. Disconnect the drain hose from the disposal inlet.
3. Look inside the inlet port — if you see a plastic plug, use a screwdriver and hammer to knock it inward into the disposal chamber.
4. Remove the plug pieces from inside the disposal (important — they can cause a jam later).
5. Reconnect the drain hose, restore power, and run a rinse cycle to confirm drainage.

4. Maytag Dishwasher Not Draining Due to a Failed Drain Pump

The drain pump uses a motor-driven impeller to force water out of the tub; if the motor burns out or the impeller is jammed with broken glass or debris, the dishwasher will leave standing water after every cycle.

1. Bail out any standing water with a cup and towels so you can work safely.
2. Remove the lower rack, filter assembly, and the spray arm to expose the pump cover on the tub floor.
3. Unclip or unscrew the pump cover and inspect the impeller for obstructions (glass shards, pit seeds, labels). Remove any debris carefully.
4. With the cover reinstalled, start a drain cycle and listen: a working pump hums steadily; a failed pump will be silent or make a grinding noise.
5. If the pump is silent or damaged, replace the drain pump assembly.

5. Faulty Door Latch or Control Board Interrupting the Drain Cycle

The dishwasher will not complete a drain cycle if the control board never receives the signal to run the pump, which can happen when a door latch microswitch fails or a control board fault cuts the cycle short.

1. Check the door latch for obvious physical damage or misalignment; press it firmly and confirm it clicks securely.
2. Perform a hard reset: disconnect power at the breaker for 60 seconds, then restore power and start a new cycle. This clears temporary control board faults.
3. If the cycle still stops early, check for error codes: press Cancel/Drain and note any blinking light patterns. Cross-reference codes on the Maytag official dishwasher support page.
4. Inspect door latch switches for continuity with a multimeter. A switch that reads no continuity when engaged must be replaced.

6. Defective Check Valve or Drain Solenoid

The check valve prevents drained water from flowing back into the tub, and some Maytag models use a drain solenoid to open the drain path; if either component fails the tub will appear full even after a normal cycle.

1. Access the check valve (a small flapper or ball valve) at the drain pump outlet; it should move freely in one direction only.
2. If the flapper is stuck open, water back-flows into the tub — clean or replace the check valve.
3. If your model has a drain solenoid, use a multimeter to test it for continuity. A reading of OL (open circuit) means the solenoid coil has failed and must be replaced.
4. Reassemble, run a full cycle, and verify the tub is empty at the end.

Frequently asked questions