You arrive at your Kenton-on-Sea house, run the dishwasher and find a pool of dirty water in the bottom at the end of the cycle. In holiday homes this is the most common dishwasher fault, and you can often fix it yourself in half an hour. Here is how.

Quick answer

Switch off at the wall, scoop out the standing water, remove and clean the filter, check the sump for debris, check the drain hose under the sink for kinks and the sink connection for blockages, then run a short drain or rinse cycle. If the pump hums but water does not move, it may be seized after standing idle and needs a technician.

Why it happens in holiday homes

When a dishwasher stands unused for weeks or months, three things tend to happen:

1. Food and grease left in the filter dry into a hard plug. 2. The small amount of water left in the sump and pump evaporates, leaving residue that can bind the pump's impeller. 3. In a full holiday house, the machine is suddenly loaded with braai trays, seafood and pots, and debris quickly overwhelms an already dirty filter.

The result is a machine that cannot pump water out.

Before you start

  • Switch the dishwasher off at the wall. Do not just press the power button.
  • Have towels, a small bowl or cup, a sponge, rubber gloves and an old toothbrush ready.
  • Put towels on the floor in front of the machine.

Step 1: Remove the standing water

Pull out the lower rack. Use a cup and sponge to remove as much water as you can from the bottom of the tub. Wear gloves, as there may be broken glass or sharp bones in the water.

Step 2: Remove and clean the filter

The filter sits in the bottom of the tub under the lower spray arm.

1. Twist the cylindrical filter anticlockwise and lift it out. 2. Lift out the flat mesh plate if there is one. 3. Rinse both under warm water and scrub with the toothbrush. 4. Look for tears in the mesh.

A filter caked with dried grease from months of standing is often the whole problem.

Step 3: Check the sump

Look into the hole where the filter sat. This leads to the drain pump. With gloves on, feel carefully for debris such as glass, bones, olive pits, shells or labels and remove them. Do not use sharp tools that could damage the pump.

Some machines have a small cover in the sump that lets you see the pump impeller. If yours does, and you can see it, check that it turns freely with a gloved finger. If it is stuck, gently try to free it. If it will not move, the pump may be seized.

Step 4: Check the drain hose

Under the sink, follow the dishwasher's drain hose (usually grey and ribbed) from the machine to where it connects.

  • Is it kinked or crushed behind the machine or by items in the cupboard?
  • Does it rise in a high loop before connecting? It should.
  • Where it connects to the sink waste, is the connection clear? Remove the hose from the spigot over a bowl and check for blockages.

Step 5: Check the sink

If the dishwasher drains into the sink waste, a blocked sink trap stops the dishwasher draining too. Run water in the sink. If it drains slowly, clear the trap first.

Step 6: Reassemble and test

Refit the filter and mesh, the lower spray arm and rack. Switch on at the wall and run a short rinse or drain programme. Watch and listen:

  • If water drains normally: the problem was a blockage. Run a hot cleaning cycle to clear any remaining grease.
  • If you hear a hum but no water moves: the drain pump may be seized or jammed further in.
  • If you hear nothing at all during the drain phase: the pump motor or its electrical supply may have failed.

When to call us

If the steps above do not fix it, the drain pump probably needs freeing or replacing. In Kenton-on-Sea, send us:

  • A description of what happens
  • A photo of the model sticker on the side of the door
  • Any error code on the display

We can usually identify the fault and bring a replacement pump, so the repair is done in one visit. We group Kenton, Bushmans River Mouth, Boknes and Cannon Rocks visits where possible.

Preventing it next time

Before you lock up the house:

  • Run a hot empty cycle with dishwasher cleaner.
  • Clean the filter.
  • Leave the door slightly open.
  • Close the tap and switch off at the wall.

When you arrive, clean the filter and run a short empty cycle before loading it with holiday dishes.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to put my hand into the dishwasher sump?

Only with the machine switched off at the wall and while wearing gloves, as there may be broken glass. Do not use sharp tools.

Can I use drain cleaner in my dishwasher?

No. Chemical drain cleaners can damage the pump, seals and hoses. Clear blockages mechanically or call a technician.

Why does my dishwasher drain on some cycles but not others?

A partly blocked filter, hose or pump may cope with small amounts of water but fail when the load is heavier or there is more debris.

Apex HVAC is an independent company and is not affiliated with or authorised by any appliance manufacturer. This guide is general advice. For anything involving electricity or refrigerant gas, use a qualified technician.

Need a hand? See our dishwasher repair service in Kenton-on-Sea.