Fisher & Paykel Dishwasher: not draining

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

If your Fisher & Paykel dishwasher is not draining, water may be pooling at the bottom after a wash cycle. This issue often stems from a clogged drain filter, blocked drain hose, or a malfunctioning drain pump, preventing proper water expulsion. Addressing these problems promptly can restore your dishwasher's functionality and efficiency.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for Fisher & Paykel Models

  • DishDrawer models have rotor and filter plate that should be cleaned; kinks in drain hoses are specifically mentioned by official support.

Possible Causes

Clogged or blocked drain filter

How to Identify: Standing water in basin, visible food debris in filter, water drains after filter cleaning

Part: Drain filter / filter plate

Blocked or kinked drain hose

How to Identify: Water not leaving dishwasher despite filter cleaning, hose visibly kinked or clogged when inspected, restores draining when cleared/straightened

Part: Drain hose

Faulty or obstructed drain pump

How to Identify: No sound from pump during drain stage, impeller doesn’t spin freely, multimeter shows abnormal resistance

Part: Drain pump / pump impeller

Garbage disposal or sink drain blockage affecting dishwasher outflow

How to Identify: Dishwasher drains once disposal clog cleared, shared drain line blockage present

Part: Garbage disposal or connected sink drain

Air gap blockage (if present)

How to Identify: Standing water and visible debris at air gap fitting, clearing debris allows drainage

Part: Air gap fitting

Control board or electrical issue preventing pump activation

How to Identify: No drain pump activation even after clearing clogs, other symptoms like error codes unrelated to filter/hose

Part: Electronic control board

DIY Solutions

Clean drain filter and filter plate

Easy 10-20 minutes
  1. Turn off dishwasher and open drawer/door.
  2. Remove bottom rack to access filter.
  3. Twist out and remove drain filter and filter plate.
  4. Rinse under warm water and brush off debris.
  5. Reinstall filter and run a short rinse cycle.
⚠️ Safety First: Ensure power is off before working inside dishwasher

Inspect and clear drain hose

Moderate 20-40 minutes
Tools Needed: Bucket, screwdriver, long brush or flexible rod
  1. Disconnect power to dishwasher.
  2. Access drain hose behind dishwasher by sliding unit out.
  3. Inspect for kinks and straighten hose.
  4. Disconnect hose and flush with water or use brush to clear debris.
  5. Reconnect hose ensuring correct high loop configuration and test drain cycle.
⚠️ Safety First: Have towels or bucket ready for water spill

Clear garbage disposal and check connection

Moderate 10-30 minutes
Tools Needed: Flashlight, hex key or tool for disposal
  1. Turn off disposal power.
  2. Look inside disposal and remove debris.
  3. Use disposal wrench to clear jams if needed.
  4. Run disposal with water, then test dishwasher.
  5. Ensure dishwasher drain hose connection has no plug blocked.
⚠️ Safety First: Ensure power off to disposal before working

Clean air gap (if installed)

Easy 5-10 minutes
Tools Needed: Small brush or toothpick
  1. Remove air gap cover.
  2. Clear debris from inside barrel with brush.
  3. Rinse with water and replace cover.
  4. Run dishwasher test drain.

Next step

Choose the next step for not draining

Confirm the diagnosis before ordering. An error code can identify the system involved, but it does not prove that a specific part has failed.

Based on diagnostic data

Most relevant component to inspect

Drain Hose

Carries waste water from the drain pump to your home's standpipe or sink drain.

Typical part-only price
$15 - $30
DIY difficulty
Easy
Estimated time
15-30 mins
Where can I find the model number?

Check the rating label around the door, lid, frame, rear panel, or inside the appliance cabinet. Use the complete model number, including suffixes.

Find a part that fits my model

Verify the complete model and part number on the retailer's compatibility page before ordering.

Other components that may be involved

Check these only if your diagnosis points to them.

Possible related component

Drain Pump

Pumps waste water out of the appliance during the drain cycle.

$35 - $80 · Easy · 15-30 mins

Check fit & price
Possible related component

Main Control Board

The central brain of the appliance that controls all components, cycles, and timings.

$120 - $280 · Medium · 20-40 mins

Check fit & price

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission from other qualifying purchases or service requests made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are based on repair relevance, not commission rate.

Professional Repairs

Replace drain pump or impeller

Estimated Cost: $80 - $200 parts; $150 - $350 labor

Replace drain hose

Estimated Cost: $25 - $70 parts; $100 - $200 labor

Control board diagnosis/repair

Estimated Cost: $150 - $400 parts; $200 - $500 labor

When to Call a Professional

After trying filter and hose cleaning with no improvement
If drain pump is unresponsive or produces unusual noise
If internal electrical faults or error codes persist

Preventive Maintenance

  • Clean drain filter: Clogs leading to drainage issues
    Frequency: monthly
  • Check drain hose routing: Kinks and flow obstruction
    Frequency: annually
  • Run garbage disposal before dishwasher cycles: Shared drain blockages
    Frequency: as needed

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Fisher & Paykel Dishwasher not draining?
Common causes include a clogged drain filter, blocked drain hose, or a faulty drain pump.
How do I fix Fisher & Paykel Dishwasher not draining myself?
You can clean the drain filter, inspect the drain hose, or clear the garbage disposal.
How much does it cost to fix not draining?
Professional repairs range from $80 to $400, depending on the issue.
When should I call a technician for not draining?
If DIY solutions fail or you suspect a serious issue, it's time to call a technician.

References & Sources

Community Analytical Insights

Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities

Can I Fix This Myself?

67%
DIY Success Rate Difficulty: Either

Common Issues Reported by Users

  • Clogged drain pump or impeller (2 mentions)
  • Controller issues (1 mentions)
  • Blockages in drain line (1 mentions)

User Suggested Solutions

  1. Check the drain pump for blockages or failure; test continuity with a multimeter.

    Success rate: 14.0%

  2. Swapped controllers between drawers; suggested using less detergent and ensuring hot water.

    Success rate: 14.0%

  3. Address clogging of the drain due to foreign objects blocking the impeller.

    Success rate: 14.0%
Analysis based on 7 community discussions
View Sources

Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:

  1. Fisher & Paykel dishwasher connected to garbage disposal?
  2. My fisher and paykel dishwasher is not draining. I called in...
  3. Fisher and Paykel drawer dishwasher repair saga
  4. Fisher & Paykel Dishwasher drain filter - faulty or just bad...
  5. Fisher and paykel dishdraw not draining.
  6. Fisher and Paykel Nemo dishwasher not draining
  7. Fisher and Paykel double dishdrawer not draining

Community Discussions

overflowed while completing a wash cycle

Clogging of the drain due to pumpkin seeds blocking the impeller.

DIY View on Reddit →

not draining

Check the drain pump for blockages or failure; test continuity with a multimeter.

DIY View on Reddit →

failed to drain after Wash cycle

Swapped controllers between drawers; suggested using less detergent and ensuring hot water.

DIY View on Reddit →

Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair

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