Ge Dishwasher: failure to drain

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

Is your GE dishwasher leaving standing water in the tub after the wash cycle? This common issue may stem from a clogged drain filter, kinked drain hose, or problems with the garbage disposal connection. Understanding these causes can help you troubleshoot effectively.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for Ge Models

  • Some GE models have self‑cleaning and fine filters that must be removed correctly; incorrect filter installation can block draining

Possible Causes

Clogged drain filter or debris trap

How to Identify: Water remains after cycle; visible debris in bottom filter area; slow or no water flow when drain filter removed.

Part: Drain filter / debris filter

Clogged or kinked drain hose

How to Identify: Standing water; inspection shows hose bent/kinked beneath sink; water doesn’t clear when high loop/air gap issues present.

Part: Drain hose

Garbage disposal connection issues (knockout plug or clog)

How to Identify: Dishwasher installed recently; disposal knockout plug not removed; water backs up; disposal clogged.

Part: Garbage disposal inlet or connection

Clogged or malfunctioning air gap / backflow prevention

How to Identify: Water backs up into dishwasher; air gap cap clogged; water remains after cycle despite filter/hose clear.

Part: Air gap or high loop hose configuration

Faulty drain solenoid or control board failing to initiate drain

How to Identify: No sound/activity from drain pump during cycle; pump not powered; electrical testing shows no output from control board.

Part: Drain solenoid / control board

DIY Solutions

Clean the drain filter and sump area

Easy 10–20 minutes
Tools Needed: gloves, soft brush, warm water
  1. Remove bottom rack
  2. Twist and lift out drain filter
  3. Rinse filter and scrub with brush
  4. Remove visible debris from sump
  5. Reinstall filter and rack
⚠️ Safety First: Turn off power to dishwasher before accessing internal area

Inspect and clear drain hose

Moderate 20–45 minutes
Tools Needed: screwdriver, bucket, flashlight, plumber’s snake (optional)
  1. Turn off power
  2. Pull dishwasher out from under counter
  3. Locate drain hose under sink
  4. Check for kinks and straighten
  5. Disconnect hose and flush with water or snake to clear debris
  6. Reattach hose ensuring correct high loop
  7. Test drain cycle
⚠️ Safety First: Place bucket to catch residual water

Remove garbage disposal knockout plug and clear disposal

Moderate 15–45 minutes
Tools Needed: screwdriver, pliers
  1. Turn off disposal and dishwasher power
  2. Disconnect dishwasher drain hose from disposal inlet
  3. Check inside disposal for plastic knockout plug and remove
  4. Run disposal to clear clogs
  5. Reconnect hose
  6. Test dishwasher drain
⚠️ Safety First: Ensure disposal is off before probing

Clean air gap

Easy 10–15 minutes
Tools Needed: screwdriver, brush
  1. Locate air gap near sink
  2. Remove cap
  3. Clean debris inside gap
  4. Reassemble and run short cycle

Professional Repairs

Replace drain pump or impeller assembly

Estimated Cost: $80–$250

Replace drain solenoid or control board

Estimated Cost: $100–$400

When to Call a Professional

Pump impeller is seized or fails electrical tests
No drainage after clearing all visible blockages
Electrical or control board issues indicated by error codes

Preventive Maintenance

  • Clean filters: Filter and sump clogs
    Frequency: monthly
  • Inspect drain hose and high loop: Hose clogs and backflow issues
    Frequency: annually

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my GE Dishwasher failure to drain?
Common causes include clogged drain filters, kinked drain hoses, and garbage disposal connection issues.
How do I fix GE Dishwasher failure to drain myself?
You can clean the drain filter, inspect the drain hose, or clear the garbage disposal knockout plug.
How much does it cost to fix failure to drain?
Professional repairs can range from $80 to $400, depending on parts needed.
When should I call a technician for failure to drain?
If DIY fixes don't work or if you suspect a faulty drain pump or control board, contact a professional.

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: DIY

Common Issues Reported by Users

  • Clogged pressure sensor (2 mentions)

User Suggested Solutions

  1. Clean or replace clogged pressure sensor

    Success rate: 67.0%
Analysis based on 3 community discussions
View Sources

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

  1. GE Dishwasher FTD Error, but it Drains Fine
  2. Help/opinions - Ftd error on GE dishwasher. at start up, but...
  3. GE dishwasher 5 blinks failure to drain

Community Discussions

5 blinks failure to drain

Replaced clogged pressure sensor to resolve failure to drain issue.

DIY View on Reddit →

FTD error code in early wash cycle

Cleaned the pressure sensor to resolve the FTD error.

DIY View on Reddit →

Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair

User Comments (0)

Share your experience or solution below.

Be the first to comment!