Maytag Dishwasher: not draining

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

If your Maytag dishwasher is not draining, you may notice standing water at the bottom after a cycle. This can lead to unpleasant odors and dirty water backing up into your sink. Common causes include a clogged filter, kinked drain hose, or a faulty drain pump. Addressing these issues promptly can help restore proper drainage and maintain your dishwasher's efficiency.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for Maytag Models

  • New installations may have leftover disposal knockout plug blocking drain; also check for correct high loop installation.

Possible Causes

Clogged filter or food debris obstruction

How to Identify: Standing water after cycle, visible debris around filter and sump area at bottom of dishwasher

Part: Dishwasher filter and drain area

Clogged or kinked drain hose

How to Identify: Water remains; hose bends or kinks visible when inspecting behind dishwasher; water doesn’t flow when flushed

Part: Drain hose

Blocked air gap

How to Identify: Standing water; blockage under air gap cap when removed

Part: Air gap (if installed)

Faulty or clogged drain pump

How to Identify: Humming noise during drain cycle without water leaving, no drain action, pump doesn’t run

Part: Drain pump and impeller

Control board not activating pump

How to Identify: Pump doesn’t get power despite no visible blockages; no drain sounds

Part: Control board

Garbage disposal or sink drain block affecting dishwasher drain

How to Identify: Both sink and dishwasher drainage poor; dishwasher only starts draining after disposal cleared

Part: Sink drain / garbage disposal connection

DIY Solutions

Clean filter and remove debris

Easy 10-20 minutes
Tools Needed: gloves, sponge or brush
  1. Turn off dishwasher and open bottom rack
  2. Locate and remove filter
  3. Rinse filter under warm water and brush off debris
  4. Replace filter and run a short cycle to test drainage
⚠️ Safety First: Ensure power is off before reaching into filter

Check and clear drain hose

Moderate 20-40 minutes
Tools Needed: screwdriver, bucket, flashlight, flexible brush
  1. Turn off power and pull dishwasher away slightly
  2. Locate drain hose behind dishwasher
  3. Disconnect hose and check for kinks or debris
  4. Flush hose with water or use brush to clear blockage
  5. Reconnect hose and test drainage
⚠️ Safety First: Have towels ready for water spills

Clear air gap (if present)

Easy 5-15 minutes
Tools Needed: screwdriver or pick tool
  1. Remove air gap cap next to sink
  2. Clear debris from air gap chamber
  3. Rinse with warm water and replace cap
  4. Run dishwasher to check drainage

Power reset dishwasher

Easy 5-10 minutes
  1. Turn off dishwasher and unplug or switch off circuit breaker
  2. Wait 5–10 minutes
  3. Restore power and run a cycle to test drain

Professional Repairs

Replace drain pump assembly

Estimated Cost: $50 - $150 for part

Replace control board

Estimated Cost: $100 - $300

When to Call a Professional

Pump makes unusual noises (grinding/humming without draining)
No power to pump after DIY checks
Leaks after clearing blockages

Preventive Maintenance

  • Clean filter: Clogs and drainage issues
    Frequency: monthly
  • Run garbage disposal before dishwasher cycle: Downstream blockages affecting dishwasher drain
    Frequency: with dishwasher use

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Maytag Dishwasher not draining?
Common causes include clogged filters, kinked drain hoses, or a faulty drain pump.
How do I fix Maytag Dishwasher not draining myself?
You can clean the filter, check the drain hose for kinks, clear the air gap, or reset the power.
How much does it cost to fix not draining?
Replacing the drain pump costs $50 - $150, while a control board replacement ranges from $100 to $300.
When should I call a technician for not draining?
If DIY solutions fail or if the issue involves complex repairs, it's best to consult a technician.

References & Sources

Community Analytical Insights

Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities

Can I Fix This Myself?

25%
DIY Success Rate Difficulty: Professional

Common Issues Reported by Users

  • Drain pump failure (5 mentions)
  • Clogged filter or drain hose (3 mentions)

User Suggested Solutions

  1. Check valve may be damaged; consider replacing the drain pump.

    Success rate: 10.0%

  2. Try using heavy wash cycles to melt any buildup.

    Success rate: 10.0%
Analysis based on 8 community discussions
View Sources

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

  1. Maytag dishwasher not working after cleaning
  2. Maytag Dishwasher Intermittent Draining
  3. Maytag MDB4949SHZ Dishwasher not draining.
  4. Maytag dishwasher not draining
  5. Maytag Dishwasher Control Board Replacement / Troubleshootin...
  6. Burned wire exiting control board
  7. Maytag dishwasher keeps leaving dirty standing water
  8. My dishwasher won't drain after the cycle completes, but the...

Community Discussions

doesn’t want to drain once it completes a cycle

Check valve may be damaged; consider replacing the drain pump.

DIY View on Reddit →

not draining

Try using heavy wash cycles to melt any buildup.

DIY View on Reddit →

Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair

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