Smeg Dishwasher: not draining
What is this symptom?
Is your Smeg dishwasher not draining properly? If water remains at the bottom after a cycle, it could be due to a clogged filter, a blocked drain hose, or other issues. Understanding the causes can help you resolve the problem quickly.
Important Tips for Smeg Models
- Ensure the waste hose is correctly installed and the blanked end of the waste spigot is removed. Smeg’s official support notes this as a required condition for drainage.
- Small glass shards can jam the magnetic impeller in Smeg drain pumps; inspect sump area carefully. (Smart Appliance Centre CC
Possible Causes
Clogged drain filter or sump area
How to Identify: Standing water after cycle; visible debris in filter at bottom of dishwasher; water drains slowly or not at all.
Part: Drain filter / sump
Kinked or blocked drain hose
How to Identify: Dishwasher not draining and drain hose behind unit appears bent, crushed, or clogged; water may back up.
Part: Drain hose
Blocked sink drain/air gap or garbage disposal blockage
How to Identify: Dishwasher drains to sink line and sink drain or air gap is blocked; water backs up into dishwasher; disposal clogged.
Part: Garbage disposal / air gap / sink drain connection
Faulty or jammed drain pump impeller
How to Identify: Humming noise during drain cycle with no water removed; debris such as glass found near pump; impeller does not spin freely.
Part: Drain pump (impeller)
Control or sensor/electronics fault (error codes)
How to Identify: Dishwasher displays an error code related to drainage (e.g., E06 or fails to initiate drain cycle despite clear hoses and filters.
Part: Control board / water level sensor
DIY Solutions
Clean the drain filter and sump
- Turn off and disconnect power to dishwasher.
- Remove lower rack and locate the drain filter at the bottom.
- Unscrew or lift out the filter and surrounding parts and rinse under warm water to remove debris.
- Wipe sump area and replace filter securely.
- Run a short rinse cycle to test drainage.
Inspect and clear the drain hose
- Pull dishwasher away from cabinet to access back.
- Inspect drain hose for kinks or bends; straighten hose if needed.
- Disconnect hose at both ends (dishwasher and sink/disposal).
- Flush hose with water and use brush or snake to clear any blockages.
- Reconnect hose with correct high‑loop installation and secure fittings.
- Run a test cycle.
Clear sink drain/air gap or garbage disposal connection
- Check sink air gap (if present) for debris; remove and clean internal hose.
- Run garbage disposal to clear blockages under sink.
- Disconnect dishwasher drain hose from disposal and flush connection area.
- Reattach properly and check drain operation.
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.
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.
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.
Drain Pump
Pumps waste water out of the appliance during the drain cycle.
Pressure Switch
Detects the water level inside the tub and signals when to start or stop filling.
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Professional Repairs
Replace faulty drain pump
Diagnose control/electronics or sensor faults
When to Call a Professional
Preventive Maintenance
-
Clean drain filter: Filter clogs that lead to drainage problems
Frequency: monthly -
Inspect drain hose: Hose kinks or blockages that impede proper drainage
Frequency: annually
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Smeg Dishwasher not draining?
How do I fix Smeg Dishwasher not draining myself?
How much does it cost to fix not draining?
When should I call a technician for not draining?
References & Sources
Community Analytical Insights
Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities
Can I Fix This Myself?
Common Issues Reported by Users
- Possible water leak causing pump to malfunction (1 mentions)
- Flood condition triggering flood mode (1 mentions)
User Suggested Solutions
-
Check for water leaks that may cause pump malfunction
-
Inspect for flood condition and reset the flood mode
Analysis based on 2 community discussions
View
Sources
Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:
Community Discussions
making noises like it was running/draining but it wasn’t on
The dishwasher may have triggered a flood condition, entering flood mode and draining continuously.
loud humming noise when powered on, error 'E' pops up
Possible water leak causing pump to malfunction
Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair
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