Frigidaire Dishwasher Not Draining? The Glass Trap, Hose and Fixes
Quick answer: Check the four things Frigidaire lists, in this order: the glass trap or cylinder fine filter in the tub floor (empty it, then rinse the coarse filter under it), a cycle left on pause, a kinked drain hose and, on a new install, the knockout plug still in the garburator inlet. A partly clogged garburator also stops the drain, so run it with cold water first.
Once it drains, we pick BLITZ: one tablet in the empty dishwasher on a normal cycle breaks down the grease and food film left in the sump, filter and spray arms, for about $1.04 a clean. Septic-safe, like every BLITZ product, from a Québec company in Laval, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Shop BLITZ Dishwasher Cleaner, $24.95
Before you start: power off and get the water out
Turn off the power at the breaker or unplug the dishwasher first, and lay towels in front of it. Bail the water into a bowl, then use a turkey baster or a sponge for the last of it in the sump, the low well around the filter.
Then look at the control panel. Frigidaire's first non-plumbing check is simple: make sure the cycle finished and isn't sitting on pause. A paused or interrupted cycle leaves the wash water in the tub, and it looks exactly like a drain problem. Close the door firmly and let the cycle run to the end before you take anything apart.
How to fix a Frigidaire dishwasher that won't drain, step by step
- Empty the glass trap or fine filter. Pull out the lower rack, turn the cylinder fine filter (or glass trap) counterclockwise and lift it out. Frigidaire says it catches big items such as broken glass, bones and pits: empty it into the garbage, not the sink.
- Flush the coarse filter. Take the flat coarse filter out of the tub bottom and hold it under running water, as Frigidaire's glass trap guide says, then lay it back flat.
- Lock the trap back in. Frigidaire asks that the trap be installed properly: turn it clockwise until it seats. A loose trap lets debris reach the pump.
- Run the garburator with cold water if the dishwasher drains through it. Frigidaire notes a partially clogged disposer will keep the dishwasher from draining.
- Run a short cycle and listen for the pump at the end. Water still above the trap? Move on to the hose.
The Frigidaire drain hose, high loop, air gap and garburator
Make sure the drain hose isn't kinked, Frigidaire says. Pushing the dishwasher back into its opening, or storing bottles on top of the hose under the sink, is the usual way it gets pinched. Follow it from the back of the dishwasher to the sink connection.
- New garburator or new dishwasher? Frigidaire's first check is the knockout plug inside the disposer inlet. If it was never knocked out, no water can leave.
- Air gap: if your built-in dishwasher has a chrome air gap cap beside the faucet, lift the cover and clear the debris. It belongs to the plumbing, not the dishwasher.
Frigidaire draining slowly between cleanings?
A slow drain that comes back every few weeks usually means the glass trap fills up between cleanings. Our advice: empty it whenever you see water above it or grit on clean glasses, before it's full, and check it at least monthly.
Scrape plates into the garbage before loading so bones, pits and labels never reach the trap, and run the hot tap at the sink before you start a cycle.
Once it drains: clean out the grease that caused it
The food and grease that blocked the filter also coat the sump, the spray arms and the walls. Left there, they slow the next drain and smell. One BLITZ Dishwasher Cleaner tablet clears them:
- Put the clean filter back and lock it.
- Put one tablet in the detergent compartment of the empty dishwasher.
- Run a normal cycle, then one tablet every two weeks.
A box of 24 is $24.95, about $1.04 a clean, a year at one tablet every two weeks. The rest of the routine is in how to clean a Frigidaire dishwasher, and every brand's drain checks are in dishwasher not draining: 6 causes.
When to call Frigidaire or a technician
- No sound from the pump at the end of a cycle, with a clean filter and a clear hose.
- A steady hum but no water moving: something may be stuck in the pump.
- Water on the floor or under the cabinet.
- A burning smell, damaged wiring or a breaker that keeps tripping: stop using it.
Have the model and serial number ready: they're on a label on the edge of the door or the tub opening.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Frigidaire dishwasher not draining?
Usually a full glass trap or filter, a kinked hose, a garburator that's clogged or still has its knockout plug, or a cycle left on pause. Check them in that order.
Why is there water in the bottom of my Frigidaire dishwasher?
If the cycle finished, the glass trap or coarse filter is usually blocked. Empty and rinse both, run the garburator, then a short cycle.
How do I make a Frigidaire dishwasher drain?
Close the door and let the cycle finish: a paused cycle won't drain. If water stays after a full cycle, bail it out, clear the trap and the hose, and run a short cycle.
Can I pour drain cleaner into my Frigidaire dishwasher?
No. Drain cleaner doesn't belong inside a dishwasher. Clear the trap and hose by hand, then clean the sump with a dishwasher cleaner tablet once it drains.
Sources
Frigidaire Canada support: “What can I do if my dishwasher is not draining?” and “Dishwasher Glass Trap and Filter Guide”; BLITZ Dishwasher Cleaner product page and directions. Checked October 30, 2026.
Frigidaire is a trademark of its owner. BLITZ is not affiliated with Frigidaire.
KEEP THE SUMP CLEAN
BLITZ Dishwasher Cleaner & Deodorizer
One tablet in the detergent compartment of an empty dishwasher removes grease, grime and limescale from the sump, walls, racks and spray arms. 24 tablets for $24.95, a year at one every two weeks.
Free shipping across Canada on orders of $40 or more, 10% back in store credit, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
