Maytag Dishwasher Not Draining? Filter, Hose, Air Gap and Fixes
Quick answer: Bail the water out of the sump with a turkey baster or hand pump, twist out the upper filter and rinse both filters, then check that the drain hose isn't kinked, crushed or sagging and has a high loop under the counter. Maytag says a knockout plug left in a new garburator blocks drainage completely. Never pour drain-opening chemicals into the dishwasher.
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.
Maytag says not to use drain-opening chemicals inside the dishwasher. Take the water out by hand instead: towels in front, a turkey baster or hand pump for the sump, and the wastewater down a sink or toilet. Water sitting just above the filter screen points to a partial restriction, not a dead pump.
How to fix a Maytag dishwasher that won't drain, step by step
- Remove the lower rack, twist the upper filter counterclockwise and lift it out.
- Rinse the filters under warm water and use a soft brush on the residue.
- Shine a flashlight into the sump. Maytag lists what to look for: food particles, labels, seeds, toothpicks or glass.
- Seat the lower filter flat and lock the upper filter clockwise until it's fully engaged.
- Run a short rinse and check whether water remains. Older Maytag models with no removable filter: go straight to the hose.
The Maytag drain hose, high loop, air gap and garburator
- The hose: not kinked, crushed or sagging, with a high loop secured to the underside of the counter.
- The garburator: loosen the clamp and detach the hose. If the garburator was recently installed or replaced, make sure the knockout plug was removed from its inlet.
- Stubborn clogs: flush the hose with warm water, or use a flexible plastic line or a dishwasher-safe brush, then check the sink tailpiece and trap for buildup. Reattach and tighten the clamp snugly, without over-tightening.
- The air gap: clean inside it and under its cap. Maytag: if water spills from the air gap into the sink, the blockage is downstream.
Keep a Maytag dishwasher draining
- Scrape plates before loading.
- Clean the filter regularly.
- Recheck the high loop after any under-sink work or a new garburator.
- Run hot water at the sink before you start a cycle.
All four come from Maytag's own help page. Add one BLITZ tablet in an empty cycle every two weeks so grease doesn't build up in the sump between filter cleanings.
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 Maytag dishwasher, and every brand's drain checks are in dishwasher not draining: 6 causes.
When to call Maytag 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 Maytag dishwasher not draining?
A clogged filter or sump, a kinked or sagging hose, a garburator knockout plug left in, or a blocked air gap, tailpiece or trap. Maytag's help checks them in that order.
Is water above the filter normal in a Maytag?
Water sitting slightly above the filter screen points to a partial restriction, Maytag says: clean the filters and the sump, then check the hose.
Can I use drain cleaner in a Maytag dishwasher?
No. Maytag says not to use drain-opening chemicals inside the dishwasher.
When should I call for service?
If draining doesn't improve, or you see leaks, unclear codes or anything electrical. Maytag: if you smell burning, see damaged wiring or the breaker trips repeatedly, stop and call a qualified technician.
Sources
Maytag Product Help: “Dishwasher Not Draining” and “Newly Installed Dishwasher Not Draining”; BLITZ Dishwasher Cleaner product page and directions. Checked October 30, 2026.
Maytag is a trademark of its owner. BLITZ is not affiliated with Maytag.
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.
