Whirlpool Dishwasher Not Draining? Filters, High Loop and Fixes
Quick answer: Bail out the standing water, twist the upper filter counterclockwise, lift out both filters and rinse them, then check the drain hose from the back of the dishwasher to the sink for kinks, sags or clogs. Whirlpool says many models need a high loop secured under the counter, and on a new install the garburator knockout plug must be out. Run a short rinse and listen for the pump.
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.
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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.
Whirlpool's product help starts by removing as much standing water as possible, since it makes the inspection easier: a cup first, then a turkey baster or hand pump for the sump. Pour the wastewater down a sink or toilet.
How to fix a Whirlpool dishwasher that won't drain, step by step
- Take out the filters. Pull out the lower rack, give the upper filter a quarter turn counterclockwise and lift it out, then lift the lower filter out from under it.
- Rinse them under running water with a soft brush. Whirlpool says keeping them clean stops food from reaching the pump and improves draining.
- Look into the sump with a flashlight for seeds, labels or broken glass, and pick them out.
- Put the filters back: the lower one flat, then lock the upper one clockwise.
- Run a short rinse. Water still in the tub? Move on to the hose.
The Whirlpool drain hose, high loop, air gap and garburator
Check for a kinked, pinched or clogged hose all the way from the back of the dishwasher to the sink, Whirlpool says, then the three install points:
- High loop: depending on the model, the hose needs to rise to the underside of the counter before it drops to the drain. Whirlpool: this loop keeps dirty sink water from siphoning back into the dishwasher. A hose that runs flat or slopes down gets pulled up and held with a bracket or zip tie.
- Knockout plug, the pencil test: with the power and the drain hose disconnected, push a pencil about 3 inches (7.5 cm) into the garburator's dishwasher inlet. If it goes that far, the plug is out.
- Air gap: if there's one on the sink, remove its cap and clear the blockage.
Whirlpool dishwasher refilling with dirty water?
Dirty water that shows up in the tub after the sink drains is siphoning back, and Whirlpool's fix is the high loop under the counter or a working air gap. Check your installation instructions for your model's requirement.
To keep it draining, Whirlpool says to scrape plates before loading, clean the filters regularly (monthly, or every two weeks for a large family) and run hot water 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 Whirlpool dishwasher, and every brand's drain checks are in dishwasher not draining: 6 causes.
When to call Whirlpool 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 Whirlpool dishwasher not draining?
A dirty filter, a kinked or clogged hose, a missing high loop, a garburator knockout plug left in, or a blocked air gap. Whirlpool's help checks them in that order.
How do I get standing water out of a Whirlpool dishwasher?
Power off, towels down, then a cup and a turkey baster or hand pump for the sump. Then clean the filters and run a short rinse.
Does a Whirlpool dishwasher need a high loop?
Depending on the model, yes. Whirlpool says the loop stops dirty sink water from siphoning back into the dishwasher; your installation instructions give your model's requirement.
Can I use drain cleaner in a Whirlpool dishwasher?
No. Maytag and KitchenAid, also Whirlpool Corporation brands, say not to use drain-opening chemicals inside the dishwasher. Clear the filter and hose by hand.
Sources
Whirlpool Product Help: “Dishwasher Not Draining” and “Not Draining, Newly Installed Dishwasher”; Whirlpool dishwasher owner's manual (filter cleaning); BLITZ Dishwasher Cleaner product page and directions. Checked October 30, 2026.
Whirlpool is a trademark of its owner. BLITZ is not affiliated with Whirlpool.
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.
