Why is my dishwasher not draining?

Usually a clogged filter under the bottom rack, a kinked or clogged drain hose, or a clogged air gap. If it drains through a new garbage disposal, the knockout plug inside the disposal's inlet may never have been removed. If the filter and hose are clear and the pump hums without draining, the drain pump has likely failed, a $150–$350 repair.

How long does a dishwasher last?

Most dishwashers last about 9–12 years. Pumps, valves, latches, and gaskets wear out sooner and are replaceable on their own.

What does dishwasher repair cost in 2026?

A service call and diagnosis is $100–$200. A door latch or gasket is $100–$250, a water inlet valve or heating element $150–$300, a drain pump $150–$350, and a control board $250–$500. A new standard built-in dishwasher is $600–$1,800 installed, including hauling the old one away.

Should I rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher?

No. ENERGY STAR says rinsing dishes before loading them increases the total water and energy used. Scrape off food instead, and use the dishwasher's rinse feature if the dishes will sit before you run it.

Repair or replace a dishwasher?

Q: Should I repair or replace my dishwasher?

If it is under about 7 years old, repair it unless the tub is leaking. If it is past about 7 years and the repair costs more than half the price of a new one installed, replace it. Replace a dishwasher with a leaking or rusted-through tub at any age, because no part fixes it.

A dishwasher that stops cleaning, draining, or filling is often a clogged filter or a $150–$350 part, not a dead machine. The decision turns on three things: how old it is, which part failed, and how the repair quote compares with the price of a new one installed. The failure that usually ends a dishwasher is a leaking or rusted tub.

Check the cheap causes first

Before you book a repair, rule out the things you can fix yourself:

A clogged filter. Many newer dishwashers have a filter under the bottom rack that you twist out and rinse; the manual shows where yours is. A packed filter causes dirty dishes, standing water, and odor.
A kinked or clogged drain hose, or a clogged air gap if your sink has one. If the dishwasher drains through a new garbage disposal, the knockout plug inside the disposal's inlet may never have been removed.
Spray arms blocked by food or hard-water scale. Pull them off and clear the holes.
The water supply. Make sure the shutoff valve under the sink is fully open and the hot water reaches the kitchen sink hot.

Pre-rinsing does not help. ENERGY STAR says rinsing dishes before loading them increases the total water and energy used. Scrape them instead, and use the dishwasher's rinse feature if dishes will sit.

Repair or replace by the part that failed

Usually worth repairing on a dishwasher under about 7 years old:

A drain pump that hums but will not drain once the filter and hose are clear.
A water inlet valve when the dishwasher will not fill, or keeps filling.
A door latch, door gasket, or heating element.
A control board, on a newer or higher-end model.

Usually worth replacing:

A leaking or rusted-through tub. No part fixes it, and a slow leak under a dishwasher rots the subfloor and cabinet base before you see it.
A control board or pump on an older, basic model, where the repair costs close to a new machine.
Repeat failures on the same machine within a year or two.

The age and price test

Most dishwashers last about 9–12 years. If the dishwasher is under about 7 years old, repair it unless the tub is leaking. If it is past about 7 years and the repair costs more than half the price of a new one installed, replace it. If water is reaching the floor, shut off the valve under the sink and stop running it until it is fixed, whichever way you decide.

What it costs in 2026

Service call and diagnosis: $100–$200, often applied to the repair.
Door latch or door gasket: $100–$250.
Water inlet valve or heating element: $150–$300.
Drain pump: $150–$350.
Control board: $250–$500.
New dishwasher, installed: $600–$1,800 for a standard built-in model, including hauling the old one away.

See our methodology for how we build these bands. Installation runs higher when the plumbing, the electrical connection, or the opening has to change.

The bottom line

Clean the filter, check the drain hose, and clear the spray arms first. Repair pumps, valves, latches, and gaskets on a dishwasher under about 7 years old. Replace a dishwasher with a leaking tub at any age, and one past about 7 years when the repair costs more than half the price of a new one installed. A new standard dishwasher is $600–$1,800 installed.