After buying a dishwasher, many people notice standing water in the bottom. So they want to know is there supposed to be water in the bottom of the dishwasher.
Often we face standing water even in a brand new dishwasher. So the fact is standing water is not always a bad sign, but often it indicates maintenance.
Let’s know how to identify if the standing water is normal or needs maintenance.
Is there supposed to be water in the bottom of the dishwasher?
Well, if you face one or two cups of leftover water in the bottom of your machine, that is normal.
Dirty water can flow into the dishwasher’s bottom via the sink without an air gap or other issues.
But if the amount of standing water is more than 2 cups, that are not supposed or expected.
So if you face much water in the bottom of the dishwasher, you need to fix it immediately.
How to fix dishwasher with standing water?
If you face above two cups of standing water, that means the dishwasher won’t drain properly. You can try the below steps to easily fix the draining issue to say goodbye to leftover water.
Turn on the disposal
If your disposal is blocked with garbage, it has a high chance of affecting the draining system.
Besides, the air gap can also prevent the water from draining out from the machine.
So you can turn on the disposal to force the stuck food to come out, and it will fix your draining.
Apply vinegar and Baking soda
Take a bowl and pour one cup of baking soda with one cup vinegar. Then mix it perfectly.
Now pour the vinegar and soda mixture into the standing water of the machine. Keep it for 20-30 minutes.
When you notice the standing water is draining, rinse it with hot water. Press the rinse cycle. It will unclog any clog equipment and ensure a smooth draining system.
Hear the noise
When you are washing dishes inside the dishwasher, listen to its noise.
When you hear humming or clicking noise, that indicates the drain pump or motor has some issues. In that case, you should call an expert mechanic to fix these issues.
Find blockages
You can crucially check the bottom part of the dishwasher machine to find out if any waste food or dirt particles are accidentally stuck in the machine and block the water flow.
In that cases, simply remove the food particles to unblock the water flow.
Maintain dish alignment
It is important to load the dishes in the right sequence to avoid water leaks or bottom water.
You can check the user manual to know how to load dishes in the dishwasher to get the best cleaning result without issues.
You should load dishes from the back to front sequence to fit more appliances. The plastics or bowls should place on the top rack to avoid unwanted damage.
Moreover, the unloading should start from the bottom top so that the water drip has no chance to fall on the dry dishes.
Replace the filter
Another common reason that can stop draining is a block filter. When your dishwasher filter is clogged, it prevents the water from draining outside the machine.
First, you can clean the filter. Often it can be clogged due to dirty food particles. That can easily be fixed by regular cleaning.
The dishwasher filter is located on the inside bottom of the dishwasher in most of the models. You can check your user guide to find the exact location of the filter.
But if you notice the filter is damaged, then you should replace it with a new one.
Check the drain hose
A clogged drain hose can also stop the draining system. You can take a piece of wire to inspect the hose.
If it is clogged, you need to clean it. Also, check the hose seal, whether it is tight or loose.
The drain hose is a connection bridge between the sink and garbage disposal. So when it is clogged, the water can’t drain outside the machine. So check the hose carefully.
Inspect the drain valve
A stuck valve can also prevent water from draining outside the machine. So check the drain valve crucially to know whether it is stuck or not.
You can slightly move the valve to ensure whether it is fine or not.
Generally, the drain valve is located in the valve bracket at the bottom of the dishwasher. If you don’t find then search the manual to know the location.
Final Verdict
Hopefully, we can give a detailed answer on is there supposed to be water in the bottom of the dishwasher.
A small amount of bottom water is normal and not a bad sign. But when you are facing a huge amount of leftover water in the bottom of the dishwasher, that can be a bad sign.
There are several reasons behind standing water on the bottom. We try to share all the possible issues and their solutions. So that you can easily find out your problems and fix them.
These simple steps not only solve draining issues but also ensure superior cleaning power and the long durability of your machine.
