Whirlpool Dishwasher Not Draining At The End Of The Cycle
There is no doubt that the whirlpool dishwasher is one of the best and top performing machines in the market.
As I use the whirlpool, I know it is super convenient and a time saver.
But the common issue you may face is the whirlpool dishwasher not draining at the end of the cycle. So you must want to know the reason and solution to these problems.
According to my experience, I am going to share some easy troubleshooting tricks to solve these issues.
So, let’s dive into the article to save mechanic costs and enhance your dishwasher durability.
Why is the Whirlpool dishwasher not draining at the end of the cycle?

Numerous reasons can impede your dishwasher draining system. To get the best solution, it is important to find out the exact reason behind the draining error.
After in-depth research and user experience, I am attaching some common reasons that are responsible for impeding drainage.
- Drain pump is not working
- Broken Impeller
- Clogged Drain Valve
- Block Garbage disposal
- Broken drain hose
- Incomplete cycle
- Damage solenoid kit
- Air gap
1. Whirlpool dishwasher drain pump is not working
Your dishwasher can’t drain at the end of the cycle if the drain pump is not working. You will notice standing water in your dishwasher if the pump is not okay.
The drain pump contains an impeller to pass water via the drain hose. So, if it won’t work, water can’t pass anywhere.
The dishwasher drain pump can break when you put glass into the dishwasher.
Accidentally the glass can be broken inside the dishwasher, and entering a small piece of glass into the drain pump can break the drain pump.
So when you wash glass, you should be careful and take out all the pieces from the machine. Otherwise, it can create a disaster.
Solution
- Remove the underneath base plate using a screwdriver and turn off the anti-flood switch.
- Now you will find the drain pump.
- Detach the wire connection to remove the drain pump from the machine.
- Use the screws and twist the drain pump to bring it out.
- Rotate the impeller to check whether it is moving like usual.
- Then take resistance readings across the terminal to confirm whether it is dead or fine.
If the power continuity is fine and still the pump is not working, then you need to change the drain pump.
A functional drain pump is a must to ensure flawless draining at the end of every cycle.
2. Broken Impeller
If you find the drain pump is fine, yet you are facing draining issues, then the most probable cause is a broken impeller.

Earlier I mentioned drain impeller is responsible for passing the water via the drain hose.
When the impeller is broken or leaks, it fails to force water to pass. As a result, the grimy water will stand in the dishwasher deck.
Solution
- You need to replace the drain impeller.
3. Clogged Drain Valve
Whirlpool dishwasher draining can also interrupts due to a block drain valve. We use dishwashers to save our time and reduce cleaning hassle.
So, we don’t want to remove food particles, debris before placing the dishes into the machine.
As a result, the debris and food particles clogged the drain valve. So the dishwasher can’t drain through the valve and drain hose.
Solution
- You need to wash the drain valve to keep the hose clean and clear
- Mix baking soda and vinegar to pour it into the dishwasher basket
- Keep it for 15-20 minutes
- Then wash the drain valve with boiling water
It not only unclogs the drain valve but also boosts your dishwasher performance. So, you should give time to remove all the food particles from the drain valve.
To unclog a dishwasher filter, you can also remove the filter basket from the dishwasher.
- Then use wire to bring out debris and food particle from the filter
- Sink the filter basket in a mixture of warm water and detergents
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Now you will find a clean and clear filter. It is also a good trick to unclog the whirlpool dishwasher.
But if you don’t find any debris on the valve yet, it is not working, which means the valve is damaged. In that case, you should change the drain valve to a new one.
4. Block Garbage disposal
Your whirlpool dishwasher is unable to drain properly because of a block garbage disposal.
When you notice standing water after cleaning dishes, that means the garbage disposal may have some problems.

Solution
- Unplug the disposal
- Take an Allen wrench to clear out dirt and grime from the garbage disposal
- Detach the drain hose and clean the nearby fittings of the disposer and hose.
It will unclog your garbage disposal, and hopefully, your machine will be smoothly able to drain.
5. Broken drain hose
If your drain hose is broken or damaged, it also interrupts the draining system. So check the drain hose carefully to find out leaks or pinch.
Solution
- Replace the drain hose
6. Incomplete cycle
If your machine goes through a partial wash cycle, that can stop draining. Somehow your wash cycle is interrupted.
To cross-check the fact, lock the door again and press the wash cycle again. It can solve the issues.
Wrong installation of garbage disposal
If you install garbage disposal inappropriately, that also can affect drainage.
Solution
- Check whether you remove the knockout plug or not. If it is not removed, then the dishwasher can’t drain.
- Check the drain hose and garbage disposal connection.
7. Damage solenoid kit
The solenoid kit is situated near the draining valve. It helps the valve to force dirty water to pass out from the dishwasher.

Often the solenoid kits are damaged that stops the valve opening. As a result, water is standing in the dishwasher, and the draining is not working anymore.
Solution
- Change the solenoid kit
8. Air gap
The air gap is another vital reason that can create problems in draining. It allows air that makes a vacuum which hampers the draining system.
Solution
- Look at the air gap and vents to find out any clogs or blockage.
FAQs
Why does a whirlpool dishwasher have standing water?
You can notice standing water in the whirlpool when the dishwasher drainage system is clogged or interrupted for any other reason.
So, check the dishwasher to ensure a flawless drainage system.
How do you force a dishwasher to drain?
You need to clean the draining valve and check the draining hose crucially.
If it is damaged, then change the drain valve or filter to force a dishwasher to drain perfectly.
How can I test my dishwasher drain pump?
First, take out the drain pump from the dishwasher. Then check the pump using a multimeter on Rx1 mode.
If the power is fine, that means the drain pump is okay.
Final Thought
Luckily, there are lots of DIY troubleshooting ideas to fix dishwasher draining problems.
I am trying to cover all the possible reasons behind the whirlpool dishwasher not draining at the end of the cycle and also share the most effective solution.
According to your machine problems, apply the right tricks to avoid professional technician costs.
You can see troubleshooting a dishwasher with draining errors is effortless and fun.
So why waste money to call a technician for this simple task? It is better to do the primary treatment at home.
If it is not fixed after applying all the possible tricks, then you can take help from professionals.