Fisher & Paykel Dishwasher Not Draining
When a Fisher & Paykel dishwasher leaves water in the tub, the cause is usually a blocked filter, a kinked drain hose or a clogged sink drain, and less often the drain pump itself. On DishDrawer models, start with one question: is it one drawer or both? Each drawer has its own pump, so if both hold water at the same time the problem is almost always downstream, in the sink drain, the garbage disposal or the drain line.
- What it means
- Water is not leaving the dishwasher at the end of the cycle
- Check first
- The filter, the drain hose under the sink, and the sink or disposal
- Drawer models
- One drawer or both? Both usually means the kitchen drain
- When it is the pump
- It hums but no water moves, or debris is jammed at the impeller
- Error code
- On many models A3 signals a drain fault. F1 is a different problem: water in the base
- Labour
- From $180
- Parts
- Priced after the diagnosis, before any work starts
- Diagnostic visit
- $79, waived when you go ahead with the repair
- Where we see it
- A regular call for us in Toronto, North York, York, East York, Etobicoke and Mississauga
Why is my Fisher & Paykel dishwasher not draining?
At the end of each wash the pump pushes the water out through the filter, along the drain hose and into your sink drain or garbage disposal. A blockage anywhere on that path leaves water behind: food and grease in the filter, a kink in the hose, a clogged sink, or debris such as broken glass or bones jammed at the pump.
On a DishDrawer the quickest way to narrow it down is to compare the two drawers. They share the kitchen drain but not the pump, so a problem in both points away from the dishwasher itself.
What stops a Fisher & Paykel dishwasher from draining?
| Cause | What you notice | What fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Blocked filter | Dirty water left in the tub; food around the filter | Removing and rinsing the filter |
| Clogged sink drain or disposal | The sink drains slowly too; on a drawer model, both drawers hold water | Clearing the sink drain or disposal |
| New disposal, plug still in | Never drained properly since the disposal was installed | Removing the disposal's knockout plug |
| Kinked or blocked drain hose | Started after something was moved under the sink | Straightening or clearing the hose |
| Debris at the pump | The pump hums but the water does not move | Removing the debris and checking the impeller |
| Failed drain pump | No pump sound at all, or a hum with nothing jammed | Replacing the pump |
How to get a Fisher & Paykel dishwasher draining again yourself
- Run the sink tap. If the sink drains slowly, clear it first, and run the garbage disposal if you have one.
- On a DishDrawer, check one drawer against the other. If both hold water, go straight to the kitchen drain.
- Clean the filter, but only once the water is out. Let the cycle finish or cancel it so the dishwasher drains as far as it can, then remove and rinse the filter. Taking it out while dirty water is still inside can wash debris into the pump.
- Look at the drain hose under the sink. A kink from a stored bin or box is enough to stop the water.
Do not pour drain cleaner into the dishwasher. It can damage seals and plastic parts, and it will not reach a blockage at the pump.
Call a technician if the pump hums but nothing moves, if the dishwasher keeps holding water with a clean filter, or if you find water underneath it: that is a leak, often shown as F1, and the dishwasher should not be run until it is checked.
What we see on Fisher & Paykel dishwasher drain calls
- Where
- Toronto, North York, York, East York, Etobicoke and Mississauga
- Machine
- Fisher & Paykel dishwashers, including DishDrawer models
- How often
- One of the most common Fisher & Paykel calls we get
- Technician
- Andrew, appliance repair technician, 4+ years in the field
“With a Fisher & Paykel dishwasher that won't drain, I check the sink first. On a drawer model I open both drawers: if both are holding water, the problem is the drain, not the dishwasher.”— Andrew, our technician on these calls
Do you fix Fisher & Paykel dishwashers in my area?
Yes. We see Fisher & Paykel dishwashers that won't drain regularly in Toronto, North York, York, East York, Etobicoke and Mississauga, and we repair Fisher & Paykel dishwashers across the rest of the GTA and Simcoe County: 29 areas, same day in most of them, seven days a week, with no travel surcharge.
Questions we get about Fisher & Paykel dishwashers that won't drain
Why is there water in the bottom of my Fisher & Paykel dishwasher?
Most often the filter is blocked, the drain hose is kinked, or the kitchen drain the dishwasher empties into is clogged. If the pump hums but no water moves, debris is jammed at the pump or the pump has failed.
Both drawers of my DishDrawer won't drain. Is it the pump?
Probably not. Each drawer has its own pump, so when both hold water at the same time the problem is usually something they share: the sink drain, the garbage disposal or the drain line.
Can I clean the Fisher & Paykel dishwasher filter myself?
Yes. Let the cycle finish or cancel it so the water drains first, then remove and rinse the filter. Taking the filter out while dirty water is still inside can let debris into the pump.
How much does it cost to fix a Fisher & Paykel dishwasher that won't drain?
Labour starts at $180. The part depends on what the diagnosis finds, so we price it once we know what failed. The $79 diagnostic is waived when you go ahead.