LG dishwasher not draining: check the drain filter and food trap at the bottom of the tub first. Remove and clean under running water. Also check that the drain hose has a high loop under the counter to prevent backflow. Most common cause: drain pump filter clogged with coins, hair ties, or fabric.
Most of the time when I show up for a drainage call on an LG, it's the filter. These pumps are sensitive to tiny stuff in a way that older Whirlpool or Bosch units just aren't. One toothpick, one cherry pit, one hair tie jammed in the impeller and that pump is humming its heart out going nowhere. Ignore it long enough and you'll burn out the motor entirely, and now a $15 cleaning job turns into a $200 repair.
LG dishwashers are pretty vocal when they can't drain. You'll usually get an OE code and the cycle just stops cold to avoid a floor flood. LG's drain logic is tighter than most brands, so even a partial blockage will trip it. I always start by listening for the pump hum because that tells me in about five seconds whether we're dealing with a clog or a dead motor.
Most Likely Causes
Based on aggregated repair data, here is the probability breakdown for this error code:
Drain pump filter clogged with coins, hair ties, or fabric40%
Drain hose kinked or positioned too low24%
Drain pump impeller jammed by a foreign object14%
Standpipe or disposal drain connection blocked12%
Drain pump motor winding burned out10%
Symptoms You May Notice
Standing water sitting in the bottom of the tub after the full cycle finishes, anywhere from a thin film to three inches deep.
OE error code on the display, sometimes flashing, sometimes solid.
A low steady hum coming from the bottom of the machine during the drain portion of the cycle, but the water level doesn't drop at all.
Dishes come out wet and sour-smelling because they sat in dirty standing water the whole time.
Cycle stops mid-run and the door locks up with no error shown. Machine just gives up quietly.
Can you reset a Lg dishwasher to clear the NOT-DRAINING code?
To trigger a forced drain, press and hold the Start button for three seconds until the display clears and shows a one minute countdown. This initiates the Cancel and Drain sequence. If the unit is still unresponsive, flip the circuit breaker for five minutes to clear the control board memory before trying the drain cycle again.
Tools Required for Diagnosis
Phillips #2 screwdriverFlathead screwdriverFlashlightMultimeter (set to ohms)Needle-nose pliersShallow pan or baking dishOld toothbrush or soft cleaning brushShop vac (optional but helpful)
Diagnostic Checklist
Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.
ComponentComponent Under Test
Expected Range10–30 ohms
ConditionIf Open (OL) or infinite, replace component.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to fix an LG dishwasher not draining?
If it's just the filter, you're looking at zero parts cost and about 10 minutes of your time. If a pro comes out for a simple clog, expect a $100 to $125 service call. A drain pump replacement is usually $150 to $300 total including labor. The pump itself runs $50 to $90 depending on the model. Honestly, about half the LG drainage calls I go on are just a packed filter or a missed garbage disposal plug, so don't assume the worst before you check the obvious stuff first.
Is it worth repairing an LG dishwasher that won't drain?
Yeah, almost always. LG builds a solid dishwasher and a drain pump is a pretty minor repair in the grand scheme of things. Even at $200 to $250 for a pump replacement, you're keeping a $700 to $900 machine running. I'd start getting nervous about repair costs if the unit is over 10 years old and you're also seeing tub rust, rack deterioration, or repeated different failures popping up. One drain issue on a mid-age LG? Fix it.
Can I fix LG dishwasher not draining myself?
For sure. The filter cleaning is something literally anyone can do in 10 minutes. The hose and disposal checks are easy too. Even the pump replacement on most LG models isn't that bad because you can access the pump by removing the lower kick plate without pulling the whole unit out of the cabinet. Just have towels ready and a shallow pan to catch the water in the lines. If you're comfortable with basic hand tools and a multimeter, you can handle this start to finish.
Why does my LG dishwasher drain at the start of the cycle but not at the end?
LG runs a pre-drain at the very start of every cycle to clear any water sitting in the sump from last time. If it drains fine then but not at the end, that tells you the pump is actually working. The issue is probably something coming loose during the wash and blocking the pump intake partway through, or the filter just gets packed with food debris from that specific load. Try cleaning the filter and check inside the sump carefully. Run a lightly loaded cycle and see if the pattern changes.
How often should I clean the LG dishwasher drain filter?
Once a month if you run it regularly. LG actually says this in the manual but nobody reads that. Their filter mesh is finer than what most dishwashers use, which is great for cleaning performance but means it clogs up faster than you'd expect. If you're running it daily with full loads and heavy food, honestly do it every couple weeks. Takes about 60 seconds once you know the twist-and-lift move. It's the single best thing you can do to prevent drainage problems before they start.
Same Fix Works on These Brands
Lg shares the same hardware platform with these brands. The diagnosis and repair steps are identical.