Maytag Dishwasher Not Draining: Causes and Fixes

Quick Answer

Maytag 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.

Standing water at the bottom of your Maytag isn't just a mess, it's often a sign that the check valve has perished or the chopper blade is jammed. In the field, I find that if the motor hums but nothing moves, a stray toothpick is likely wedged in the impeller. Ignoring this can lead to nasty odors or a flooded kitchen floor if the cycle continues.

MaytagDishwasherSeverity: moderateDifficulty: intermediate75% DIY Success

Time to Fix

15–90 min

Difficulty

intermediate

Parts Cost

$0 (no parts needed)

Tools Needed

Phillips #2 screwdriver, Flathead screwdriver

Maytag Dishwasher Not Draining: Causes and Fixes

Before you tear the pump apart, we need to rule out your garbage disposal. I've lost count of how many service calls end with me just clearing a clog in the sink drain or the plastic knockout plug in a new disposal. If your sink is draining fine, then we focus on the Maytag internal check valve and the solenoid.

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

An inch or two of standing water just sitting in the bottom of the tub when you open the door after the cycle ends. Sometimes there's food floating in it. Not a great smell, either.
Dishes coming out wet and grimy even though you heard the machine run through a full cycle, which tells you the rinse water never left.
A loud hum or buzz during the drain portion of the cycle but nothing's actually moving out of the tub. Motor's running, water's going nowhere.
Gurgling or bubbling sounds from the sink drain right when the dishwasher is trying to empty, which usually points to a drain hose loop issue or a partially blocked disposal connection.
The cycle seems to run way longer than usual, or the machine seems stuck in the same phase for 20 or 30 minutes before giving up.

Can you reset a Maytag dishwasher to clear the NOT-DRAINING code?

To clear a glitchy drain command, try a hard power reset by flipping the breaker for five minutes. For a control reset on most modern Maytag units, press any three keys in a 1-2-3 sequence three times in a row. This forces the control board to reboot and should initiate a short drain cycle to clear the tub.

Tools Required for Diagnosis

Phillips #2 screwdriverFlathead screwdriverMultimeter set to ohmsShop vac or turkey baster to remove standing waterFlashlight or headlampRubber glovesNeedle-nose pliersSmall stiff brush for cleaning the filter screen

Diagnostic Checklist

Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.

ComponentComponent Under Test

Expected Range15–30 ohms

ConditionIf Open (OL) or infinite, replace component.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to fix a Maytag dishwasher not draining?

If you're calling a pro like me, expect to pay between $150 and $350. A genuine Maytag drain pump usually runs $60 to $120, and labor is the rest. If it's just a clogged hose or a stray toothpick in the impeller, I usually charge a flat service fee. It's one of the more affordable repairs compared to a control board or a main wash motor.

Is it worth repairing a Maytag dishwasher not draining?

Maytag units are built like tanks, especially the ones with the 10-year parts warranty on the racks and motor. If your machine is under ten years old, fixing a drainage issue is almost always worth it. These pumps are easy to swap. But if the tub is leaking or the control panel is unresponsive on top of the drain issue, then yeah, you might start pricing new models instead.

Can I fix Maytag dishwasher not draining myself?

Absolutely. This is a classic Saturday morning project. Most drainage issues are just physical blockages. If you can use a screwdriver and aren't afraid of a little dirty water, you can save yourself a $200 service call. Just keep a shop vac handy to suck the standing water out of the tub before you start pulling hoses, or you'll have a wet kitchen floor and a bad afternoon.

Why does my Maytag dishwasher drain mid-cycle but not at the end?

That's a pretty telling symptom, actually. If it drains fine during the wash-to-rinse transition but leaves water sitting at the very end, the check valve is probably the culprit. It works okay when the pump is running hard but fails to release correctly once the pump shuts off. Also worth doing a hard reset first to rule out a control board glitch cutting the final drain short. If the reset doesn't fix it, replace the check valve. Part runs about $15 to $25 and takes maybe 20 minutes to swap out.

How do I know if it's the pump that's bad or just a clog?

Listen to it. If you hear the motor humming or buzzing during the drain cycle but no water's moving, that's almost always a physical blockage in the filter, the impeller, or the hose. If you hear absolutely nothing when the drain cycle should be running, or the motor makes a grinding noise and quits, that's a failed pump. Run the multimeter test in step 3 above. Fifteen to thirty ohms means the motor's electrically fine and you've got a blockage somewhere. Open circuit means replace the pump, part number W10348269 fits a bunch of the MDB series models.

Same Fix Works on These Brands

Maytag shares the same hardware platform with these brands. The diagnosis and repair steps are identical.

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Models Known to Experience NOT-DRAINING Errors

This repair applies to most Maytag dishwashers with this error code. Common model numbers include:

MDB4949SKZ, MDB7959SKZ, MDB8959SKZ, MDB8959SFZ, MDB9959SKZ, MDBH949PAM3, MDB8959SAB0

Written by

Mike Sullivan

Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 20 years experience

Last verified for technical accuracy on March 15, 2026