Dishwasher Smells or Not Draining: Filters, Hoses, and Seals

What this usually means

Dishwasher smells usually come from the filter, not the dishes. Pull the filter from the floor of the tub, rinse it, and check the spray arm holes for blocked food. Water left in the bottom after a cycle points to the drain hose, the pump, or the connection where the hose meets the disposal or sink drain, and a hose looped too low can let dirty water flow back. Run the hottest cycle the manual allows with the machine empty after cleaning, and leave the door ajar between uses so the tub dries. If water is leaking underneath, stop using it and call, because a leak under a dishwasher damages floors quietly for weeks before it shows. Grease, hard water scale, and food debris build up faster in daily-use family kitchens, so a monthly filter rinse is worth the two minutes.

What to check safely

Do not pour drain cleaner into a dishwasher, and do not run it repeatedly to test a leak. Both make the eventual repair harder and the water damage worse. A photo of where water appears, taken safely, helps the technician bring the right seal or pump first time.

• Note the symptom, when it started, and whether it is getting worse.
• Check filters, hoses, seals, and vents only where you can do so safely, with power or water off where needed.
• Do not open sealed refrigeration pipework or work on live electrics yourself.

Related reading

Dishwasher Repair, Garbage Disposal Repair; appliance repair in Durham Farms.

When to call

If the problem involves water spreading, a gas smell, burning smells, sparks, or food at risk, call (615) 583-1836 right away. For gas, leave and call the utility first. Otherwise, call and describe what you found using the steps above, and we will advise the next step with no form and no pressure. See all appliance services.