You open your LG dishwasher after a cycle, expecting clean and dry dishes. Instead, you find water pooled at the bottom and soggy plates staring back at you. Sound familiar? If you’re in Ottawa and your LG dishwasher isn’t draining properly, you’re far from alone.
At Express Appliance Repair Ottawa, we’ve seen this issue come up time and time again with LG dishwashers. While it might seem like a major problem, in most cases it’s something that can be diagnosed and sometimes fixed with a few simple steps. Here’s everything you need to know.
Why Isn’t My LG Dishwasher Draining?
There are a few key parts inside your dishwasher responsible for draining water. When one of them clogs, malfunctions, or fails altogether, your dishwasher won’t be able to pump water out at the end of the cycle.
Let’s walk through the most common causes of this issue:
1. Clogged Filter or Drain Basket
Food particles, grease, and debris build up in your dishwasher’s filter over time. If it’s not cleaned regularly, it blocks water from exiting the tub.
DIY Fix:
- Remove the bottom rack.
- Unscrew and take out the cylindrical filter and mesh screen.
- Rinse under warm water and scrub off any stuck-on food.
- Clean the area underneath the filter as well.
2. Drain Hose Blockage or Kink
The drain hose is the pipe that carries dirty water from the dishwasher to the sink’s drainage. It can become clogged or kinked, which blocks water flow.
DIY Fix:
- Check behind your dishwasher or under the sink.
- Look for kinks or bends in the hose.
- If comfortable, disconnect the hose and flush it with water to check for blockages.
Pro tip: Gunk and old detergent can build up inside the hose over time even if water is draining slowly, it might not be draining fully.
3. Garbage Disposal Plug Still In (New Installations)
If your LG dishwasher is newly installed or recently reconnected to a new garbage disposal, there’s a small plastic plug inside the disposal that needs to be removed. If not, water has nowhere to go.
DIY Check:
- Turn off power to the dishwasher.
- Disconnect the hose from the garbage disposal and look inside the nozzle.
- If you see a solid plug, that’s your problem. Knock it out gently and reattach.
4. Faulty Drain Pump or Impeller
The drain pump uses an impeller to push dirty water out of the dishwasher. If the pump motor is bad or the impeller is jammed, water won’t drain properly or at all.
Signs of pump failure:
- Humming but no draining
- Water left in tub even after multiple cycles
- Error codes like OE (common in LG models)
This is where we come in. Replacing a drain pump is a job for a licensed technician. We carry LG-compatible parts and can get it sorted the same day in most Ottawa locations.
5. Clogged Air Gap or High Loop Missing
Some LG dishwasher setups have an air gap installed on the sink or counter. It prevents backflow but can become clogged.
DIY Fix:
- Remove the air gap cap (usually a chrome dome near the faucet).
- Check for debris or gunk blocking the opening.
- Rinse thoroughly.
If your system doesn’t use an air gap, it should have a high loop in the drain hose to prevent backflow otherwise dirty water from the sink can flow back into your dishwasher.
6. Control Board or Sensor Malfunction
Some newer LG dishwashers have sensors that detect water levels. If these fail, your unit might think it has already drained when it hasn’t.
You might also see random error codes or hear the dishwasher “think” it’s running a drain cycle without actually pumping any water out.
DIY Check: Not easy to diagnose without tools. If your filter and hose are clean but water’s still sitting in the tub, it’s time to book an expert.
We get it – the dishwasher still runs. But if water is pooling at the bottom, you’re risking:
- Mold growth inside the tub
- Rust or water damage under the appliance
- Poor cleaning from dirty rinse water
- Burnt-out motor trying to pump against a blockage
Don’t let it turn into a bigger problem. Address it early.
How to Prevent Drainage Issues in the Future
- Clean your filter once a week if you run daily cycles
- Rinse large food scraps off dishes
- Run hot water before starting the dishwasher
- Use quality detergent not too much, not too little
- Schedule professional maintenance once a year
We specialize in LG appliance repairs in Ottawa and we’ve handled every issue from clogs to full pump replacements.
We offer:
- Same-day service with no extra fee
- Fully trained and licensed techs
- Honest pricing and real answers
- Repairs backed by satisfaction guarantee
We work across Ottawa and surrounding suburbs whether you’re in Nepean, Kanata, Orleans, or downtown. Call (613) 454-5355 or book your repair online.