What is actually happening
A dishwasher drains through a filter, a pump, and then a hose that usually loops up and into the sink waste. Standing water almost always means a blockage in that path rather than a failed part — food debris in the filter and a blocked sink trap between them account for most of it. The one to check first is whether a new sink or waste disposal has been fitted, because the blanking plug in a new waste spigot is a classic.
The AEG fault codes that point at this
A AEG dishwasher will usually tell you what it thinks is wrong before anyone opens it up. These are the codes we hold for this make that relate to not draining:
- E04 — The dishwasher has detected water where it shouldn't be — in the base of the machine — and has shut itself down to stop a flood.
- E20 — The dishwasher can't get the water out of the tub, so it has stopped and is waiting for the drain problem to be sorted.
If yours is showing one of those, that is a much shorter conversation than a general fault — tell us the code when you book and the engineer can often carry the part.
The usual causes on a AEG dishwasher
- A clogged filter and sump at the bottom of the machine
- A blocked or kinked drain hose, or a blocked sink trap where it connects
- A blanking plug left in the sink waste spigot after a new sink or disposal unit was fitted
- A failed drain pump, or one jammed with a piece of glass or a label
- A drain hose fitted without a high loop, letting waste water siphon back
What you can safely check yourself
- Bail out the standing water, then lift out the filter assembly and clean it thoroughly
- Check the sump underneath the filter for glass, labels and debris
- Check the sink trap the dishwasher drains into — clearing that alone fixes a good share of these
- If a sink or waste disposal was fitted recently, check the blanking plug was knocked out of the spigot
Still not draining?
If the checks above have not sorted it, it needs looking at properly. £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
Our engineers work on AEG machines week in, week out, so they arrive knowing the machine rather than reading the back of it. Local engineers across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.
Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need
Common questions
Why is my AEG dishwasher not draining?
The cycle ends with dirty water standing in the bottom of the machine. A dishwasher drains through a filter, a pump, and then a hose that usually loops up and into the sink waste. Standing water almost always means a blockage in that path rather than a failed part — food debris in the filter and a blocked sink trap between them account for most of it. The one to check first is whether a new sink or waste disposal has been fitted, because the blanking plug in a new waste spigot is a classic.
Can I fix a AEG dishwasher not draining myself?
Bail out the standing water, then lift out the filter assembly and clean it thoroughly. Check the sump underneath the filter for glass, labels and debris. Check the sink trap the dishwasher drains into — clearing that alone fixes a good share of these. If a sink or waste disposal was fitted recently, check the blanking plug was knocked out of the spigot. Those checks fix it more often than not.
What AEG error codes mean not draining?
AEG dishwashers report this through their own fault codes. The ones that point at not draining are E04, E20. If your machine is showing one of those, that narrows it down considerably — each has its own guide on this site.
How much does a AEG dishwasher repair cost?
£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
Other AEG dishwasher faults
- dishwasher will not switch on
- dishwasher not cleaning the dishes
- dishwasher not drying the dishes
- dishwasher leaking
- dishwasher not heating the water
- dishwasher lights flashing