Electrolux dishwasher not draining

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 Electrolux fault codes that point at this

A Electrolux 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:

• E01 — The dishwasher hasn't taken in enough water in the time it expects, so it has abandoned the cycle.
• F00 — The dishwasher has picked up water where there shouldn't be any he it stops rather than carry on filling.
• F01 — The dishwasher has detected water where it shouldn't be — either a leak inside the machine or the tub being overfilled — and has shut the cycle down to protect itself.
• F02 — The dishwasher has tried to pump the water out and hasn't managed it in the time allowed, so it has halted with water still in the bottom.
• F03 — The dishwasher isn't seeing water flow through it when it tries to fill, so it stops the programme.
• F04 — The dishwasher isn't seeing water flow into the machine, so it has halted rather than run a cycle dry.

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 Electrolux 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

1. Bail out the standing water, then lift out the filter assembly and clean it thoroughly
2. Check the sump underneath the filter for glass, labels and debris
3. Check the sink trap the dishwasher drains into — clearing that alone fixes a good share of these
4. If a sink or waste disposal was fitted recently, check the blanking plug was knocked out of the spigot

Common questions

Why is my Electrolux 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 Electrolux 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 Electrolux error codes mean not draining?

Electrolux dishwashers report this through their own fault codes. The ones that point at not draining are E01, F00, F01, F02, F03, F04. 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 Electrolux 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 Electrolux 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

Repairs we cover near you

• Dishwasher Repairs — what we charge and how it works
• Dishwasher Repairs in Nottingham
• Dishwasher Repairs in Arnold
• Dishwasher Repairs in Beeston
• Dishwasher Repairs in West Bridgford

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs from our own repair notes. See also our general guide to dishwashers not draining and our Electrolux repairs page.