Sharp 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 Sharp fault codes that point at this

A Sharp 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:

• F00 — The dishwasher has sensed more water inside than it should have, and has shut the cycle down to stop it spilling out.
• F01 — The dishwasher has detected water where it shouldn't be — a leak or an overflow — and has shut itself down to stop the flooding.
• F02 — The dishwasher has tried to pump the water out and failed to empty within the time it allows, so it has stopped with water still in the bottom.
• F03 — The dishwasher has taken in more water than it should and has shut the cycle down to stop it overfilling.
• F05 — The dishwasher has spotted water still coming in when it should have stopped filling, so it has halted the programme and it wants the tap turned off.
• F08 — The dishwasher has decided the water heating isn't working as it should, so it has stopped the programme rather than carry on washing cold.

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 Sharp 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 Sharp 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 Sharp 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 Sharp error codes mean not draining?

Sharp dishwashers report this through their own fault codes. The ones that point at not draining are F00, F01, F02, F03, F05, F08. 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 Sharp 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 Sharp 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 Sharp repairs page.