Bosch Dishwasher water at bottom

Common reasons your Bosch Dishwasher water at bottom

The most common reasons your Bosch dishwasher has water at the bottom of the tub include a leaking fill valve, clogged drain hose and a bad drain pump motor.

  • 36%

    36% of the time it's the
    Fill Valve

  • 13%

    13% of the time it's the
    Drain Hose

  • 11%

    11% of the time it's the
    Motor

  • 40%

    40% of the time it's the
    Something else

Schedule your dishwasher repair now!

We can help! Our service technicians have repaired over 2,000 Bosch dishwashers. We can fix yours no matter where you bought it.

Call (646) 440-2692 or schedule online now.
Text (240) 616-1772 to schedule now.

Most common repairs needed to fix a Bosch dishwasher

Fill Valve Replacement

A leaking fill valve will cause your dishwasher to fill up with water at the bottom of the tub. Even a tiny piece of debris that makes it through the inlet fill valve screen and gets stuck in the body of the valve can cause water to seep into the dishwasher tub. If you shut off the water supply cut-off valve for the dishwasher and the tub no longer fills with water, then you can be almost certain that a leaking fill valve is causing the water at the bottom of your Bosch dishwasher. Have a service technician replace the fill valve if it leaks.

Drain Hose Replacement

A clogged or damaged drain hose can cause water to stay at the bottom of the dishwasher tub at the end of the cycle. A buildup of grease and/or debris inside the drain hose can restrict water flow during the drain portion of the cycle to prevent water from fully draining. A pinched, creased or damaged drain hose can cause the same problem. When you find water at the bottom of your Bosch dishwasher tub, schedule dishwasher repair service to have a Sears Home Services technician visit your home and fix the problem.

Motor Replacement

A bad motor on the drain pump will prevent your Bosch dishwasher from draining and will leave water at the bottom of the tub. A faulty drain pump motor may make noise or only run intermittently in the drain portion of the dishwashing cycle. A weak motor may not make noise but it won’t be strong enough to pump out all of the water from the dishwasher tub. If you hear the drain pump running but straining to pump out water, have a service technician examine the pump and replace it if it’s bad.

What to expect when you experience a Bosch dishwasher leaving water at the bottom of the tub

How do you troubleshoot a Bosch dishwasher leaving water at the bottom of the tub?

Fixing most issues causing your Bosch dishwasher to leave water at the bottom of the tub often involves replacing a leaky fill valve, a clogged or damaged drain hose or a bad drain pump motor. However, there are many other potential causes including:

  • Clogged sink drain.
  • Clogged air gap.
  • Bad electronic control board.
  • Wiring failure.

Follow the troubleshooting tips in the owner’s manual for your Bosch dishwasher when it won’t drain properly. If the basic troubleshooting tips in the manual don’t help you fix the draining failure, schedule repair service to have a Sears Home Services technician visit your home and fix the dishwasher.

What are the main causes of draining failures in Bosch dishwashers?

When your Bosch dishwasher leaves water at the bottom of the tub, one of the main causes is a clog in the drain path through the kitchen sink. Sometimes, a garbage disposal that is full of food scraps will prevent the dishwasher from draining. Run the garbage disposal to clear that drain path if the garbage disposal if full of food scraps.

If the kitchen sink drain is clogged, the dishwasher won’t drain. Clear the kitchen sink drain using a plumber’s snake or have a plumber clear the sink drain if it’s clogged.

If your dishwasher has an air gap installed in the path to the kitchen sink drain, check that component for a clog and clear it if necessary.

Grease buildup at the end of the dishwasher drain hose is another leaking cause of water staying at the bottom of a Bosch dishwasher at the end of the cycle. Clear the drain hose if it’s clogged with grease.

What to expect when having a Bosch dishwasher drain problem fixed

When your Bosch dishwasher is not draining properly, expect the technician to first run a test cycle and verify the problem. The tech will then check the basics such as whether the sink drain is clear and whether the garbage disposal is full of food scraps. If you recently replace the garbage disposal with a new one, the technician will check to make sure the installer took out the knock-out plug for the dishwasher drain hose connection on the new garbage disposal. The tech will then check the entire drain path and test the drain pump, electronic control board and wiring to determine the cause of the drain problem and replace any failed parts.

Finding an inch of water at the bottom of your Bosch dishwasher typically signals clogged drains or a pump glitch. Letting it sit can lead to bacteria and unpleasant odors. Look into fix dishwasher near me for block removal or pump repairs. Proper drainage keeps your Bosch fresh and ready for the next load.

What our customers say about us

With more than 1.3 Million 5 Star Reviews, you don't have to take our word for it

Thorough

James called to give an estimated arrival time. He was professional and personable. He had 2 professional ideas of the problem and found 1 was correct, but he didn't stop there. He did a thorough check of the appliance. 1 small part was needed. He ordered the part to my house. Fortunately, he was able to schedule for the next week, just before Thanksgiving. As before, he called ahead, arrived and quickly fixed the problem. My appliance is working perfectly.


Kirsten A, Oxford, PA

Service Call

Luke was great. Polite and knowledgeable even though the dishwasher was older than he!


James G, Hillsboro, MO

Daniel

Daniel went above and beyond to fix my dish washer. Very pleasant to deal with.


Paul F, Hghlnds Ranch, CO

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is water pooling at the bottom of my Bosch dishwasher?
A clogged sink drain or garbage disposer, blocked drain hose, or failing drain pump can lead to standing water. Resolving one of these issues often fixes the drain problem.
How do I remove a clog from the drain hose?
Unplug the dishwasher, disconnect the hose from the sink or garbage disposal connection. Use a soft brush to dislodge trapped particles.
Does a failed drain pump cause water buildup?
Yes. A damaged or worn drain pump can cause water to stay in the sump. Replace the drain pump if it doesn't pump out water when activated.
When should I call a professional for water in the bottom of a Bosch dishwasher?
If clearing the hose and replacing a bad drain pump doesn’t fix a drain problem, a defective control board may not be sending electric current to the drain pump. A technician can perform advanced diagnostics.

Repair Dishwasher Resources

Photo of an open Kenmore dishwasher in white modern kitchen
5 min readMar. 04

If you've ever encountered a dishwasher with standing water, you understand the frustration of a drainage issue.

Simple Steps to Replace a Blocked Dishwasher Spray Arm
6 min readMar. 04

If the dishes in your dishwasher are no longer getting clean, it could be the spray arm is clogged.

7 Common Dishwasher Problems and How to Fix Them
5 min readMar. 04

Many common issues stem from simple misuse.

dishwasher tips
4 min readMar. 04

If your dishwasher is giving you trouble, our experts have crafted a video playlist that offers a wealth of solutions to tackle common issues.

Glossary Terms

Hard water is water that contains high levels of dissolved minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium. It contrasts with soft water, which has lower concentrations of these minerals.

A dryer drum is the main interior component of a clothes dryer where clothes are placed to be dried. It rotates during the drying cycle, allowing heated air to circulate through the clothes.

A heat pump is an energy-efficient device that transfers heat from one place to another, providing heating in the winter and cooling in the summer.

A dryer thermal fuse is a safety device designed to protect a dryer from overheating by cutting off the power if the air temperature exceeds a safe level.