I’ve had my Bosch dishwasher fail to drain twice. And in those two counts, all I ever did was to fix the issue myself.
So if you have Bosch dishwasher not draining at end of cycle problem, this guide will help you fix the issue, so you can have your dishwasher running well again.
Your Bosch dishwasher isn’t draining at the end of the cycle because the drain hose is blocked or kinked. It’s also possible that the drain bulb is faulty or the garbage disposal has clogs. Using the wrong detergent can also cause the dishwasher to fail to drain properly.
I’ve had a Bosch dishwasher in my kitchen for well over 24 months. And I can tell you from experience that I have had to deal with all these issues myself.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last two years, it’s that you don’t need a professional technician to come and help if your Bosch dishwasher won’t drain.
Keep reading this guide to learn how to fix a Bosch dishwasher that won’t drain at the end of a wash cycle.
7 Reasons Why Bosch Dishwasher Won’t Drain at End of Cycle (Plus Quick Fix)
The table below is a summary for Bosch dishwasher not draining at the end of cycle. I also include a quick DIY solution to help you fix the problem.
| Problem | Quick DIY Fix | |
| 1. | Kinked or clogged drain hose | Clean the drain pipe to ensure that it is clear of any obstructions or clogs |
| 2. | Faulty drain pump | Replace the current drain pump with a new one |
| 3. | Faulty drain valve | Remove the drain valve’s cover and use a wrench clear residue that may have accumulated on the drain valve |
| 4. | Clogged garbage disposal | Leave the tap running and let the garbage disposal run for an extra 15 seconds to remove food particles from beneath. |
| 5. | Dirty air gap | Clean the air gap with water and a brush, and then put it back in the dishwasher. |
| 6. | Faulty timer | Check the timer for continuity and replace if fails the continuity test |
| 7. | Use of wrong detergent | Clear the remaining water in the dishwasher’s tub and run the cycle once with the right detergent. |
1. Kinked or Clogged Drain Hose
Sometimes your Bosch dishwasher will fail to drain properly, and that’s because the drain hose has an obstruction or kink. A kinked or blocked drain hose indicates that the water supply to your Bosch dishwasher is insufficient to clean all of the dishes.
If your Bosch dishwasher’s drain is not working, check if the pipe has any obstructions in it. Manually unkink or straighten up the hose so that water flows freely.
Check the drain pipe to ensure that it is clear of any obstructions or clogs. Take it apart from your dishwasher and give it a good blowing. Additionally, use a long wire of a coat hanger to push our available dirt.
Inspect the water supply line to be sure it doesn’t have any kinks or twists, since these might prevent water from flowing out of the unit. Also, make sure that you firmly latch the seal valve so that the unit resumes proper operation.
2. The Drain Pump Might be Faulty
Every dishwasher requires drainage to complete a cycle. Most employ a single engine to power two distinct pumps, one for water circulation and the other for water drainage.
Some dishwashers include a separate pump for draining, although the main circulation pump might help others by means of a solenoid or flapper valve.
If your Bosh dishwasher has a distinct drain unit, verify that the pump is receiving electricity during the emptying process. Also, check whether the control signals of the pump have an obstruction.
Examine the drain impeller for damage and replace if required. For replacement, get a dishwasher drain pump motor that fits your Bosch model, so you don’t have to waste time and money because you bought a component at random.
Also, it’s important to ensure the impeller rotates freely without binding.
Verify that the dishwasher’s motor is operating in the correct direction. Use a multimeter to check if electrical energy transmits to that channel if the motor is not working at all. If this wire is not receiving power, check for faulty door switch or an electronic control board, which may not be sending current through these wires.
If the dishwasher is creating a loud buzzing sound, the motor may have seized or the drain impellor clogged. If this occurs, you will either need to replace just the motor or the entire motor and pump system.
Related: Bosch Dishwasher Unable to Start a Wash Cycle
3. Your Bosch Dishwasher’s Drain Valve is Faulty
If you’ve ever been curious about inspecting these units, you’ll notice that any dishwasher with a bracket has a drain valve attached to it.
Your Bosch dishwasher is one of the options that includes has a drain valve, which keeps water from returning to the dishwasher.
Drain valves are unlike most other household components. They are one-way valves that allow water to flow out of the plumbing system when necessary, but they only open when there is sufficient pressure behind them and no debris is blocking their path.
So if your Bosch dishwasher won’t drain, it might be that the drain valve is faulty.
To ensure that this function continues as smoothly as possible, remove the drain valve’s cover and use an Allen wrench to remove any residue or grease that may have accumulated on the drain valve over time.
If you’re still not able to activate the drain valve after a thorough cleaning, replace it.
4. You Have a Clogged Garbage Disposal
If your garbage disposal is not functioning at all, it may be because of an obstruction from behind. This can occur if you place food waste, such as uneaten chicken bones, in an unrinsed container before disposal, or if you pour excessive grease down the drain.
The drain tube from your dishwasher empties into your garbage disposal. If you leave food particles in the sink or if grease accumulates in the drainpipe below it, your Bosch dishwasher won’t drain.
To prevent blockages, leave the tap running and let the garbage disposal run for an extra 15 seconds. Doing so should remove food particles from beneath the disposal.
5. Your Bosch Dishwasher’s Air Gap is Dirty
Water can pool in your dishwasher if the air gap at the top of your sink isn’t clear. So it’s important to clean the steel cylinders of obstruction in the air gap, which connects to the drain hose.
To remove the cap and clear the air gap, turn the screw counterclockwise. Clean the air gap with water and a brush, and then put it in the dishwasher. This should stop your dishwasher from overflowing with water.
Also Read: Bosch Dishwasher Stops Minutes After Starting
6. The Timer May Be Faulty
Some Bosch dishwashers have a mechanical timer that regulate not just the motor of the primary pump but also the drain solenoid.
The timer is on the control panel, located at the top of the door of the dishwasher. In the event that the timer is broken, you will face the problem of the Bosch dishwasher failing to drain.
Use a multimeter to test the timer, and if it does not pass the continuity test, you should replace it.
7. You Used the Wrong Detergent
Perhaps one of the most common mistakes that many people make is to use the wrong type of detergent when washing dishes.
So if everything else is in the best condition, but your Bosch dishwasher still can’t drain, there’ a high chance you used the wrong type of detergent.
Here’s the deal:
Bosch designs its dishwashers such that they function with detergents that don’t produce suds. It is all too simple to pour conventional dishwashing soap into a dishwasher, but that can result in suds that clog the drain if the soap is left in there for an extended period.
It is possible for the same issue to arise even if you switch to using laundry detergent in the automatic dishwasher because you ran out of dishwashing detergent.
To resolve this issue, first ensure that there is no remaining water in the tub of the dishwasher, and then run the cycle once more while using the appropriate detergent.
How Do You Reset a Bosch Dishwasher Drain?
You can reset the Bosch dishwasher to drain with the help of the control panel or do a manual reset.
1. Reset the Drain with the Control Panel
Using the control panel is one of the options you can use to reset the dishwasher’s drain. Here’s how to do this:
- With the door of the unit still closed, hold down the start button until the green light goes out. Some models have “Cancel” or “Drain” button, which you can press for about 5 seconds to get the same effect.
- Wait for at least 15 minutes for the water to cool and drain completely before you open the door.
- After the unit cools, move the front panel to access the drain hose, which runs from the sink to the dishwasher’s bottom.
- Check the drain hose for kinks and straighten it if any. Also, remove the clogs from the hose by running the hose underwater or using a strong wire to remove the dirt and debris.
- Return the hose in position, making sure you camp it tightly.
What you have left to do is to clear the error codes if there are any still appearing on the control panel. Restart the unit by running a new wash cycle.
2. Resetting the Dishwasher Drain Manually
You can also do a manual reset for the drain if you have your Bosch dishwasher not draining at the end of the cycle.
To do this:
- Unplug the unit from the power source to clear stored settings and reset the machine. Or you can reset the circuit breaker from your home’s circuit breaker box.
- Wait 2 to 4 minutes for the unit to reset.
- Check the control panel for any error and, if there’s none displayed, press the “Drain” or “Start” cycle to clear water that may be remaining at the bottom of the tub.
If you notice that the water won’t clear, there’s a high chance the unit’s drain pump is faulty and needs a replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Do I Force Bosch Dishwasher to Drain?
You can force your Bosch dishwasher to drain by resetting the unit from the control panel or by unplugging the entire dishwasher from the power source.
2. Why Doesn’t My Bosch Dishwasher Drain at the end of the Cycle?
Your Bosch dishwasher may fail to drain at the end of a wash cycle because of blogs in the water filter, drain hose, air gap, drain hose, or garbage disposal.
Inspect these components and clear the clogs as needed to solve the problem.
Conclusion
I hope this guide helps you to solve the Bosch dishwasher not draining at the end of cycle problem so that you can get your unit running effectively again.