The short answer
A Criterion dishwasher that finishes full is nearly always obstructed somewhere between its sump and the kitchen waste, and the pump itself is the least likely part of that path. On this class the usual cause is a filter and sump packed with debris, with the drain hose kinked or crushed behind the machine next to rule out.
What you actually observe
- It drains slowly and finishes with water still in the tub — Partial drainage is a restriction rather than a failure.
- The machine hums at the end of the cycle without draining — Something is being attempted and not achieved.
- NEAR MISS: water on the floor rather than in the tub — That is a leak and it has its own page and its own cause list.
The causes, most likely first on this brand
- A filter and sump packed with debris — Everything the machine washes off collects in the sump, and a filter that has never been cleaned eventually holds enough to stop the pump drawing anything at all. Ranked first on a Criterion unit: a small filter in a contract-built tub fills quickly and is easy to refit unlocked, which lets debris straight into the pump.
- The drain hose kinked or crushed behind the machine — A hose flattened between the machine and the cabinet throttles the pump completely, and it is easily created by pushing a machine back into its housing. Ranked second here: the short drain hose supplied with this brand leaves very little slack under the sink.
- A missing high loop, so the machine siphons or backfills — Ranked third here: these are fitted by buyers as often as by installers, and the high loop is the step most often skipped.
- A blocked sink waste or a full disposer — Ranked fourth here: last, though a slow sink defeats any machine plumbed into it.
Check in this order, and why this order
- Lift the lower basket out and twist the filter assembly free — A filter solid with debris explains both the standing water and the poor results before it.
- Look under the sink and follow the drain hose along its run — A flat section or a tight bend is visible and it explains everything.
- Look at whether the hose rises to the underside of the worktop before it falls — A hose that runs flat or downhill the whole way has no loop and needs one.
What an owner can safely check
- Take the filter out, clear the sump by hand and rinse everything under a hot tap — Refit the filter locked home, because one left loose lets debris straight into the pump.
Tools: brush, hot water, glovesAbout 25 min
- Straighten the hose and support it so it cannot be crushed when the machine is pushed back — Leave a gentle loop rather than a tight bend wherever it turns.
Tools: torchAbout 20 min
- STOP HERE if the next step needs a meter on live terminals or a panel off — That is where an owner check ends and a service call begins.
Before you open anything
Safety
Switch the machine off at its breaker before reaching into the sump, because the heating element in the floor of the tub stays hot long after a cycle and the pump can start under power. Broken glass in a sump is the usual reason people cut their hands on a dishwasher, so wear gloves and use a torch. Scoop standing water out rather than tipping the machine.
When to call a technician
Call once the filter, the sump, the hose and the kitchen waste are all clear and water still stands in the tub, because a jammed or failed pump means the machine pulled out. Call sooner if the machine trips its breaker while trying to drain, since a stalled pump draws heavily. Bear in mind when you decide that this is a retailer house brand built by a contract manufacturer, so parts come through the retailer rather than from a brand service network.
Nearest pages of this class
What this page does not cover
This page covers the Criterion dishwasher as a class, not one family or model line. Pump types, hose routes and filter designs all change from build to build and are deliberately not here. Where a family or model page exists for your machine, it is the more specific answer and the one to read first.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
