The short answer
A Crosley CDBEH dishwasher that will not drain is blocked far more often than it is broken, and on this family — the widest Crosley dishwasher line here — the first step is to establish which series you have, because that decides whether the filter is something you are meant to lift out. After that the list is the same on all of them: filter, hose, air gap, disposer connection, pump.
What you observe
- Standing water in the sump at the end of every cycle — Filter, hose, air gap or pump.
- Has never drained since it was installed — An installation fault: on a disposer connection, usually the knockout plug.
- Water rises into the sink when the machine drains — The shared drain rather than the appliance.
- Drains slowly, dishes filmed — A partial restriction that will become a complete one.
- NEAR MISS — a little clean water always in the sump — Normal on most machines: it keeps the pump seal wet.
Causes, most likely first on this family
- Filter or sump debris — First on the series where the filter is owner-removable, and the commonest cause on a machine that used to drain normally.
- Disposer knockout plug never removed — Second, and the whole answer whenever the machine has never drained since installation.
- Drain hose kinked or fitted without a high loop — Third: without the loop the sink drains back into the tub between cycles.
- Air gap blocked — Fourth, where one is fitted: it catches the same debris the filter does.
- Drain pump jammed or failed — Last, and not worth costing until the rest is clear.
Check in this order, and why
- Read the plate and establish what maintenance your series allows — It decides whether the first check below is available to you at all.
- Lift and clean the filter, if yours has one — The highest-yield owner check on this family.
- Check the hose loop, kinks and the air gap — All visible from the cupboard under the sink.
- Test the sink drain with the hose disconnected — Left until last, and it separates the house plumbing from the machine outright.
Before you open anything
Safety
Switch off the dishwasher at its breaker before removing the kick panel or the pump access; a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off, and the junction box under these machines shares its space with the water. Shut the supply valve under the sink first, expect standing water in the sump, and never bypass the door latch switch to run the machine open.
Models in the CDBEH family
Reference| Model number | Family key |
|---|---|
| CDBEH351**** | crosley:dishwasher:cdbeh |
| CDBEH600***A | crosley:dishwasher:cdbeh |
| CDBEH650***A | crosley:dishwasher:cdbeh |
| CDBEH950***A | crosley:dishwasher:cdbeh |
| CDBEH960**** | crosley:dishwasher:cdbeh |
When to call a technician
Filter cleaning, air gap clearing and hose routing are owner work. Call a technician when the pump is silent at the drain stage, when it runs and moves nothing, or when your series has no owner-serviceable filter and the sump is blocked. Call an installer for a disposer knockout plug and a plumber for a sink drain that backs up.
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Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
