How to Drain a Broken Dishwasher

Unplug the dishwasher's power cord, or switch the dishwasher's circuit breaker to the off position. Turn the dishwasher's water supply valve handle to the off position. Open the dishwasher's door, and set a bucket beside the dishwasher. Remove dishes from the dishwasher's racks. Slide the racks from the dishwasher unit and set the racks aside.

Place one end of the hand pump's hose at the deepest part of the dishwasher's pooled water. Place the other side of the hose in the bucket. Squeeze the pump's ball or pump its handle to transfer water from appliance to the bucket. Pump until the water is too shallow for the pump to suck.

Remove the pump from the dishwasher. Run a sponge through the pool to sop up remaining water. Wring the sponge into the bucket. Use the sponge to sop water until only a damp surface remains. Dry the dishwasher's interior surface with rags. Dump the bucket's contents into a functioning drain, such as the kitchen sink drain.