i20

How to Fix It

1. Clean the filter at the bottom of the tub.

   Pull the lower rack out completely.
   Twist the cylindrical filter counter-clockwise, lift it out, and rinse under hot water.
   Lift the flat coarse screen underneath as well.
   Bone fragments, seeds, and label stickers love to wedge in here.

2. Run the kitchen sink disposer.

   Turn on the disposer with the water running for 30 seconds.
   If the dishwasher drains into a disposer, a chunk of food in the disposer can dam the dishwasher's drain line.
   This is a 30-second free fix that surprises everybody.

3. Check the air gap on the sink.

   If you have the small chrome cylinder on the sink top, twist the cap off and lift the inner cover.
   Grease cake or food paste blocks the path.
   Clean with a bottle brush.
   Run water and confirm it flows through.

4. Inspect the drain hose.

   Pull the dishwasher out a few inches if you can.
   Look at the corrugated black hose at the back.
   Kinks, sharp bends against the cabinet, and crushed sections all cause i20.
   Reroute so the hose has a smooth high loop above the disposer or sink.

5. Check the disposer knockout.

   If the dishwasher is newly installed and i20 happened on the very first cycle, the most likely cause is the plastic knockout plug inside the disposer's dishwasher inlet.
   Disconnect the hose and check — a 1 inch plastic disc still sealing the inlet is the classic install mistake.

6. Cancel the cycle and drain manually.

   Hold the Cancel/Drain button for 3 seconds.
   The dishwasher attempts a forced drain.
   If water still does not leave the tub, scoop the standing water out with a measuring cup, towel-dry the bottom, and try again after the steps above.

7. Replace the drain pump if all else clears.

   If filters, hose, air gap, and disposer are all clean and i20 still appears, the drain pump itself is failing.
   The pump is 40-90 USD and is accessible from underneath after removing the toe-kick.
   Two screws and one electrical connector — a 30-minute job.