Washing machine not draining? What to try before a repairer

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Your washing machine is not draining: water stays in the drum at the end of the cycle, or only part of it runs out. Before you blame the pump, check the cycle settings, the drain pump filter and the drain hose. None of these checks means opening up the machine.

Common symptoms and causes

• Water stays in the drum at the end of the cycle, or drains only partly.
• A drain error code shows on the display.
• The pump filter is clogged with coins, buttons, lint or small objects that jam the impeller.
• The drain hose is kinked, crushed or blocked.
• The drain pump has failed: on an LG, it no longer hums.
• Less often, and only according to forums: the pressure switch (the water level sensor) or the control board.

Before you start

Warning: unplug the machine from the mains before opening anything. Never work on a machine that is plugged in, and never touch the pump while it is live. In some appliances, capacitors stay charged after unplugging: do not touch them.

Warning: after a hot cycle, the water that comes out of the filter can be very hot. Let it cool before you open the access flap.

Warning: opening the machine can void the warranty. Check when your warranty ends before taking anything apart beyond the filter.

Get a shallow container that fits under the flap, and several mops or towels. Turn off the water supply tap.

Solution 1: restart the cycle and run a spin-only cycle

A setting or a one-off glitch can block draining. Nothing to take apart here.

1. Check the selected cycle and its options. Some models offer a no-spin option or a hold-with-water stop that can leave water in the drum. The manufacturer pages we consulted do not confirm this effect, so your model’s manual has the final word.
2. Turn the washing machine off, wait about ten seconds, then turn it back on. This is Samsung’s instruction for the 5C code.
3. Restart the cycle.
4. If water stays in the drum, run a spin-only cycle. On an LG, turn the machine on, set the spin speed to the highest setting with the speed button, then press START/PAUSE. On other brands, the spin or drain cycle is listed in the manual.

The drum spins and the water runs out. If it does not, move on to the filter.

Tip: write down the code on the display before you turn the machine off. You will need it in Solution 4.

Solution 2: drain the water and clean the clogged drain pump filter

The filter is usually at the bottom of the front panel, often in the lower right corner, behind a small flap. This position comes from summaries of manufacturer pages: your manual gives the exact location.

1. Turn off the water supply tap, switch the machine off and unplug it.
2. Open the access flap at the bottom of the front panel. If a hot cycle has just finished, let the water cool before going further.
3. Pull the small drain hose out of its holder and put its end in the shallow container.
4. Remove the cap from the small hose and let the water run out. Empty the container as many times as needed.
5. Put the cap back and press it in firmly, then return the hose to its holder.
6. Slowly unscrew the pump cover (the filter cap): some remaining water will come out.
7. Remove any objects and deposits from the filter, its housing and the inside of the pump.
8. Check that the impeller (the small propeller of the pump) turns freely.
9. Screw the cover back on fully, with the handle vertical, then close the flap.
10. Plug the machine back in and turn the tap back on.
11. Test the pump: pour 1 litre (about 1 quart) of water into compartment II and 1 litre into the detergent drawer (the Bosch method), then start a drain or spin cycle.

The water runs out with no leak around the cover. On an LG, the manufacturer then recommends running the tub cleaning cycle, Tub Clean.

Good to know: on an LG, keep the end of the small hose outside the machine while draining, then screw its cap back on firmly. Beko is said to recommend cleaning the filter every three months or whenever it is blocked, but its page could not be read in full: follow your manual.

Tip: empty your pockets before every wash. Coins and paper clips almost always end up in this filter.

Solution 3: check the drain hose

A kink or a blockage in the drain hose is enough to stop the machine draining.

1. Switch the machine off and unplug it, then reach the drain hose at the back.
2. Follow the hose along its whole length and straighten every kink or crushed section.
3. Measure the height at which the hose empties. Samsung asks for 60 to 90 cm (24 to 35 inches).
4. If the hose looks intact, put the container and towels under the connection: the hose may hold water.
5. Loosen the clamp, disconnect the hose from the water connection and check that it is not blocked.
6. Reconnect the hose, tighten the clamp, plug the machine back in and run a spin-only cycle.

The machine now drains normally. If the hose empties into a standpipe or a sink trap, also check that it flows properly, even though none of the official sources we consulted mention it.

Tip: take a photo of the connection before you loosen the clamp. You will refit it the same way round.

Solution 4: listen to the drain pump and read the error code

On an LG, the sound of the pump during spinning tells you whether it is getting power. The displayed code confirms a draining problem.

1. Run a spin-only cycle as in Solution 1.
2. On an LG, listen to the machine during the first 15 seconds of the spin.
3. Note the error code on the display and compare it with the table below.

On an LG, a hum in the first 15 seconds means the pump is working: the blockage is in the filter or the hose. No sound points to the pump or its power supply.

All these codes mean the water was not drained. For Beko, Whirlpool, Electrolux and Candy, the official pages we consulted give no code: check your model’s manual.

If nothing works

Filter and pump clean, hose clear and at the right height, but the code keeps coming back, or the pump on an LG stays silent? Stop there. Bosch then points to a faulty pump, and LG refers you to its customer service.

For a Samsung under warranty, contact customer service. Out of warranty, go through an authorised service centre or the brand’s Smart Repair service. For other brands, call the manufacturer’s customer service or a repair technician.

Users on forums mention the pressure switch, its small pressure tube or a sealing ball stuck in the hose between the tub and the pump. These parts mean opening the machine: leave them to the repairer.

Before you call, note down:

• the brand, the exact model number and the serial number;
• the purchase date and the receipt;
• the error code shown;
• what you have already checked (filter, hose, spin-only cycle, pump sound).

If the repair costs more than the machine, here are three reliable washing machines to compare.

Take better care of your washing machine: our toolbox

Regular care and a few simple parts help keep the pump, the filter and the drain hose in good condition.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my washing machine not draining at the end of the cycle?

Most often, a clogged pump filter, a kinked or crushed drain hose, or a failed pump stops the water getting out. A no-spin or hold-with-water option might also leave water in the drum, but the manufacturer pages we consulted do not confirm it. Start with a spin-only cycle, then clean the filter.

How do I get the water out of a washing machine that won’t drain?

Drain it through the small drain hose behind the flap at the bottom of the front panel, into a shallow container. Unplug the machine first, and wait for the water to cool if the cycle was hot. Then unscrew the filter cover to let the rest out, with towels on the floor.

Why is my washing machine not draining all the way?

A partial drain usually comes from a partly clogged pump filter or a kinked drain hose. Clean the filter, then check that the hose is not crushed and empties at a height of 60 to 90 cm (24 to 35 inches), the figure Samsung gives.

How can I tell if the drain pump has failed?

On an LG, run a spin-only cycle and listen during the first 15 seconds: a hum means the pump is working, and silence points to the pump or its power supply. If the water still does not drain after cleaning the filter, Bosch points to a faulty pump.

Where is the drain filter on a washing machine?

Usually at the bottom of the front panel, often in the lower right corner, behind a small access flap. This comes from summaries of manufacturer pages that could not be read in full: your model’s manual has the final word.