How to Repair a Washing Machine Not Draining

If you want to know how to repair a washing machine not draining, you’re in the right place.

In this article, we will give you step-by-step instructions for how to find the cause of the problem and fix it.

There are three main causes of a washing machine not draining: a faulty or blocked drain hose, a faulty or blocked drain pump filter, and a faulty drain pump. 

The best place to start is the drain hose.

Step 1 – Check the Drain Hose

The drain hose is the hose attached to your washing machine that drains the water at the end and during wash cycles. When it becomes defective or blocked up, your washing machine won’t be able to drain.

To check the drain hose, you need to:

1. Slowly pull your washing machine out from the wall so you can access the back of it. Be careful that the hoses and power cables don’t get damaged.
2. Locate the drain hose (check your manual if necessary).
3. Check the hose for any kinks or crimps that might be blocking it from working properly. Also, make sure there are no cracks in the hose causing a leak to occur.
4. If the hose is fine, move on to the next step. If not, it will need to be repaired or replaced.
5. Once repaired or replaced, turn your washing machine on, and see if it now drains properly. If it still doesn’t drain, move on to step 2.

Step 2 – Check the Drain Pump Filter

The drain pump filter catches loose debris in your washing machine so it doesn’t become clogged and unable to drain. If your washing machine isn’t draining, it could be clogged.

To check the drain pump filter, you need to:

1. Switch the power to the washing machine off.
2. Locate the drain pump filter – you should be able to find it at the bottom of the washer (check your manual if necessary).
3. Remove the cover that is on the pump filter, and disconnect the hose that is attached to it.
4. Unhook and then remove the plug from the drain hose.
5. Drain the water out of the hose, and then remove the drain filter by turning it counterclockwise.
6. Give the filter and the drain pump housing area a good clean with hot, soapy water, or use a couple of drops of white vinegar mixed with hot water.
7. Once clean, put the components back into the washer.
8. Turn the washing machine back on, and check if it can now drain properly. If not, move on to step 3.

Step 3 – Check the Drain Pump

The drain pump is the main component in your washer that helps water drain during and after a wash cycle. If it becomes faulty, your washing machine won’t be able to drain.

There are a couple of separate steps you need to take to check the drain pump. First, you need to turn your washing machine on and check if the pump is defective or not. To do that:

1. Switch the power to your washing machine back on.
2. Turn it on to a cycle, and set the “spin speed” to “high.”
3. Once it is operating, wait until it goes into the drain mode; then check if you can hear a humming sound emitting from the washing machine. If you can hear a humming sound, this is a good indication that the drain pump is working fine. However, if the drain pump doesn’t make a humming sound when it goes into the drain mode, it is likely faulty and will need to be replaced.

The next step is to replace the drain pump; to do that:

1. Switch the power to the washing machine back off.
2. Remove the top of the washing machine – you will need to remove the screws that secure it in place. Once the screws are removed, the top panel should be able to be removed easily.
3. On the side of some washers (usually on the left), you’ll find a small door. Open the door and then remove the drain hose. To avoid water dripping onto the floor, put a towel down first. Inside the door you should be able to see a small screw; once located, unthread the screw, and take the cover off the clean-out.
4. Remove the front panel of your washing machine – you will need to remove the screws that hold it in place.
5. You should now be able to remove the washing machine door – you’ll need to remove the band clamp that holds it in place first.
6. Once the door is removed, pull the boot away from the front panel, and push it into the machine tub.
7. Disconnect the wire harness from the door lock assembly.
8. You should now be able to remove the front panel by unthreading the remaining screws that are keeping it in place.
9. Once removed, locate the drain pump motor.
10. Remove the hoses and wires that are attached to the motor.
11. Unthread the screws that hold the drain pump motor in place, and then remove the motor.
12. Get the new motor out of the packaging, put it in place, and reattach the screws so that it is attached in the same place as the old motor.
13. Reattach the wires and hoses to the pump motor.
14. You can now put your washing machine back together again – by reattaching all of the components back the way you took them off.
15. Once your washing machine is back together, switch the power on and check if it is now draining properly. Hopefully, at this point, your washing machine is working correctly!