Washer Won't Drain

A Clogged Pump Filter

Most washers have a small drain pump filter, usually behind a flap near the bottom front of the machine. Lint, coins, buttons, hair ties, and pet hair collect there over time and block water from draining out.

• Unplug the washer before touching the filter.
• Place a shallow pan and a towel underneath the filter door to catch trapped water.
• Open the filter slowly and let the water drain into the pan.
• Pull out anything tangled or stuck inside, then rinse the filter under running water.
• Reseat the filter firmly and make sure it clicks or screws back into place.

If the washer drains normally on the next cycle, the filter was the problem.

A Kinked, Pinched, or Blocked Drain Hose

The drain hose carries water from the washer to the standpipe or sink drain. If the machine has recently been pushed back against a wall, pulled out for cleaning, or moved, the hose can get kinked, crushed, or trapped under the machine's feet, stopping water from flowing out.

With the washer unplugged, pull it away from the wall and check the hose along its full length for tight bends or flattened sections. Check the connection point at the standpipe or drain for lint buildup, and check that the standpipe or sink isn't already backed up with water from a separate clog. If the hose runs through an unheated area, check it isn't frozen.

Straightening a kinked hose or clearing a blocked standpipe is often enough to fix the drain on its own.

The Wrong Cycle, a Paused Cycle, or an Open Door

Some settings and interruptions can look like a drain fault when the machine is actually working as programmed. A cycle set to soak, delicate, or hand-wash may pause before draining and wait for a separate drain or spin step to be selected.

• Check which cycle is selected and whether a separate drain/spin step needs to be chosen or restarted.
• Check that the door or lid is fully closed and latched. Most washers will not drain or spin at all if the door isn't sensed as shut.
• Check whether the cycle was paused partway through and simply needs to be resumed.

Too Much Detergent or an Unbalanced, Unlevel Load

Excess detergent creates oversuds, and many washers detect this and hold off on draining and spinning to protect the pump. A load that has shifted to one side, or a machine that isn't sitting level on the floor, can trigger a safety sensor that stops the cycle before the water fully drains.

• Open the door and check whether the load has bunched to one side. Redistribute wet items evenly and run the cycle again.
• If a lot of suds are visible, run an extra rinse cycle with no detergent added.
• Check that the washer is level front-to-back and side-to-side. A machine that rocks when pushed is not sitting level.
• Use less detergent on the next wash, especially with high-efficiency detergent in a standard machine.

Signs the Fault Is Inside the Machine

If the filter is clear, the hose is unobstructed, the cycle and door are fine, and the load is balanced and level, the issue is likely inside the machine itself. This points to a failing drain pump, a blockage inside the pump housing that isn't reachable from the filter, a faulty door or lid switch, or a control board problem.

Signs worth noting: a humming sound during the drain step with no water movement, no sound at all when the drain should run, water draining partway and then stopping, or an error code on the display. These point to a part that needs to be tested or replaced and are not something to open up or wire into yourself. A technician should take over from here.

When it needs a technician

If these checks have not sorted it, the fault is inside the machine. See Washing Machine Repair Kingston for repairs in Kingston, Amherstview, Bath, or call (343) 305-5417.