Washer Won't Drain? Six Checks Before You Call for Service

A washer that won’t drain often has a kinked or badly fitted drain hose, a clogged pump filter, too many suds or a blocked house drain. Samsung calls hose installation the most common cause and says service is rarely required. Check those in order; a full tub that only hums needs service.

A washing machine not draining is one of the faults in our washer troubleshooting guide. The six checks below run from the quickest to the messiest, so work down them in order and stop as soon as water moves.

Six checks for a washer not draining

Check 1: Give the washer a few minutes

Pauses are normal on many washers. GE says pauses of up to 3 minutes between cycles are normal on many of its models, and it warns against advancing a manual dial, since you may miss the pump-out. GE also says a sloshing sound with no visible water on its top-load washers is most likely the balance ring, and that the sound is normal.

Samsung adds a reason to wait longer after Pure Cycle, Sanitize or another hot cycle. The water may be very hot, so allow about one hour for it to cool.

Check 2: Inspect the drain hose

Samsung says incorrect drain hose installation “is the most common reason for drain issues.” Pull the washer out and follow the hose from the back to the pipe, looking for kinks, a flattened section or an airtight fit. Samsung also says not to use an extension kit.

Washing machine drain hoses

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Check 3: Test the house drain

A blocked house drain stops any washer. GE’s test is to remove the drain hose and pour a quart of water into the standpipe or drain. If the water will not drain, GE recommends a plumber.

Check 4: Clean the pump filter on front-load models

Pump filters are a front-load feature on Samsung and LG washers. Samsung says its top-load washers have no removable pump filter, and LG says the same of its own. GE says small items from clothing or pockets can clog the filter, and to check the owner’s manual for an access door in the front. Whirlpool says some front-load models have an accessible filter.

Samsung’s steps are to lay down a towel, hold a container such as an oil drain pan under the rubber drain hose, remove its cap and let the water out. Then turn the filter counter-clockwise to remove it, clean it with a soft brush, inspect the impeller, refit it clockwise and recap the hose.

Check 5: Look for too many suds

Suds can stop a drain as well as a spin. Whirlpool says high detergent levels can create suds that stop pumping and spinning. Samsung’s fix for excess suds is an empty cycle with no detergent, and our SUd page covers the code it shows for this.

Check 6: Rebalance the load and level the washer

Load and level are easier to check once the water is gone, so they come last. GE says to make sure the load is not out of balance: redistribute the clothing, increase the load size or both. Samsung says a washer that is not level may not drain correctly.

Drain hose limits differ by maker

Drain hose figures are not universal, and the three makers below do not agree. Treat these as each maker’s own numbers, and follow the installation instructions for your model when they differ.

Drain codes by washer brand

A drain code on the display can save you some of the checks above. LG top-load washers show OE after 13 minutes of failing to drain. These are the pages to open next, by brand.

GE says its code usually means the washer took too long to pump out, and that there may be a clog. If water remains, GE says to check for a pinched or flattened hose. You may need to disconnect power and remove the hose to look inside it.

When to stop and request service

Service is the next step once the checks run out. GE says to schedule service if the tub is full and the washer just hums. Samsung says the washer should drain at the start of a test cycle, and to request service if it does not.

A failed drain pump is one possible reason, and a technician can confirm it. The pump sits inside the cabinet, so it is a technician job unless you are experienced and the washer is unplugged. Order only the part listed for your model number (how to find it).

Samsung washer drain pumps

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The LG OE and Whirlpool F9 E1 pages list pumps for those brands. If the water drains but the drum stays still, go to washer won’t spin. If you found water on the floor along the way, see washer leaking.