Why Is My Washing Machine Not Draining? 8 Causes and Fixes

A washing machine that is full of water and will not drain is usually blocked, not broken. The usual culprits are a clogged pump filter, a kinked or clogged drain hose, a blocked standpipe, or a jammed drain pump. Unplug the machine, drain the water into a bucket, clear the blockage and test with a short drain-and-spin cycle.

You open the lid or door and find a drum of cold, soapy water sitting there. The clothes are soaked, the cycle has stopped, and the machine is silent or humming. It feels like a disaster, but this is one of the most fixable appliance problems. In most homes the blockage is something small: a sock, a coin, a hairpin, a lot of lint.

This guide goes in the order that finds the cause fastest. Start at the top and stop when the water goes down.

Step 0: Work out what kind of problem it is

Look and listen before you take anything apart. It saves time.

Drain error codes differ by brand. LG machines often show OE, Samsung machines often show 5C, 5E or SC, and Whirlpool machines may show F21 or Lo FL. Your user manual lists the exact code. If you have an LG, our guide to LG washing machine error codes explains what each one means.

Step 1: Empty the water safely

You cannot fix much with the drum full, and you cannot get the clothes out without emptying it.

For a front loader:

1. Unplug the machine.
2. Open the small hatch at the bottom front, usually in the lower right corner.
3. Behind it you will often see a thin rubber emergency drain hose with a cap. Pull it out, lay it in a shallow tray or baking dish, and take off the cap. Water runs out slowly. Lift the end to stop the flow and empty the tray, then repeat.
4. When the flow stops, unscrew the round filter by turning it counterclockwise a little at a time to let the last water out.

For a top loader or if there is no emergency hose:

1. Unplug the machine and pull it a little away from the wall.
2. Take the drain hose off the standpipe or the wall box and lower it into a large bucket below the level of the drum.
3. Water will flow out by gravity. Empty the bucket and repeat until it is dry.
4. You can also bail water out of the drum with a cup and a bucket if you need to.

The wet clothes can then be wrung out and washed again once the machine is fixed.

Cause 1: A clogged pump filter (front loaders)

This is the most common cause, and the Beko support page for washers that will not drain puts it first as well. The pump filter is a small trap in front of the drain pump. It catches coins, buttons, pins, bra wires and lint before they reach the pump.

How to clean it:

1. With the water drained, unscrew the filter counterclockwise and pull it out.
2. Remove everything caught on it, then rinse it in warm water.
3. Look into the filter housing with a flashlight. Reach in and check for anything stuck around the pump's small impeller, which should spin freely when you turn it with a finger.
4. Screw the filter back in fully. A filter that is not tight can leak.

Manufacturers suggest cleaning the filter about every three months or sooner if your wash has a lot of lint, pet hair or small items. If the filter was packed with debris, the problem is probably solved.

Cause 2: A kinked or blocked drain hose

The drain hose carries water from the pump to the household drain. If it is squashed behind the machine, bent sharply, or clogged with lint, the water cannot flow.

• Pull the machine out gently and look at the hose along its whole length.
• Straighten any bends. The hose should not be crushed between the machine and the wall.
• Disconnect the hose, hold it up to the light, and look through it. Flush it with a garden hose or run water through it in a sink or tub.
• If you can feel a lump of lint or a sock inside, push it out with a long flexible brush or a straightened coat hanger. Be gentle so you do not tear the hose.

Check the hose height

A drain hose has to be at the right height to work. Beko's guidance is that the outlet should be at least 40 cm (about 16 inches) and no more than 100 cm (about 39 inches) above the floor. Too low and water can siphon out of the drum during the wash. Too high and the pump may struggle to push water up. Your manual gives the exact range for your model.

Cause 3: A blocked standpipe or household drain

If the machine pumps water out but it backs up, or if it empties very slowly, the problem is past the washer.

Signs that the household drain is the problem:

• Water rises up the standpipe or spills over the top during the drain stage.
• The washer drains fine into a bucket, but not into the wall.
• A sink, tub or toilet nearby is also slow or gurgles. If your kitchen sink gurgles when the washer drains, it is the same shared line, and why a sink gurgles explains what that means.

Try these:

1. Pull the hose out of the standpipe and look for a visible clog.
2. Pour a kettle of hot (not boiling) water down the standpipe and see if it clears.
3. Use a plumber's snake or a drain auger if you have one.
4. Do not mix drain chemicals and then use an auger. If you have used a chemical cleaner, wear gloves and eye protection.

If the line is blocked beyond what you can reach, a plumber with a drain machine is the next step.

Cause 4: Too much detergent or suds

Using too much detergent, or using a regular detergent in a high-efficiency (HE) machine, makes a thick layer of suds. A machine can sense the suds, pause, and sometimes refuse to drain or spin properly.

If the drum is full of foam:

• Let it sit for an hour so the suds settle.
• Run a rinse-and-spin cycle with no detergent.
• Use the amount of detergent shown on the pack or the machine, and only HE detergent if the washer is HE.

The amount of detergent you need is often much less than people think. ENERGY STAR notes that its certified washers use less water, so HE detergent is designed to make fewer suds in them.

Cause 5: An overloaded or unbalanced drum

A very heavy load, especially of towels, jeans or a bulky duvet, can stop the machine from spinning or draining normally. The drum may be so unbalanced that the machine stops.

Take some clothes out, spread the rest evenly, and run a drain-and-spin cycle. Washing a single heavy item, like a bath mat, with a few small items often helps the machine balance.

Cause 6: A faulty lid switch or door lock

On many machines, the drain-and-spin step will not start unless the machine senses that the lid or door is closed. A broken lid switch, a worn latch or a door that does not click shut can keep the machine from draining or spinning.

Test it:

• Open and close the lid several times. Listen for a click.
• Look for a cracked or loose latch, or a lid that does not line up.
• On many machines the switch can be tested with a multimeter, and replaced for a modest price.

If the machine does not respond at all, even to an empty cycle, a switch fault is more likely than a clog.

Cause 7: A failed drain pump

If the filter, hose and drain are clear and the machine still does not drain, the pump may be the problem.

Signs of a failed drain pump:

• It hums but does not pump, even with a clear filter, which suggests a jammed or burned-out motor.
• It makes a grinding or rattling noise that was not there before. A foreign object may be inside the pump.
• It stays silent when it should be draining, even though power reaches the machine.

Some pumps are easy to replace. A few screws and two hose clamps hold them in many models. Search your model number plus "drain pump" to find the right part. If the machine is more than ten years old, compare the cost of the part, and a repair call if you need one, with the price of a new washer.

Cause 8: A control board or sensor fault

If everything else checks out, the machine may have a failed pressure switch (which senses the water level) or a control board problem. Typical signs are a machine that thinks it is empty when it is full, or one that skips the drain stage entirely.

These faults are harder to confirm without a meter and the wiring diagram. If the machine is under warranty, call the maker. If it is out of warranty, a repair technician can tell you the cost before you decide.

A simple order to follow

1. Unplug the machine and drain the drum.
2. Clean the pump filter on a front loader and check for coins and lint.
3. Check the drain hose for kinks and blockages.
4. Make sure the hose height is within range and the standpipe is clear.
5. Look for too many suds, and run a rinse with no detergent.
6. Rebalance the load and test the lid or door switch.
7. Test the pump, and only then suspect the control board.

Test it after the fix

Plug the machine back in and run a short drain-and-spin cycle with no clothes. Stand nearby and watch for leaks around the filter, hose and standpipe. Listen to the pump. If the water leaves quickly and the drum spins, the fix is done. If water drips from the filter, remove it and screw it back in more tightly, making sure the rubber seal is clean.

How to stop it happening again

• Check pockets before every wash. Coins, hair ties, tissues and pen caps are the usual villains.
• Use mesh bags for socks, bras with underwires, and small items.
• Clean the pump filter every few months. If you have pets or wash lots of towels, do it more often.
• Do not overload. Leave a hand's width of space at the top of the drum.
• Use the right detergent in the right amount.
• Run a hot cleaning cycle once a month to clear residue and lint. Our guide on keeping the drum and seal fresh covers how to keep the drum and seal fresh, which also helps the drain stay clear.

If your dishwasher is slow too, the cause may be shared plumbing. See why a dishwasher stops draining for what to check.

When to call a professional

Call a technician or plumber if:

• You smell burning, or see smoke or sparks. Unplug the machine and do not use it.
• The machine trips the breaker or its power cord is damaged.
• Water backs up in several drains in the house, which points to a main line clog.
• You cannot reach or remove the pump, or the machine is still under warranty.
• You have tried the steps above and the machine still does not drain.

What we could not verify

Error codes, filter locations and hose heights differ by brand and model, so always match this guide against your user manual. The example error codes here are common ones, and your model may use a different code. Repair costs vary widely by area and by part, so we have not given a fixed price.

The short version

A washing machine that will not drain is almost always blocked. Unplug it, drain the water into a tray or bucket, clean the pump filter, straighten and clear the drain hose, and make sure the standpipe and household drain can take the flow. Cut down on detergent, balance the load, and check the lid switch. If the pump still will not move water, replace the pump or call a repair person.