Washer Not Draining? Fixes to Try First
A drum full of water and wet clothes is usually caused by something small. Here's how to drain it safely and find the cause.
Check the drain hose for kinks, then clear the drain pump filter (on front-loaders it's behind a small door at the bottom front). Try the drain/spin cycle again with a balanced load. If the pump hums without moving water, or the washer is silent, the pump or control may need a technician. If water backs up from the wall drain, call a plumber.
Work through these in order
- Restart the drain/spin cycle. Sometimes a load was off balance or the lid lock didn't confirm. Try once more.
- Check the drain hose. Pull the washer out a bit and look for kinks where the hose goes into the wall or standpipe.
- Clear the pump filter (front-loaders). Put towels and a shallow pan down. Open the small door at the bottom front, drain the water slowly, then unscrew the filter and clear it.
- Check the standpipe. If water backs up out of the wall drain when the washer pumps out, the house drain is clogged. That's a plumbing job.
- Listen to the pump. A hum with no water moving can mean a jam. Silence can mean a failed pump or a control problem.
- Use less detergent. Too many suds in an HE washer can stop it from draining or spinning.
Most common causes
Jammed pump
Socks, coins and hair ties block the impeller.
Kinked hose
Often after the washer was pushed back against the wall.
Lid or door lock
If the lock doesn't confirm closed, many washers won't drain or spin.
Failed pump or control
The pump motor burns out, or the control never tells it to run.
When to call a technician
Call if the pump filter is clear, the hose isn't kinked, and the washer still won't drain, or if you hear grinding or smell burning. If water backs up from the wall drain, call a plumber instead.
See washer repair in Brandon for more on what technicians check.
Common questions
How do I get water out of a washer that won't drain?
On a front-loader, use the small drain tube next to the pump filter, a little at a time into a shallow pan. On a top-loader, bail it out with a container, or lower the drain hose into a bucket on the floor so gravity drains it.
Why does my washer drain but not spin?
An unbalanced load, a lid or door lock that isn't confirming, a worn belt or motor coupling, or a problem with the motor control. Try a small, balanced load first.
Can a clogged house drain stop the washer from draining?
Yes. If water comes back out of the standpipe or a nearby drain when the washer pumps out, the clog is in the house plumbing.
Related help
Still not working?
If the checks above didn't fix it, an independent technician who covers Brandon can diagnose it.