Washer Not Draining — West Hollywood Repair

What this symptom usually means

A washer that doesn't drain is frustrating but usually not a complicated repair. Nine times out of ten it's one of three things: the pump filter is blocked, the drain hose is kinked or clogged, or the drain pump itself has failed. Front-loaders and top-loaders fail in slightly different ways, but the diagnosis tree is short. Below is a breakdown of the most common causes we find on this exact problem, roughly in order of frequency.

Common causes, in order of likelihood

Clogged pump filter

Front-loaders have a pump filter at the bottom front — coins, bobby pins, and hair tie debris lodge there and block drainage entirely.

Kinked or blocked drain hose

Pulling the washer out slightly, or a plugged standpipe behind it, can stop drainage cold.

Failed drain pump

If you hear humming but nothing drains, the pump motor has usually seized or failed electrically.

Door lock / lid switch

A washer won't drain if it doesn't believe the door is closed — a failed door lock or lid switch mimics a drain problem.

Control board fault

Less common, but a board that isn't sending the drain signal can look exactly like a pump failure.

When it's time to call

Call as soon as you've verified the standpipe isn't clogged and the hose isn't kinked. Sitting water breeds mildew fast, and a washer full of wet laundry is heavy.