Washer not draining

What to check yourself

• The drain hose. Look for a kink behind the washer. The hose should go no more than about 6 inches into the standpipe, with an air gap around it.
• The pump filter. Most front-load washers have a small door at the lower front. Put towels and a shallow pan down, drain the small hose first if there is one, then unscrew the filter slowly and clean it. Expect water.
• Listen. Start a Drain & Spin cycle. A hum with no water moving means the pump is jammed or the impeller is broken. No sound at all means the pump is not getting power or has failed.
• The house drain. If water comes back up out of the standpipe or the laundry sink overflows, the clog is in the building drain, which is a plumbing problem.

Common causes

Drain error codes

LG shows OE. Samsung shows 5C, 5E or SE, older models nd. Whirlpool and Maytag front-loaders show F21 or F9 E1. All of them mean the water did not leave in the allowed time. There is more on the washer error codes page.

How we repair it

We drain the tub, take the pump out, clear the pump and the hoses, and test the motor. If the pump is worn or burned out, we replace it. We also check the hose between the tub and the pump, where small clothing items collect.

Until the repair

Do not leave wet laundry and standing water in a closed washer for days. It starts to smell quickly, and the smell stays in the door gasket. Bail or drain the water, leave the door open and hang the clothes.