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How To Clean Pump Filter On A Front Load Washer

If you have a front load washing machine sooner or later you will need to clean out the pump filter. The pump filter is an important part of any front load washing machine and while cleaning it out is unlikely to be anyone’s favourite job it is vital that it is done and regularly.

If you don’t clean out the pump filter regularly then you can pretty much guarantee a lot of problems with your washing machine. So, before we get into the cleaning let’s look at what the pump filter actually is and what it does.

The pump filter is attached to the drain and it prevents things from interfering with the washer. Common pocket waste like coins, pens and toffee wrappers that we sometimes forget to take out of our pockets before we put our clothes in the wash will all end up in the filter.

This might sound bad but trust me it’s the better alternative and the filter is actually designed for this after all. As long as they don’t stay stuck in the filter for long you’ll be fine but let’s get to the cleaning process now, shall we?

It’s often advised that you clean your pump filter monthly although if your washing machine is not working properly you may want to check out the filter first and clean it out just to be sure. Depending on the nature of the error calling in a professional technician (like us) will likely be the best option though as we’ll be able to carry out a more thorough examination.

One important thing to remember if you do want to clean your pump filter or simply want to know how to do it in case of an emergency is to check your washing machines manual. Every washing machine is a little different after all. Now that is all out of the way let’s look at how you clean a pump filter on a front load washing machine.

The Cleaning Process

The first step of the cleaning process is pretty easy all you need to do is find the drain pump filter. OK, this sounds easy but it might take a bit of searching so if you’re having trouble refer to your washing machine’s manual. With front load washing machine’s the drain pump filter is often concealed with a small protective door or hatch.

Once this is open and you have access to the drain pump you’ll need to drain any waste water. Place a container under the filter and make sure you have some towels at the ready. It might be messy but it needs to be done.

Draining the water will be the next step and this is normally done with a hose at the back of your washing machine. However, every washing machine will have its own unique design so if you’re having trouble refer to your manual and don’t be afraid to call in a professional to handle this for you as it can be very tricky.

Once the waste water is empty you should slowly start turning the pump filter to remove it. On the vast majority of washing machines, you will need to turn the filter counter clockwise to remove it, make sure you keep a towel handy again encase of any excess water escapes.

Now that the filter is removed you should inspect it carefully make sure you take out any debris like coins and other solid objects and then once it’s free of waste give it a good rinse under the sink. Once that is done screw the filter back into the washing machine, once it’s in its original position it should securely lock into place.

When that is done close the filter door and you should be safe and ready to use your washing machine again. The process might seem straightforward but you can easily run into difficultly and if you’ve never done it before it’s understandable that you might not feel very confident. So, if you want to be 100% safe you should always call in a professional to do this job for you.

When Should You Clean The Filter?

Like I mentioned earlier most manufacturers recommend cleaning out your washing machine’s filter on a monthly basis but if you notice certain problems then you should check out the filter or if you prefer call in a professional to do it for you. These are the problems you should watch out for: