My Washing Machine Won’t Drain!

If your washing machine won’t drain then there is probably a fault inside the appliance. You can always reply on the professional help of Repair Aid for emergency repairs but if you wish to try to solve the problem yourself here are a few helpful tips.

First of all, stay calm and try not to worry too much, a washing machine refusing to drain is a common problem and in some cases you might be able to solve the problem yourself, although you will have to get your hands dirty and prepare yourself for a mess.

One important thing to remember when you’re working with a washing machine that won’t drain is to get plenty of towels ready. Depending on the problem (and your luck) you might get away with just a little mess but in the majority of cases, they’ll be quite a bit of clean up required after the problem is fixed.

Dealing With Blockages

Blockages are a very common problem with washing machines, even if you’re really careful common bits of household debris will likely find its way into washing machine’s drain. Whether it’s coins, keys or even in some cases small items of clothing blocks will happen. And trust us that’s just a small sample of what could potentially cause a blockage.

Hair, coins, fluff, animal fur and lint can also build-up over time and causes blockages as well, so blocks or one kind or another is something everyone who uses a washer regularly will likely face.

Thankfully dealing with a blockage might not be as difficult as it first sounds. Especially if you have a more modern washing machine because thanks to their more modern design unblocking the filter should be quite simple.

Unfortunately, older appliance models will have less sophisticated filters which will make blockages a more frequent issue and make dealing with them more difficult. So, if your washing machine won’t drain how do you check for blocks?

Your first step should be opening the filter, this will differ from machine to machine but it’s usually located at the front of the appliance and can be twisted out. This will allow you to easily clean the filter and remove any blockages, the emergency drain hose will be next to the filter and you can use this to slowly drain any water. Remember to drain the water before opening the filter, if you open the filter first then you’ll be left with a big mess to clean up.

Draining The Water Without An Emergency Hose

If your washer doesn’t have an emergency hose (which is common in older models) then don’t worry you can still drain the water, but it’s not quite as straight forward. It’s also a lot messier so make sure you have some towels at the ready.

Draining your washing machine can be accomplished in a number ways if you don’t have an emergency hose. The most common method, known as gravity draining involves taking out the drain hose and bringing it to floor level.

Simply place the bottom of the hose it an empty basin or bucket and water will soon start pouring out while your machine drains. For this method to work though you will need to be able to get access to the drain hose at the rear of the machine and be able to freely move it.

You should also be aware that some modern washing machines will have internal drain hoses which means this method will not always work. If you can’t get access to washing machine’s drain hose or it as an internal hose, then you’ll need to try to manually drain the machine.

This is easier with two people and it does involve some heavy lifting. You will need to pull your appliance out, tip it back and then open the filter to let the water drain out. Try to get it into an empty basin or bucket if possible, but be aware this is likely going to be messy work. It can also be incredibly difficult if your washer is tightly enclosed in your kitchen. It is always the best idea to get a qualified Repair Aid technician to complete any work you need done.

Once It’s Drained

Once your washing machine is drained set in on a short wash/ rinse cycle and see what happens. If the block has been successfully cleared then the water will drain away and you’ll be able to carry on using your appliance as normal. If it doesn’t then the blockage as either not been completely removed or there is a more serious issue.

You should drain the washing machine again and double check the filter but if everything looks clear then there could be a problem with the pump or a more serious problem with the machine. So, if you’ve tried everything and your washer still won’t drain then call in a professional washing machine repair engineer for assistance.