Repair guide

Washer not draining

Updated 30 Sep 2026 · AR Logic LLC · 4 sources

Rarely an emergency

A washer that ends with water in the drum is usually blocked, not broken: on a front loader the drain pump filter behind the small door at the bottom front catches coins, hair ties and lint and needs clearing; on any washer the drain hose can kink behind the machine, and the house standpipe or laundry-sink drain can be clogged. If those are clear and the pump hums or stays silent, the pump or the lid/door lock is the next suspect.

Is a washer that won’t drain an emergency?

Rarely. Unplug it before opening the drain filter — the water will come out at floor level, so have towels and a shallow pan ready. It becomes urgent if water is overflowing the standpipe or reaching outlets: switch off the washer’s power and turn off its water taps.

Snap a photo — see what it is, how urgent, who to call.

One photo of the problem. fixRAgent reads it and gives you a Triage Profile.

Triage a photo now

No sign-up.

Take the photo. We’ll tell you what it is.

No sign-up · AR Logic LLC · Privacy

Managing this for someone else? Managers: set it up for your buildings →

Managing this for someone else? There is a version of this for whole portfolios.

Managers: set it up for your buildings →

What to check, in order

  1. Front loader: drain the water and clean the pump filter

    Unplug the washer (if the floor is wet, switch off its breaker instead). Behind the small panel at the bottom front there is a drain tube and the pump filter. Drain the water into a shallow pan, then unscrew the filter counter-clockwise and clear it [1][2].

  2. Check the drain hose

    Pull the washer out and make sure the hose is not kinked or crushed, and that it is not pushed too far down the standpipe.

  3. Check the house drain

    If the standpipe or laundry sink overflows when the washer pumps, the clog is in the house drain, not the washer.

  4. Top loader: the lid switch

    Many top loaders will not drain or spin unless the lid switch or lock senses the lid is shut.

  5. Listen to the pump

    On a drain/spin cycle, a hum with no water moving is a jammed or failed pump; silence can be the pump, its wiring or the control.

By brand

Whirlpool, MaytagFront-load models have an accessible drain pump filter behind the bottom panel or storage drawer [1][2].
LGOE on the display means the washer was unable to drain the wash water — filter and hose first [4].
SamsungSamsung washers show a drain code — 5C, or 5E, SE or nd on other models — for the same blockage [3].

Safety first

  • Unplug the washer before opening the filter — or, if the floor around it is wet, switch off its breaker instead.
  • Water from a hot cycle can be hot; let it cool.
  • Keep water away from the outlet the washer plugs into.

When to call a pro

Call an appliance technician if the filter, hose and house drain are clear and it still will not pump out.

What to photograph

For the Triage Profile, photograph the drum with the standing water, and the open filter panel at the bottom front. One clear photo in good light is enough; the Triage Profile says what it is, how urgent it is (emergency, today, this week or whenever), and which trade to call.

Questions people ask

How often should I clean the pump filter?

Occasionally — whenever draining slows, and a few times a year if you wash many small items [1].

Sources

  1. Whirlpool Product Help — Washer not draining or spinning
  2. Whirlpool Product Help — Cleaning the pump filter (front load washer)
  3. Samsung US — Washer error codes (drain: 5C / 5E / SE / nd)
  4. LG USA Support — Front load washer error code list

Not sure what you’re looking at?

Snap a photo of it. The Triage Profile says what it is, how urgent it is, and who to call.