Washing Machine Not Draining: Why Water Stays in the Drum and How to Get It Out

Water left in the drum, or clothes still dripping at the end of a cycle, usually means the washer was told not to spin or the water is blocked on its way out. Whirlpool's troubleshooting guide, which Maytag publishes word for word, starts with a door that isn't closed, an unbalanced load, a slow-spin cycle, and too many suds, then moves to the drain hose, the drainpipe, and a front-loader's pump filter. Bosch adds a blocked pump.

GE Appliances notes that the drain hose empties into a standpipe, a drain, or other household plumbing, so a clog there stops the washer too; Step 5 tells the two apart. For a slow laundry sink, see slow or clogged drain; for a leaking fill hose, what to do when pipes burst; for a dishwasher, dishwasher not draining.

Most Likely Causes

1. A setting, a pause, or a cycle that isn't over. Whirlpool says Low or No Spin, and gentle or delicate cycles, leave more water in the load. Speed Queen's Soak option holds water in the tub for the time you set, up to 24 hours. GE says pauses of up to 3 minutes are normal and that opening the door stops everything.
2. An unbalanced or too-small load. Whirlpool says a heavy or uneven load can make the washer stop spinning to avoid damage, and Bosch says the spin then skips or slows. GE says a load that's too small may not spin.
3. Too many suds. Whirlpool says non-HE detergent, or too much detergent, makes excess suds that can stop the pump. LG says suds create air pockets its drain pump can't remove.
4. A clogged pump filter (front-loaders). GE says small items from pockets can reach the pump, and the filter that catches them can clog. LG says its filter collects buttons, loose change, and lint.
5. A kinked or clogged drain hose. GE says to make sure the washer isn't sitting on it, LG that a washer pushed too close to the wall can kink it, and Bosch that dirt, lint, and small objects clog it. LG adds that the hose can freeze in cold weather.
6. A clogged standpipe or laundry sink, or a drain set up wrong. Whirlpool says to clear any blockage from the drainpipe or utility sink, and Whirlpool, Samsung, and Frigidaire say the drain can be no higher than 96 inches.
7. The lid or door lock. Whirlpool says the washer runs only when the lid or door is securely closed, and that small items caught in the gasket can keep it from closing. GE says its front-loaders won't spin if the dispenser drawer isn't fully closed.
8. A failed drain pump or control. LG says no hum from the pump during a spin means the pump isn't working properly, and GE says a tub full of water that just hums needs service. Bosch adds motor, control board, and drive belt faults.

What You Can Fix Yourself

Work in this order, and run a drain or spin after each step to see whether the water goes.

Step 1: Close the Door, Rebalance, and Run a Drain and Spin

Give it a few minutes; GE says not to turn a dial ahead during a pause, or the washer can skip the pump-out. Open and close the door firmly, as Whirlpool advises, and push the dispenser drawer all the way in. Spread out a lopsided load; GE says to add one or two similar items to a small one. Then run a drain cycle: Drain & Spin on GE, Whirlpool, and Maytag models, a spin-only cycle on High on LG, or the DRAIN program on Bosch. If that fails, Whirlpool says disconnecting power for 2 minutes reboots the software; then try Drain and Spin again. GE notes that a loss of power, such as a tripped breaker, stops the spin; see how to reset a breaker safely.

Step 2: Rinse Out Too Many Suds

For a drum full of foam, Speed Queen says an oversudsed load needs extra rinsing with cold water, and LG says to run a Tub Clean cycle and use less detergent. Whirlpool says to use only HE detergent, at the detergent maker's dose for the load size and soil level; with non-HE detergent, Speed Queen says to use half the recommended amount. GE says to stay below the dispenser's MAX line and to put detergent packets in the drum, not the dispenser.

Step 3: Clean the Drain Pump Filter (Front-Loaders)

Follow your manual; these are the steps the makers publish.

1. Let hot water cool, about an hour after a hot or sanitize cycle, as Samsung advises, and unplug the washer.
2. Open the access panel at the bottom front. LG's is usually on the left, GE's opens with a coin or small screwdriver, Speed Queen's comes off with two screws, and some Whirlpool filters sit behind the storage drawer.
3. Lay towels and set out a shallow pan. Samsung says you'll need a container for all the water in the washer, like an oil drain pan. If the drum is full, Speed Queen suggests a wet/dry shop vacuum.
4. Drain through the small hose first, if there is one: unclip it and pull the cap, and recap it whenever the pan fills. LG warns that pulling the hose too far out kinks it.
5. Unscrew the filter slowly, counterclockwise. GE says to control the flow of draining water as you remove it, and that about a cup coming out is normal.
6. Clean it and the opening. LG says to use a soft brush and warm water, not the dishwasher. Samsung says to check that the pump impeller is clean, and Bosch says it must be able to turn.
7. Reinstall and test. Turn the filter clockwise until it stops, recap the small hose, and close the panel. Bosch's leak check: pour a quart of water into the detergent dispenser and run the drain program.

Our wet/dry vac guide covers choosing one. Keep its cord and plug out of the water.

Step 4: Check the Drain Hose

With the washer unplugged, look behind it for a kink, a crushed spot, or a hose the washer is sitting on, and straighten it, as LG and GE describe; LG asks for at least 4 inches between the washer and the wall. For a clog, Bosch says to loosen the clamp at the drain, carefully remove the hose and any water left in it, and clean it. Samsung warns not to remove the screw that holds its drain hose to the back of the washer. To test the pump, Bosch says to hold the hose in a bucket and run the drain program; stop before the bucket fills. If the water pumps out freely, LG says the drain pipe may be clogged. For a frozen hose, LG says to pour 122 to 140°F water into the drum, close the door, and wait 1 to 2 hours.

Step 5: Test the Standpipe or Laundry Sink

GE's test: take the drain hose out of the standpipe and pour in a quart of water. If it won't drain, GE recommends a plumber. For a laundry sink, our clogged drain guide covers the plunger and trap without chemicals. If other drains are slow too, or water comes up in a tub or shower when the washer drains, its one drain or several section explains why that points to a shared line. Then check the setup against your installation instructions. Whirlpool, GE, Samsung, and Frigidaire say the hose must not be sealed or taped tightly into the pipe, because air has to get in. Whirlpool says a hose pushed too far down lets drained water siphon back; GE's front-load manual allows up to 7 inches in the pipe, and Whirlpool's front-loaders no more than 4.5.

Step 6: Clear the Door Seal and Latch

Whirlpool says to check the door gasket for small items and debris and to clean the lock area with a warm damp cloth. It also says a front-loader's door seal has small drain holes, and plugged ones can keep the washer from draining well. If water sits in the seal, Speed Queen says to pull the seal back, clear each hole with a paper clip, and run a hot cycle to make sure it drains.

When to Call a Pro

• An appliance repair technician when the filter, hose, and drain are clear and the water still won't go; when the pump hums with no water moving or makes no sound, which GE and LG send to service; when a drain error returns after a clean filter, as LG advises; or when the door won't lock or release. Bosch says motor, control board, and drive belt faults need a professional.
• A licensed plumber when the standpipe fails GE's one-quart test or several drains are slow. GE's manual says a clogged household drain may need a plumber.
• The installer if the washer was installed or moved in the past 30 days. Frigidaire treats that as an installation issue.
• The electric utility if water has reached an outlet or the panel. CenterPoint says to stay out of the water until a licensed professional confirms it's safe.

Prevent It

• Clean the pump filter on a schedule. LG says monthly; Samsung says at least monthly or about every 40 washes, whichever comes first; Whirlpool says every few months or as needed.
• Empty pockets. GE says pens, nails, and screws left in pockets can damage the washer.
• Put a leak sensor behind the washer, under the hoses and the standpipe, as our leak sensor guide suggests, and replace the fill hoses every five years, as GE and Speed Queen recommend. Our shutoffs guide shows the washer's two valves.

If an older washer keeps needing a pump or a board, our appliance lifespan chart helps you weigh repair against replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get the water out of a washer that won't drain?

Try a drain and spin first. On a front-loader, drain it through the small hose by the pump filter, as in Step 3. Samsung and LG say their top-loaders have no removable filter; GE says to unplug a top-loader and check the drain hose for a clog, and to schedule service if the tub is full and the washer just hums.

Why won't my front-load washer door open?

Whirlpool says the door stays locked while the washer can't drain, to prevent flooding. Its steps: push Cancel, disconnect power for 2 minutes, then run Drain and Spin. GE says a door can take up to 30 seconds to unlock and not to force it, and its manual lists a clogged pump filter as one cause. The filter panel is below the door, so Step 3 works with the door shut.

Why do I hear water sloshing when the tub looks empty?

On a top-loader, GE and Whirlpool say that's the balance ring, an enclosed ring of fluid on the basket that helps it spin smoothly. GE calls the sound normal.

Does a top-load washer have a drain pump filter?

Samsung and LG say theirs don't have a removable one, and Whirlpool and GE say only some front-loaders have one you can reach. On a top-loader, work through the settings, load, suds, hose, and standpipe; past those, the pump is a technician's job.

The Bottom Line

Close the door, rebalance the load, rinse out excess suds, and run a drain and spin. Then unplug the washer, let hot water cool, and clean a front-loader's pump filter over towels and a pan. Check the hose for kinks and pour a quart of water into the standpipe. Never reach in while the drum moves, force a locked door, or touch a plug or panel that water has reached. A pump that hums or stays silent goes to an appliance technician; a standpipe that won't drain goes to a plumber.

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