How do you check a clogged washer drain hose?

To successfully unclog a washing machine drain, you first need to identify exactly where the obstruction is. If there is standing water in the washer tub following the final spin cycle, or there is water leaking from the bottom of the washer cabinet, the washer’s drain pump or drain hose could be clogged or broken and preventing the water from being emptied from the appliance into a laundry tub or standpipe. These are critical washing machine parts that, when obstructed, could hamper the functionality of the machine. Learn causes and solutions and how to unclog a washer drain.

How does a drain pump or drain hose get clogged?

Drain pumps and drain hoses can become clogged with the residue of excess laundry detergent or pieces of fabric, but the main culprit is the stuff we forgetfully leave in pants’ pockets: tissue, keys, paperclips, and coins. This is such a common problem that many front-load washing machines have a special filter called a “coin trap” to catch these objects and prevent them from damaging or obstructing the drain pump or hose.

Preventing a Clogged Washing Machine Drain Pump

It’s recommended you clean out the coin trap filter periodically to prevent serious damage to the drain pump. The more debris that collects in the filter, the more likely some object may block a drain pump port or damage the pump’s impeller which will prevent the pump from doing its job.

Accessing the washer’s “coin trap” when unclogging a washer drain

Certain front-load washer models make it quite easy to reach the coin trap filter by placing it directly behind a small access door near the bottom of the appliance’s front panel. How to clear the coin trap:

• Open the filter access door and detach the drain tube from the retaining tab.
• Uncap the drain tube and drain the excess water into a pan.
• Replace the cap and secure the drain tube under the retaining tab.
• You can now unthread the coin trap filter counter-clockwise to remove – be prepared for more water to spill out of the filter housing.
• Remove any coins or debris from the filter and clean out the housing if necessary.
• Reinstall the filter by aligning it with the housing and threading it clockwise until it locks into place.

On other washer models, the coin trap may be part of the drain pump assembly or part of a large pump hose. To access the coin trap on these models, you will need to uninstall a lower front access panel or remove the top panel followed by the washer’s control panel and/or front panel. If the coin trap is part of the drain pump, you should be able to remove the filter by rotating it counter-clockwise. If the coin trap is part of a large pump hose or bellows, the hose will need to be detached from the pump ports in order to empty the trap.

Drain hose problems and other possible restriction areas

If you’ve determined that the coin trap is clear and the drain pump is functioning properly, an obstructed or poorly positioned drain hose could be the reason the washer is not draining, so the washing machine drain hose is clogged or kinked. How to fix it:

• First check to see if the drain hose has become kinked or twisted behind the washer.
• Confirm the drain hose is properly secured to the drain pump and within the washer cabinet.
• The hose should extend unimpeded through the washer’s rear panel and be inserted into a standpipe or hooked onto the edge of a laundry tub. Be aware that the top of the standpipe or laundry tub should be at least 30 inches from the floor (but no higher than 90 inches from the bottom of the washer) and that no more than four-and-a-half inches of the drain hose is inserted into the standpipe; otherwise the hose could syphon water back into the washer.
• You can inspect the drain hose for blockage and use a drain snake or long wire to push any blockage free to help unclog the washer drain. You can also use hot water or a drain cleaning solution to clear the line.

If you use a floor or wall standpipe for drainage, the blockage could be in the standpipe itself. Again, you can use a drain snake to fish through the standpipe and P-trap to clear the obstruction or use drain cleaning solvent to break down the blockage.

Find the right washing machine parts with Repair Clinic

Now that you know how to unclog a washing machine drain, you may have discovered that you need to replace a damaged pump or hose in order for the washer to properly drain. Repair Clinic stocks drain pumps, drain hoses, and coin trap filters that match the most popular top-load and front-load washer models, including those manufactured by Whirlpool, LG, Samsung, Maytag, GE, Kenmore, Bosch, and Frigidaire. To find the right appliance parts and washing machine parts that fit your particular washer, type the full model number of the appliance into the Repair Clinic website search bar. You can then use the part category and part title filters to refine your search to identify the exact part you need.

Aaron Stickley je licencovaný instalatér s 15 lety zkušeností v oblasti komerčních, nových bytových instalatérských a bytových služeb a oprav. Založil si vlastní bytové služby a opravy instalatérského podnikání. Aaronovy články o instalatérství na The Spruce trvají čtyři roky.

Aktualizováno dne 09 / 08 / 22
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Richard Epstein je licencovaný mistr instalatér s více než 40 lety zkušeností v oblasti bytových a komerčních instalatérských prací. Specializuje se na odhady, návrhy a inženýrství pro vodovodní systémy a pracuje pro jednu z největších newyorských odborových instalatérských stavebních společností.

Sarah Scottová je ověřovatelka faktů a výzkumnice, která pracovala v průmyslu stavby domů na zakázku v oblasti prodeje, marketingu a designu.

Drain problems with a washing machine fall into one of two categories: either the water will not drain out of the machine itself, or water does leave the machine but cannot flow properly through the drain pipes. To force standing water out of the washer, the most direct but tedious way is bailing the water out, or you can let your drain hose do the work for you.

Several specific problems can cause these general issues, and diagnosing them can be a tricky business, for example, if your washer is not spinning completely and your clothes are still wet, it could be a sign the drain pump is clogged or broken. Some problems you can fix yourself, while others will likely require a call to an appliance repair person.

Washer Won’t Drain Causes

First, make sure to consult your washing machine’s owner’s manual. The troubleshooting section may give you suggestions for likely reasons for drain problems. Some modern washing machines display error codes that will identify the problem for you. If this doesn’t identify the problem, observe your washing machine as it runs through one of its drain cycles. As you watch the machine in action, one of the following problems will likely be identified:

• Clog in the rubber drain tube leading from the washing machine to the drain standpipe
• Material obstructing the water pump filter or impellers
• A mechanical failure of the water pump
• Loose or broken drive belt
• Faulty lid switch
• Clog in the drain system

The Spruce / Alison Czinkota

Drain Hose Problems

If you hear the washing machine’s pump operating but no water is leaving the machine, it is likely that the rubber drain hose running from the back of the machine to the drain standpipe or washtub is clogged with cloth fibers. This can sometimes happen after you wash items like rugs, which may shed a lot of fabric fibers, or if the drain hose is pinched. If the hose is clogged, it can prevent the water from being pumped out of the machine.

To test this, remove the drain hose attached to the washer and make sure it is clear. An easy way to check that the drain hose is clear is to blow air through it. If nothing is obstructing the drain tube, the problem is most likely at the washing machine pump. If the hose is worn or badly kinked, replacing the hose may improve the ability of the machine to pump water.

Drain Pump Problems

If you can hear the pump operating but it sounds like it is laboring, there may be a piece of fabric or another item obstructing the pump mechanism. To remedy this, you’ll need to shut off and drain the machine, then remove the washing machine panel to examine the water pump. The pump itself may be clogged, or the clog might be in the corrugated tube that leads to the pump.

Most pumps have removable covers, and inside you will find a filter screen on the pump. If this screen is clogged with debris, cleaning it and reassembling the pump will likely fix the problem.

On top-loading washing machines, the pump is usually located on the back of the machine; on front-loaders, it is usually found on the front of the machine, below the door. ​Remove any visible lint from the filter screen and rinse it in water. Also, check the impellers on the pump and make sure they move freely and are not jammed with any obstruction. Reassemble the pump and cover panel, then test the machine.

If the pump is making no operating noise at all, or if you find no obstructions in the pump or drain hose, it is possible that your water pump has failed and will need to be replaced. This is normally a job for an appliance repair person, although it’s possible for a skilled homeowner to order the part and perform the replacement.

Drive Belt Problems

The pump is operated by a drive belt that fits around pulleys on the bottom of the washing machine motor. If this belt is broken or isn’t tight on the pulleys, the washing machine will have difficulty draining or may not drain at all. Fixing this will require you to turn machine over on its side to examine the belt. Homeowners can do this themselves, although many opt for having a repair person handle a repair of this level.

Lid Switch Problems

Just under the lid or door on the washing machine, a small plastic switch serves to sense when the door is shut so the machine can operate. If this switch is faulty, the machine may fail to drain correctly. With the door open and the machine running, press the switch by hand and listen for a clicking sound. If you don’t hear it, the switch may need replacing.

Plumbing System Problems

If water is successfully pumping out of the machine but is then spilling out of the drain stand tube or backing up in the washtub, then the problem is likely a traditional drain clog. Because small fabric fibers routinely are flushed through the system, it’s common for drain clogs to occur in the plumbing pipes into which the washing machine drains. A clogged drain causes water to back up into the standpipe and spill on the floor. Clearing the clogged drain will usually resolve the problem.

The washing machine drain hose goes down about two feet into the plumbing drain standpipe.(In some machines, the drain hose may simply be clamped onto the side of a washtub, though this is not a common practice especially with newer models.) From there, the water then goes into a drain trap. The clog could either be in this trap area, or it could be further down the drain line.

To determine where the clog is located, first, fill the washing machine with water. Turn the dial to the spin/drain setting and get ready to drain it. Position yourself where you can see the drain standpipe while still having access to the washer dial. By watching the standpipe, you’ll be attempting to see how long it takes the water to back up and out of the drain pipe.

Poznámka: Be ready to stop the washing machine from draining at any moment.

• If the washer backs up in just a few seconds, then the clog is likely very close and can be cleared with a small power drain snake operated down through the standpipe. You may even be able to clear it with a small hand-operated snake.
• If the drain takes some time to back up, then the stoppage is some distance down the drainpipe, perhaps even past the drain trap. In this case, you will need to use a medium drain snake through a clean-out to clear the stoppage.

Most people do not own the drain snakes necessary to clear these kinds of stoppages. Fortunately, they can be rented by the hour from home improvement and tool rental stores if you decide to do it yourself. Often there is a clean-out fitting behind the washing machine that can be used to snake out the drain pipes.