Washing Machine Not Draining
Washing machine won't drain? Learn causes, DIY fixes, and repair costs ($100–$350).
Typical repair cost: $100–$350 · DIY difficulty: Easy · About 15–30 minutes.
What usually causes it
- Clogged drain filter
- Kinked drain hose
- Failed drain pump
- Too much detergent
- Lid switch issue
What you need
- Towels
- Bucket
- Pliers
How to fix it yourself
- Locate and clean the drain filter (usually front-bottom of machine)
- Check the drain hose for kinks — straighten if bent
- Ensure the drain hose isn't pushed too far into the standpipe
- Run a drain/spin cycle to test
- If it hums but doesn't drain, the drain pump may be failing
When to call a pro
If the drain pump motor is failed or the machine has error codes you can't clear.