How to Tell if Your Washing Machine Drain Pump Is Bad

The drain pump in a washing machine does exactly what the name suggests. The purpose of the drain pump is to drain the wastewater away from the washing machine and dump it down the drain. If the drain pump stops working, it can cause a variety of symptoms.

About Washing Machine Drain Pumps

Washing machine drain pumps are nearly always mounted on the bottom right of the front of the washing machine. Most machines will have an accessible filter, and the drain pump itself sits behind the filter.

Unfortunately washing machine drain pumps are one of the most common components to fail or just cause problems. Drain pumps are under a lot of stress, and they can easily break or get blocked up, causing a range of problems.

Common Complaints

Regardless of whether a drain pump is blocked or faulty, it will often cause the same symptoms. The most common complaints are all obvious, and all involve wastewater.

A common complaint is that the water in the washing machine drum will not drain, or that the washing machine has stopped mid-cycle with it still full of water.

Another common issue is that the washing machine drum will not spin, or it won’t drain properly.

Possible Causes of Drain Pump Issues

If the symptoms that you are experiencing suggest that you have a problem with your washing machine’s drain pump, you can start to investigate the problem to determine the best solution.

Whilst it is possible that the drain pump has failed, there are other issues that could be causing the problem that you are experiencing. As part of your investigation of your drain pump, you should check these too as they could be a cheaper and easier fix!

1. Foreign object in the pump

One of the most common causes of a drain pump problem is a foreign object being caught in either the pump itself or the drain pump’s filter. This is usually something that has gone through the washing machine caught in your laundry, such as coins, hair pins, and pens.

2. Blocked filter or pump

In addition to foreign objects, the filter could eventually just get blocked up with debris, food, and a build-up of old detergent and fabric softener. Take the filter out of the washing machine, and clean it thoroughly to get rid of any grime and sludge.

Wash the filter or pump well using lots of soapy water, and wipe out the cavity where it sits. Put the filter and pump back, and run the washing machine again to see if the problem has been fixed.

3. Damaged impeller

If the pump itself and the filter are both clean and clear from foreign objects, check the pump itself for damage. A common issue is that one of the impeller blades is damaged. It might have snapped, or it might just have a bit missing.

If this is the case, get hold of the manufacturer of your washing machine or a technician to get the component replaced.

4. Blocked drain hose

If both the pump and filter look fine but you still have the problem, it’s time to look further afield. Make sure that you check the drain hose itself – if this is blocked and the water has nowhere to go, the pump will not be able to operate, causing the symptoms detailed above.

Depending on how bad the blockage is, you might just be able to tip it out, or you might need to use a drain unblocker chemical or drain or plumbing snake.