Washer Not Draining or Spinning: What to Check First

What this usually means

A washer full of water and clothes is stressful, but most drain faults follow a short list. First, check the drain hose for kinks and the pump filter, usually behind a small flap at the front, for coins, lint, and small items. Bail or drain water carefully before opening the filter, and keep towels ready. A lid or door lock that does not engage will also stop spin, as will an unbalanced load that the machine refuses to spin for safety. Try redistributing the load and running spin again. If the pump hums without draining, or the machine is silent with power on, the pump, belt, or control is the likely fault and needs testing. Hendersonville hard water makes pump filters clog faster, so a filter clean every few months prevents many of these calls.

What to check safely

Never reach into a machine that is still powered while checking a pump, and never bypass a lid lock to force a spin. Those are the two shortcuts that cause injuries. If water is spreading, turn the water supply off if you can do so safely and call, rather than running more cycles to test it.

• Note the symptom, when it started, and whether it is getting worse.
• Check filters, hoses, seals, and vents only where you can do so safely, with power or water off where needed.
• Do not open sealed refrigeration pipework or work on live electrics yourself.

Related reading

Washing Machine Repair, Dryer Repair; appliance repair in Mansker Farms.

When to call

If the problem involves water spreading, a gas smell, burning smells, sparks, or food at risk, call (615) 583-1836 right away. For gas, leave and call the utility first. Otherwise, call and describe what you found using the steps above, and we will advise the next step with no form and no pressure. See all appliance services.