My washing machine isn't draining.. What do I do??

Some models of washing machine have easily accessible filters. If there’s a panel near the bottom of your washing machine which can be opened with a screwdriver, it’s probably the pump filter panel. It can only be opened with a screwdriver to stop children from tampering with the filter.

If your washing machine has a bottom kick-plate, the filter may be behind this kick-plate, so popping it off will be necessary.

Once you’ve located the filter, move the washing machine to a point where the filter can be positioned above a container. If your washing machine is difficult to move, a little bit of washing-up liquid around the feet can help lubricate it. Again, if your washing machine needs a lot of manhandling to get into position, we recommend that you enlist a friend’s assistance.

Remove the filter and wait for the water to completely drain from the machine into whatever you are using as a collector.  

To prevent your collector or basin from overflowing, it’s a good idea to keep your friend on hand to help you tip the washing machine back, and prepare to replace the filter while you empty your collector.

Once your washing machine is completely empty, visually check the filter for obstructions. If the machine still won’t drain normally after these checks, you do still need to check your sump hose for obstructions before you check your drain pump.

The sump hose can be found on the bottom of the machine, under the drum. It can usually be accessed simply by tipping your washing machine on its side. It can be unclipped using water pump pliers, and unscrewed using a crosshead screwdriver. Once safely removed, you can simply visually inspect the sump hose for blockages.

If this fails to fix your problem, contact us on 0800 917 1722 to book an appointment to have your machine looked at more thoroughly, or book an engineer online using the link at the top of the page.