Appliances guide
Washing machine not draining: how to empty it and find the cause
By the Home Doctor team · Reviewed
Quick answer
A washer that leaves water in the drum usually has a clogged drain pump filter, a kinked or clogged drain hose, a faulty lid switch or door lock, or a failed drain pump. Unplug it first. On a front-loader, drain the water through the small hose behind the bottom access panel into a shallow pan, then unscrew the filter and clear out socks, coins and lint. If the pump hums but won't pump, or the standpipe backs up, call a pro: a new drain pump typically costs $200 to $450 installed.
- How urgent
- Fix soon
Not dangerous by itself, but wet clothes sour within a day and standing water starts to smell. It's more pressing if water is on the floor near the outlet or the standpipe overflows.
- DIY or pro
- DIY if handy
Draining the tub, clearing the pump filter and straightening or flushing the hose are DIY. Replacing a lid switch or drain pump is a handy job with a nut driver and pliers. A clogged house drain is for a plumber.
Stop and call a pro now if
- You're about to drain it by hand, open the pump filter or pull the washer out: unplug it first. Water on the floor near a live outlet is a shock risk.
- Water is already on the floor around the outlet or cord: switch off the breaker from a dry spot before you touch the plug.
- Burning smell or smoke, or the motor hums and gets hot: unplug it or switch off the breaker, and don't run it again until it's checked.
- Water comes up in a floor drain, tub or toilet when the washer drains: stop using water and call a plumber. The main drain line may be clogged.
Common causes and how to tell them apart
1. Clogged drain pump filter
- How to tell
- A front-loader holds water, the pump hums or runs, and the display may show a drain error. The filter, sometimes called a coin trap, is behind a small panel at the bottom front. Some top-loaders have one too.
- What fixes it
- Drain the water through the little hose behind the panel into a shallow pan, then unscrew the filter slowly and clear out socks, coins, hair and lint. Clean it every few months.
2. Kinked or clogged drain hose
- How to tell
- The washer was recently moved or pushed back, and the hose is bent or flattened behind it. A small sock or a wad of lint can also lodge inside.
- What fixes it
- Straighten it, or replace it if it's crushed or cracked. With the washer unplugged, take the hose off over a bucket and flush it with a garden hose.
3. Lid switch or door lock
- How to tell
- Top-loader: water stays in and the drum won't spin, even with the lid closed. You don't hear the usual click, or the plastic tab on the lid is broken. Front-loader: the door lock light blinks or the washer shows a door lock error.
- What fixes it
- Replace the lid switch or door lock assembly. Never bypass it: it's what stops the drum from spinning with the lid open.
4. Clogged standpipe or house drain
- How to tell
- The washer pumps, but water backs up and overflows out of the standpipe or the laundry sink. Nearby drains may gurgle.
- What fixes it
- Clear the standpipe with a hand snake, and add a lint catcher if the washer empties into a laundry sink. If several drains are slow or water comes up in a floor drain, call a plumber.
5. Failed drain pump
- How to tell
- The filter and hose are clear, but at the drain step you hear a hum with no water moving, grinding, or nothing at all.
- What fixes it
- Replace the pump. On many front-loaders it sits right behind the filter. On top-loaders it's at the bottom of the cabinet. An appliance tech usually does it in about an hour.
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What you can safely try first
- 1Unplug the washer. If there's water on the floor near the outlet, switch off the breaker first.
- 2Don't force a front-loader door. It stays locked while there's water inside, and usually unlocks a couple of minutes after the water is out.
- 3Front-loader: open the small panel at the bottom front, put towels and a shallow pan down, and drain the water through the little hose. Expect to empty the pan several times.
- 4Then unscrew the pump filter slowly, clear out anything caught in it, and screw it back in firmly.
- 5Top-loader: bail the water into a bucket, or lower the drain hose into a bucket on the floor and let gravity empty the tub. Check the plastic tab on the lid isn't broken.
- 6Check the drain hose behind the washer for kinks, plug it back in, and run Drain and Spin with no clothes. Listen for the pump.
When to call a pro
- The pump hums, grinds or stays silent with a clear filter and hose.
- The standpipe backs up, or water comes up in a floor drain or tub when the washer drains.
- Water leaks from under the washer.
- A lid switch or door lock error keeps coming back after a reset.
What it costs
| Job | DIY parts | Pro, installed |
|---|---|---|
| Appliance repair diagnostic visit | — | $75–$200 |
| Replace the drain hose | $10–$30 | $100–$250 |
| Replace a lid switch or door lock | $25–$100 | $150–$350 |
| Replace the drain pump | $40–$150 | $200–$450 |
| Clear a clogged standpipe or laundry drain | $15–$50 | $150–$400 |
Ballpark US ranges as of September 28, 2026. Your region, access and the specifics of your home can move these a lot. Get two or three quotes for anything over a few hundred dollars.
What to tell the pro
My [top-load / front-load] washer, about [age] years old, leaves water in the drum [after every cycle / some of the time] and [won't spin / spins slowly]. At the drain step I hear [a hum / grinding / nothing]. The display shows [error code / no code]. I've [cleaned the pump filter / checked the hose for kinks / checked the standpipe], and the standpipe [drains fine / backs up]. What do you think has failed, and does your price include the part, labor and a warranty on the repair?
Questions people ask
Why won't my washing machine drain?
The usual causes are a clogged drain pump filter, a kinked or clogged drain hose, a faulty lid switch or door lock, a clogged standpipe, or a failed drain pump. Check the hose and clean the pump filter first. If the pump hums or stays silent with everything clear, it likely needs replacing.
How do I drain a washing machine full of water?
Unplug it first. On a front-loader, open the small panel at the bottom front and let the water run out of the little drain hose into a shallow pan, emptying it as often as you need, before you unscrew the filter. On a top-loader, bail it into a bucket, or pull the drain hose out of the standpipe and lower it into a bucket on the floor so gravity empties the tub.
Where is the drain pump filter on a washing machine?
On most front-loaders it's behind a small panel at the bottom front corner, sometimes called a coin trap. Many top-loaders don't have one you can reach without opening the cabinet, so check the manual. Clean it every few months, or whenever the washer is slow to drain.
How much does it cost to fix a washer that won't drain?
Clearing a clogged filter or hose costs nothing but time. An appliance tech typically charges $200 to $450 to replace a drain pump and $150 to $350 for a lid switch or door lock. If the washer is more than about 10 years old and needs a bigger repair than that, replacing it often makes more sense.
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General guidance, not a substitute for a licensed professional who can see the problem in person. If you smell gas, see sparks or smoke, or anyone is hurt, leave the area and call 911.