You open the door at the end of a cycle and the drum is full of water, or the machine stops mid-programme with soaking wet laundry inside. It happens more often than you'd expect, and it's almost never a serious fault. Most of the time something is blocking the drain, and you can usually sort it yourself in half an hour without calling anyone out.
How a washing machine drains
At the end of a cycle, a pump pushes water from the drum through the drain hose and into your household waste pipe. Along that route there's a filter that catches coins, buttons and hair, plus a hose that needs to stay clear. If the pump struggles, the filter is clogged or the hose is kinked or blocked, the water has nowhere to go and stays in the drum.
The most common causes
- Blocked pump filter. This is the number-one cause. It collects fluff, hair, coins and small objects that fall out of pockets.
- Kinked or blocked drain hose. A tight bend behind the machine, or a build-up of limescale and debris, can stop water flowing.
- Faulty drain pump. If you hear a hum but water isn't moving, the pump impeller may be jammed or broken.
- Blocked household drain. Sometimes the problem isn't the machine at all , it's the pipe in the wall.
- Programme error or electronics fault. An interrupted cycle or a control board error can halt the drain phase.
What you can check yourself
Start by unplugging the machine and turning off the water supply tap. Then work through things methodically.
- Drain manually if needed. Put a cloth and a shallow bowl under the filter flap at the bottom of the machine , water will come out.
- Clean the filter. Unscrew the filter cap, pull out whatever is in there, rinse it clean and screw it back in firmly. This fixes the majority of cases.
- Check the drain hose. Pull it out from behind the machine, straighten any kinks and make sure it isn't blocked.
- Run a spin-only cycle. Once everything is clear, run a spin cycle to see if the water drains properly now.
When you need a technician
If you've cleaned the filter and hose and water still won't drain, the problem is deeper. A burned-out drain pump, a faulty control board or an internal leak are not DIY jobs. The same applies if you smell burning plastic or the circuit breaker trips: disconnect the machine immediately and call a qualified engineer, because continuing to run it can make the damage worse and create a safety hazard.
How to prevent it happening again
Prevention is straightforward, but almost nobody does it consistently. Empty pockets before putting clothes in the machine so coins and tissues don't end up in the filter. Clean the pump filter every two to three months , it takes five minutes. Check occasionally that the hose behind the machine hasn't been pinched by pushing the machine back against the wall. If your appliance is old and keeps stopping, take a look at our home appliances section, where you'll find current models with an easy-access front filter and error codes on the display.