Washing machine not draining? Find the cause and get it repaired
Has the programme finished, but is your laundry still swimming in water? Or does the door refuse to open because the drum is still full? That is frustrating, especially with a full laundry basket waiting. The cause is often found quickly, and you can often fix it yourself.
Repaired at home
How we help
A washing machine that doesn't drain leaves the water in the drum and keeps the door locked for safety. The cause is usually the lint filter, the drain hose or the drain pump. Below you can read what you can check yourself, which error code belongs to your brand and when it is better to have a technician come.
A machine that doesn't drain is almost never a reason to buy a new one. The part involved is usually cheap and quick to replace.
How it works, in 3 steps
Prices
How much does washing machine repair cost?
Whether your washing machine won't drain, leaks or shows an error code: you pay the same fixed price, whatever the brand.
A technician finds out at your home why your washing machine isn't working properly. If you don't go ahead with the repair, you only pay for the diagnosis.
If the technician can repair your washing machine, you pay €110. No time limit: even if it takes long or a second visit is needed.
Spare parts are not included. The technician tells you in advance if a part is needed and what it costs.
Chrono surcharge for a visit in the evening, at the weekend or just a few hours after your request.
Second appliance during the same visit? The technician can check and repair it too for €80.
Maintenance as well? The technician can also clean and check your appliance thoroughly, for €50 per appliance on top of the diagnosis and repair.
Prefer remote help first? A video repair costs €49. See all our prices →
What can you check yourself first?
Note: always unplug the machine from the socket first.
Is the lint filter of my washing machine clogged?
By far the most common cause. A stray sock, a hairpin or a lump of lint stops the water before it reaches the pump. Open the flap at the bottom right of the machine. Have a large towel ready and use a flat container, or the small emergency hose next to the filter, so the water drains out safely.
Unscrew the filter and clean it thoroughly. Check with your finger in the opening that the pump impeller at the back turns freely. Then screw the filter back in tightly.
Is there a kink in the drain hose?
Gently slide the machine forward a little. Check that the ribbed grey drain hose at the back is not kinked or trapped. The water needs space to flow away.
Is the drain in the wall blocked?
Sometimes your machine works perfectly and the blockage is in the pipes of your home. Take the drain hose out of the drain pipe in the wall and carefully pour some water into that pipe. If it doesn’t drain away or overflows, you need a plumber, not a home appliance technician. You can also hang the hose, with its bend, in a bucket. If the machine then pumps out smoothly, the cause is further down the drainage of your home.
When do you need a technician?
Have you cleaned the filter, is the hose straight and does the drain in the wall flow well? Then the blockage or fault is deeper inside the machine.
Is the drain pump of my washing machine faulty?
Do you hear a soft hum while the machine tries to pump out, but nothing happens? Then the pump is blocked or the magnetic motor of the pump has burnt out. This is a typical job for a technician.
Is there a blockage in an internal hose?
Between the drum and the drain pump is a thick black rubber hose. There is often also a small ‘eco ball’ inside that saves detergent. If a small item of clothing, such as a baby sock, gets stuck, the whole drain is blocked.
Can a faulty level sensor or control board be the cause?
Yes. The machine then wrongly ‘thinks’ it is already empty and never tells the pump to start. A technician checks this during the diagnosis.
Is your machine still full of water? Don’t panic. Our technicians carry drain pumps and hoses for most brands and often solve this within the hour, at your home.
Which error code does a washing machine show when it isn't draining?
Has your machine shown an error code? Then it has already noticed that the water isn't going down.
| Brand | Code | What is going on |
|---|---|---|
| Bosch, Siemens | E18, F18 | The pump-out time has been exceeded. Usually a clogged filter, a kinked hose or a blocked pump. |
| Bosch, Siemens | E6, E25, E26, E30, E36 | Variants of E18. The exact code depends on the model and software version. |
| AEG, Electrolux, Zanussi | E20, E21, C2 | The machine cannot pump the water away. |
| AEG, Electrolux, Zanussi | EF0 | Often a clogged filter or drain hose, or the water protection (aquastop) is active. |
| Miele | F11 | Fault in the water drainage. The pump is blocked or faulty. |
| Samsung | 5E, SE, Nd | Drain error: the water is not pumped out quickly enough. |
| LG | OE | The machine could not remove the water within a set time. Check the filter, hose or pump. |
| Whirlpool, Bauknecht | F3, F4, F21, FP | Water drainage problem: filter or pump blocked. |
| Beko | EF1, EF20 | Problem with the drain pump or a blockage in the drain. |
Codes can vary by model and year. Check the manual of your machine to be sure. Give the code when you book, so the technician knows which part to bring.
How does the drain pump of a washing machine work?
How does such a small part get 20 to 30 litres of water out?
The drain pump is usually a magnet pump: a magnetic field makes a small plastic paddle wheel spin. That makes it reliable, but also sensitive. It has little starting power. One toothpick or a coin resting against the paddle is enough to block the pump. You then often hear a hum: the pump tries to turn but doesn’t pump.
Is it worth repairing a washing machine that isn't draining?
Almost always. A faulty drain pump sounds serious, but it is one of the cheapest and quickest parts to replace. With a blockage in an internal hose, a technician is usually busy for about an hour, at your home.
Unless your machine is older than ten to twelve years and has other faults, repairing is the smartest choice. That way a good appliance doesn't end up on the waste pile. Is your washing machine still under the manufacturer's warranty? Then contact the manufacturer or the shop: we don't repair appliances under manufacturer's warranty.
How do you stop your washing machine from not draining again?
Why wash small items in a laundry bag?
Baby socks and thongs are notorious. During the wash they slip between the spinning drum and the rubber door seal and end up directly in the drain hose. In a laundry bag they stay where they belong.
Why check your pockets?
Coins, screws, nails and hairpins can damage the plastic blades of the pump. Empty the pockets before putting trousers in the wash.
How often should you clean the filter?
Don’t wait until the machine refuses to drain. Open the filter every three to four months and rinse it clean under the tap.
How do you keep the drain pipe clean?
Twice a year, pour a splash of boiling water with some soda into the drain pipe in the wall, to dissolve soap residue. Only put the drain hose back once the pipe has been flushed. More maintenance tips are on our washing machine cleaning page.
Where do we repair washing machines at home?
Our technicians work in Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region, East Flanders, West Flanders, Flemish Brabant, Limburg, Liège, Namur, Hainaut and Walloon Brabant.
Do your technicians have to travel from Vilvoorde every morning?
No. Our technicians live all over Belgium and set off every morning from their own municipality. The parts they need are delivered straight to their homes. That way we get to you quickly, without long drives and often as soon as the next working day.
Another problem with your washing machine?
Our washing machine repair page covers all symptoms, error codes and brands. Is your machine no longer heating the water? Read washing machine not heating. Got another broken appliance? We repair it during the same visit for €80 extra.
Frequently asked questions about a washing machine that isn't draining
As long as there is water in the drum, the door stays electronically locked, to prevent a flood. First let the water drain manually through the small hose or the filter at the bottom. Once the machine is empty, you often hear a click after a minute and the door opens again. Some brands also have an emergency release cord next to the filter.
Usually a hard object, such as a button or a coin, is stuck in the pump housing. The pump’s paddle keeps hitting it. Switch the machine off immediately, let the water drain and remove the object from the filter before the paddle breaks.
Open the flap (usually at the bottom right) and put a container ready. Loosen the filter without removing it and let the water drain. Then unscrew it completely, remove lint and objects from the opening and check that the pump impeller turns freely. Rinse the filter under the tap, put it back and tighten it properly, otherwise it leaks. Close the flap.
Check that it is not kinked or trapped and that the height and length match the manual. A washing machine pump generally pumps up to about 1 metre high. If the drain is higher, the pump burns out faster. If the bend is fitted too tightly in the drain pipe, air cannot pass and the pump works too hard.
The diagnosis at your home costs €69. If you choose the repair, you pay €179 in total at most, however long the technician needs. Parts, such as a new drain pump, are charged separately. The technician tells you that price in advance.
If the technician has the right part with them, the repair is usually done within the hour. The machine doesn’t need to go to a workshop: we do it at your home.
No. If your washing machine is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, contact the manufacturer or the shop where you bought it. A repair by us could void that warranty.
We give a 3-month warranty on every repair. If the same fault comes back within that period, we return at no extra cost.
Use the button on this page to choose a day and a time slot yourself in our booking module. If you have a question afterwards, you can call us on 02 615 45 20. Give the brand, the model number and, if there is one, the error code.