Washer not draining (water remains in tub)

Use only checks that match the exact appliance or system and its official guide.

1. Check 1

   Stop the washer and record whether the tub has visible standing water, the clothing is merely wet, the cycle ended or paused, a lid or door indicator is present, and any display code; keep hands out of the water and do not restart repeatedly.

   Expected result: The tub is visibly full, only clothing is wet, the cycle stopped before drain, a lid or door code is present, or no code is shown.

   Next step: If water is near an outlet, cord, or control, stop and use the safety boundary. Otherwise continue with the cycle and external drain checks; do not open a panel to reach trapped water.

   Stop if: Stop immediately for water near electrical parts, a damaged cord, smoke, burning odor, sparks, or uncontrolled leakage.

   Why this matters

   Why: Visible water or a stopped drain stage makes a drain hose, household drain, filter, pump, or control issue more likely. Wet clothing with little or no visible water can instead reflect low/no spin, an unbalanced load, or an incomplete cycle.

2. Check 2

   Check whether Low Spin, No Spin, a delicate cycle, or a pause was selected; if the manual permits it and there is no hazard, redistribute a bulky or uneven load and run the documented Drain and Spin or Rinse and Spin cycle once.

   Expected result: The load was unbalanced, the selected cycle used little or no spin, the machine completes the drain-and-spin cycle, or the tub still holds water afterward.

   Next step: Use the model-recommended cycle and load size if the tub empties. If water remains, stop repeated cycles and inspect the external drain path next.

   Stop if: Do not reach into a moving basket, force a locked lid or door, or continue if the washer shakes violently, leaks, or shows a repeated fault.

   Why this matters

   Why: A corrected load or cycle that removes water points to spin selection or load balance rather than a blocked pump. Water that remains after a documented drain cycle makes the drain hose, household drain, pump filter, pump, or control path more likely.

3. Check 3

   With the washer stopped, inspect the visible drain hose from the cabinet to the standpipe, laundry tub, or utility sink; look for kinks, crushing, a loose end, an airtight seal, excessive insertion, or a blocked household drain, and check for water backing up at the outlet.

   Expected result: The hose is kinked or clogged, the end has slipped, the outlet is sealed or inserted contrary to the manual, the standpipe or sink backs up, or the external route is clear.

   Next step: Correct only an obvious accessible hose position or kink according to the manual. Clear a household drain only with normal plumbing methods and without chemical drain cleaner in the washer. If the outlet backs up, arrange plumbing help; if it is clear but the tub remains full, continue to the model-specific filter check.

   Stop if: Do not detach a hose full of water without a safe containment plan, seal the drain opening with tape, move a stacked unit, or push tools into the hose or pump.

   Why this matters

   Why: A restricted hose or household drain can prevent the pump from emptying the tub. A hose that is too deep or sealed can create siphoning or backflow. A clear, correctly routed external path makes a filter, pump, or internal control problem more likely.

4. Check 4

   If the exact owner manual identifies a user-accessible pump filter or emergency drain hose, turn the washer off, let hot water cool, place towels and a shallow container, and follow that procedure to remove lint or small debris; do not open other panels.

   Expected result: The model has no documented user filter, the filter contains lint or an object, the filter is clean, or water cannot be contained safely.

   Next step: Refit the filter and cap exactly as documented, then run one model-approved drain test if safe. If the filter will not seat, is damaged, or does not restore flow, arrange appliance service.

   Stop if: Do not force the filter, remove a sealed pump cover, use a sharp tool near the impeller, or work while water is hot or near electrical parts.

   Why this matters

   Why: A blocked accessible filter can restrict pump flow. A clean filter, no documented access, or unsafe residual-water handling shifts the likely cause toward the drain pump, internal hose, control, or a service-only procedure.

5. Check 5

   After only the documented external correction, observe one drain or Drain and Spin attempt from a dry, safe position; note whether water flows steadily, flows slowly, the pump hums with no flow, the washer is silent, water returns, or a fault appears.

   Expected result: Water flows and the tub empties, flow is weak or intermittent, a hum occurs without movement, the pump is silent, water backs up, or the display shows a drain-related fault.

   Next step: Stop testing when the result is unchanged, unsafe, or unclear. Give the technician the exact sound, flow pattern, code, water level, and checks already completed.

   Stop if: Do not measure live voltage, bypass a lid or door lock, remove panels, or run repeated drain attempts with abnormal noise, odor, heat, smoke, or a leak.

   Why this matters

   Why: Steady flow after correction supports a hose, load, or household-drain issue that was resolved. Weak flow or a hum without movement can indicate a restriction or pump problem; silence or a recurring fault can involve a lid or door interlock, wiring, control, or pump. Backflow points back to drain routing or household plumbing.

6. Check 6

   Only if the tub emptied and no hazard occurred, compare one correctly sized, balanced load with the original result; record whether the issue returns only with bulky laundry, returns with an empty tub, or is accompanied by backflow or a code.

   Expected result: An empty or balanced load drains normally, every load remains full, only the household outlet backs up, or the fault returns regardless of load.

   Next step: Keep the washer out of service when the tub remains full or the fault repeats. Arrange appliance service for a washer-side fault and plumbing service for a household drain backup.

   Stop if: Do not keep rerunning full cycles, leave standing water in the washer for extended periods, or replace a pump or control without model-specific diagnosis.

   Why this matters

   Why: Load-dependent recovery supports balance, spin, or cycle selection. Failure with an empty tub makes a restriction, pump, drain hose, control, or household drain problem more likely. Outlet-only backup needs plumbing attention rather than a washer part.