The pump is situated at the bottom of the washing machine and is used to pump the water from the wash, into the drain hose, to be drained away.
If your washing machine is failing to drain during a wash cycle, it could be that there is a problem with the drain pump.
Firstly, just to check you are on the right path, here are the warning signs that your drain pump is broken:
- You can't hear the pump when it’s draining the water out
- You can hear a low humming sound when on spin cycle but the water doesn’t drain
- The washing machine fills up with water as normal
- If the water is drained the Spin cycle still works as normal
There are a couple of things to check first before you start thinking of replacing the drain pump.
Blockages can occur within your drain hose, and also with the pump filter, so just check these parts of the appliance to see if either of them could be the cause of the failure in draining.
If you do need to replace the drain pump but are unsure where to start, there’s no need to panic.
We’ll talk you through how to successfully replace the drain pump without damaging your washing machine.
This video shows an example on how to remove or replace the part on a machine with a front mounted heater, some models may be different but the procedure should be similar.
For rear mounted heaters please see our other videos.
What You Will Need:
- Drain Pump
- Screwdriver
- Pliers
- Bowl to drain the machine (if required)
Step 1 - Safety Advice
Safety First! Please make sure that you have disconnected the appliance from the mains before beginning any repair.
Step 2 - Drain The Water
You need to drain any water in the drum away now. You can lower the drain hose to a bowl or use the hose located near the filter, or you can unscrew the filter to drain the water out too.
Be prepared for a lot of water if the machine has not drained.
Step 3 - Remove The Top & Rear Panels
First, remove the top and back panels using a screwdriver.
Proceed to put the appliance on its side, you might need help to do this as it can be quite heavy.
It is important to remember that the drum is suspended inside the washing machine - so be careful when lowering.
Step 4 - Remove The Old Pump
Let’s get that old pump out of there…start by disconnecting the wires, and remove the hose and clamp from the pump.
Using a pair of pliers, move the clamp further down the drain hose away from the pump, allowing the hose to move.
You can now detach the old pump by releasing the clip and turning it anti-clockwise, then pulling it away (have a towel ready for any remaining water spilt).
Step 5 - Fit The New Pump
Let’s get that new pump in there…and it is just about doing everything you have already done - but in reverse! Firmly push the new pump in place and turn it clockwise.
Now it's just a matter of clipping a couple of parts back together and you’ll soon be done in no time. Using the pliers put the clamp back where it was and pop the wiring back in too. It really is that easy!
Congratulations - you have now successfully been able to replace your washing machine drain pump!
You can now get back to being able to wash your clothes again in no time, in the knowledge that you have fixed the drain pump all by yourself (with a little help from eSpares of course!)
Fancy Giving Your Washing Machine Some Loving Care & Attention?
Your washing machine no doubt works hard for you in getting your clothes looking fresh again.
If you want to show it some TLC, then it is a great idea to protect it from the build-up of limescale & detergent that can happen over time in your machine.
Introducing the eSpares Limescale & Detergent Remover - where by using this you can help protect from this, as well as removing bad odours and bacteria build-up.
*Not suitable for top loading appliances
Need To Locate The Correct Drain Pump For Your Washing Machine?
Fixing your washing machine drain pump yourself can save you a lot of money compared to booking a repair or buying a new washing machine.
Here at eSpares, we have a wide-range of replacement washing machine drain pumps for you to select from - so you can soon be on your way to repairing it yourself.
Now you can add washing machine drain pump replacement to your DIY repertoire. Congratulations!
If you need any other help for your appliances you can find more videos from Mat and the team at eSpares, who are always on hand with appliance repair advice in your time of need.