Home bathroom and sanitaryWashing machine is not pumping - the 10 most common reasons

Washing machine is not pumping - the 10 most common reasons

  • The 10 most common causes
    • lint
    • Foreign matter or dirt
    • Lye pump defective
    • hoses
    • siphon
    • Ablaufkrümmer
    • fan belt
    • Defective components
    • Rinse hold function
    • fuse

Washing machines are a reliable household appliance that has become an integral part of a modern home. It is all the more annoying if the washing machine does not pump off the water during or after a wash and this is in the drum. Depending on the age and condition of the machine, this may have different causes, which severely limit the effectiveness of the device. We will inform you about possible causes for this problem.

Fresh linen is a treat and important for the job, the school and everyday life. If there is a problem with the washing machine, this can confound the entire rhythm of work and leisure, which is particularly unsuitable for large families, since they are even more dependent on a functioning household. One of the most common problems of the machines is standing water in the drum, through which the clothes have to be hung soaking wet. In this case, the water is not pumped out properly and in many cases the spin cycle is not performed properly, which also ensures a flood in the bathroom. The causes can be numerous and do not always have to be a defect.

What are problems with pumping to recognize ">

  • Water is in the drum
  • Washing machine door can not be opened
  • Program aborts, washing machine shows corresponding error message for the water drain
  • Machine moves loudly through the room
  • Tapping noises can be heard from the washing machine

If any of the above symptoms occur, it is likely that there is a problem with pumping. You should then drain the water first so that you can better analyze the possible cause. For this there is actually a separate drain hose on each washing machine, which is located next to the lint filter and over which you can drain the excess water. This is very easy to recognize, because it consists of black rubber in most cases. The tube is then pulled out, the stopper removed and the water drained into a shallow dish. Now you can search for the source of the error.

The 10 most common causes

A washing machine, like a dishwasher, is a device that has a variety of components that break down, wear out, or cause trouble. Some mistakes can be corrected by a few simple steps, while others require a specialist, for example, because of a defect in the machine. For this reason, it is important that you know exactly what causes it and how it can be located. If the machine can not pump out the water, the following causes may occur:

  • the lint filter
  • damaged drain pump
  • Foreign matter in the drain pump
  • Problems with the hoses
  • Problems with the siphon connection
  • Problems with the drain
  • cracked V-belt
  • defective electronics
  • Rinse hold function activated
  • Problems with the backup

Note: Before analyzing the fault, be sure to disconnect the machine from the power, otherwise the unit will be hazardous. For some causes, you have to unscrew the rear part of the machine to discover the error, such as the V-belt.

lint

The lint filter is always one of the first parts of the washing machine that you should examine for such a problem. It is located in the outer part of the drain pump and is opened by a screw mechanism, so that it can then be pulled out. If you do not have a modern machine at home to tell you if the lint filter is clogged, you should clean it if you suspect you have problems pumping it out. To do this, proceed as follows:

  • locate the service cover in the lower front of the machine
  • open with a flat-head screwdriver if there is no opening mechanism
  • Place either a shallow bowl or many towels under the opening
  • As a precaution, put on rinsing gloves if you are sensitive to cleaning agents
  • unscrew the lint filter, this requires some strength
  • pull out the lint filter
  • Now some residual water will flow out of the pump
  • clean the strainer under hot water
  • stubborn lint should be removed with your fingers
  • also remove lint from the opening of the drain pump
  • then turn the sieve back in
  • close the flap
  • Check again if the problem persists
lint

Once the lint filter has been checked, most of the machines will work again. This is a common problem for older devices in particular, as they do not have a fault indicator that indicates the clogged lint filter. You may expect the lint filter to be cleaned after a certain number of washes, especially if you are doing laundry or washing heavily soiled clothing.

Foreign matter or dirt

Even small foreign objects such as money coins, Lego or buttons can clog the drain pump, which can then no longer perform their service effectively. Foreign bodies in the drain pump are quite easy to recognize. All you need is a flashlight:

  • remove the lint filter from the opening as above
  • let excess water drain off
  • shine into the hole
  • only four wings, like a propeller, should be visible
  • Foreign objects are too large to get through and are easily visible
  • Use pliers or a stick to remove foreign objects
  • close the pump again
  • Now the machine should be usable again

Note: You'll be amazed what kind of hardware can get into the washing machine. Therefore, pay more and more attention to empty pockets to avoid possible blockage.

Lye pump defective

If the drain pump is damaged, the washing machine can no longer transfer the water and thus it remains in the machine. The reason for this is the wear of the drain pump. Wear can even be exacerbated if the drain hose or pump itself is clogged and repeatedly pumped against the obstacle. If the water still does not drain after checking the following points, it can be assumed that the drain pump is defective:

  • Lint filter cleaned
  • Lye pump checked for blockages
  • Sewage hose checked
  • Program selected without rinse hold

In addition, if a clacking loud noise from the bottom of the washing machine to hear, this is also a sign of the damaged pump. You can either replace them yourself or hand over this work to a specialist. Lye pumps are quite cheap for a price of 15 to 40 euros and can be exchanged by yourself with little knowledge.

hoses

In the washing machine is a variety of hoses, which are responsible for the drainage. This includes:

  • drain hose
  • Hose of the drain pump
  • Ventilation hoses inside the machine

Apart from the ventilation hoses, you can easily check the specified hoses yourself, as they can be reached easily. The ventilation hoses can only be reached once the front and one side of the washing machine have been dismantled, for which specialist knowledge is necessary. In particular, check the sewage hose for kinks, blockages or cracks. It often happens that the drain hose is stored too high and the pump does not have enough power, especially in the case of a blockage, to carry the water. Be sure to replace worn hoses.

siphon

Depending on how your washing machine is connected, it is connected via a siphon connection. This is often the case for machines that are in the kitchen as they use the drain above the sink. Therefore check the siphon connection, whether it has been mounted in the right direction or is clogged. Especially dual connections for two devices without check valve sometimes divert the waste water from the other device into the hose of the washing machines. This can lead to all sorts of blockages.

Tip: If you disassemble the siphon connection, you should definitely put a bucket under it. You do not want to submerge everything.

Ablaufkrümmer

The drainage inside the machine can often be clogged with garments such as socks or other small parts. This can be seen when the water is in the machine, but does not leak after opening the lint filter. If the exhaust manifold is clogged or damaged, contact a specialist or the manufacturer's support, as this repair or cleaning is not easy and parts of the interior must be removed. Since the drainpipe routes the water from the machine pan to the pump, this part must work.

fan belt

Like a car, the engine of the washing machine has a V-belt needed to move the drum. The longer you use a machine, the higher is the chance that it will tear due to wear or jump off the V-belt pulleys after moving the machine. You recognize a cracked V-belt when the machine stops moving or can be used, because without V-belt, the device is shut down. The repair should only be carried out by a specialist.

Defective components

Due to the numerous components within the machine, it can always come back to problems, especially in electronics. If the timing belt or the exhaust manifold is not responsible for the machine not pumping out, you should have the device checked by a professional.

Rinse hold function

Sometimes it can happen that the rinse stop has been activated by mistake. The rinse stop is a function that is used for sensitive laundry such as lingerie that does not spin. Simply start an extra spin and see if the problem is resolved.

fuse

It may happen that the current program of the machine is interrupted when the fuse blows out. Of course, then the water can not drain away. Once the backup works again, you should just run the program here again or perform an additional spin cycle.

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