The drain pump filter sits behind a small door or panel at the bottom front of most front-load washers. Unplug the washer, drain the trapped water through the little hose into a shallow pan, unscrew the filter counterclockwise, rinse it, and screw it back in tight. Plan on 15 to 20 minutes and a few towels.
What the filter does and when to clean it
Everything that leaves your pockets ends up here: coins, hair ties, lint, pet hair, bra wires, the occasional earring. The filter catches it before it reaches the drain pump impeller, which would otherwise jam or crack.
Whirlpool says to clean it every few months or as needed, depending on how much you wash and how much lint your loads shed. Households with pets or lots of towels should check it more often. You'll know it's overdue when loads come out wetter than usual, cycles run long, the washer smells musty, or the display shows a drain code such as OE (LG), 5C (Samsung), F9E1 (Whirlpool, Maytag), E21 or EF1 (Frigidaire) or E18 (Bosch).
Most top-load washers don't have a filter you can reach this way. Check your owner's manual before you start taking panels off.
What you'll need
Expect more water than you think. A washer that stopped mid-cycle with a drain fault can hold several gallons, and you'll be emptying the pan over and over.
- Old towels, at least three
- A baking dish or roasting pan low enough to fit under the filter opening
- A bucket to empty the pan into
- A coin or flat screwdriver, for access doors that pop open with a twist
- An old toothbrush and rubber gloves
Find the filter
Look along the bottom front of the cabinet. On many LG and Samsung front-loaders it's behind a small door in one of the lower corners, which you press or open with a coin. On other models it sits behind a lower panel, and on some Whirlpool washers you open or remove the storage drawer underneath to reach it. To take that drawer out, Whirlpool has you push down on the tab on the right side and up on the tab on the left.
Behind the cover you'll see a round cap with a handle (the filter) and, on most models, a short black or gray drain tube clipped beside it.
Step by step
Unplug the washer. If the last cycle was hot, wait until the water has cooled before you open anything.
Lay towels on the floor in front of the access panel and set the shallow pan right under the opening.
Unclip the small drain tube, hold its end in the pan, and pull out its plug. Let the water run until it stops, putting the plug back in each time the pan gets close to full. If the flow slows to a trickle while the tub is still full, the debris is probably in the filter itself, so go slowly in the next step.
Push the plug firmly back into the tube and clip the tube back in place.
Turn the filter counterclockwise, slowly. More water will come out as the seal breaks, so keep the pan and towels close and stop turning for a moment if it starts to gush.
Pull the filter out and clear it by hand. Rinse it under the tap and scrub the mesh or fins with the toothbrush.
Shine a flashlight into the opening. Pick out anything wedged inside, and check that the pump impeller (the small vaned wheel at the back) turns freely when you nudge it with a finger.
Screw the filter back in clockwise until it stops. Whirlpool says to turn it as far as it will go; on their models the handle should end up close to vertical.
Close the panel, plug in, and run Rinse & Spin or Drain & Spin with an empty drum. Watch the filter area for drips during the drain.
If the filter won't unscrew
A filter that hasn't been touched in years can be stuck with lint and detergent residue, or held tight by something jammed behind it. Grip the handle with both hands and turn steadily. Don't use pliers on the plastic handle; it can snap, and then you're buying a new filter housing.
Rocking it gently back and forth often breaks it loose. If it still won't budge, stop and call a technician, since forcing it can crack the pump housing.
If it leaks afterward
Usually the filter isn't screwed all the way in, or it went in at an angle. Unplug, catch the water, take it out and thread it again, making sure it seats straight. Check that the rubber seal ring on the filter is in its groove and not twisted or torn. The drain tube plug is the other suspect, so make sure it's pushed fully home.
Never run the washer with the filter out. Water will pour straight onto the floor, and debris can go into the pump.
Make it a habit
Check pockets before washing, and zip small items like socks and delicates into a mesh bag. Put a recurring reminder in your phone to check the filter every couple of months. It's a dirty five-minute job when you do it often, and a wet half-hour one when you wait for an error code.
When to call a professional
Have a technician take over if the filter won't come out without force, if the pump impeller won't turn or is broken, or if the washer still won't drain with a clean filter and a clear hose. A drain pump that hums without moving water, or stays silent, needs testing.
Parts involved
Error codes for this problem
- OEWater won't drainLG
- 5CWasher is not drainingSamsung
- F9 E1Washer is taking too long to drainAmana
- F9E1Washer is taking too long to drainMaytag
- F9E1Long drain timeWhirlpool
- E21Washer is not draining properlyElectrolux
- E21Washer is draining too slowlyFrigidaire
- EF1Drain pump is cloggedFrigidaire
- E18 / F18Washer is not drainingBosch
- F05Not draining: blocked pump filter or waste hoseHotpoint (UK)