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Washer Drain pump: What It Does and Signs It's Failing

The drain pump is a small electric pump low in the cabinet, where the hose from the bottom of the tub meets the drain hose. It pushes wash and rinse water out of the tub and up the drain hose to your standpipe or laundry sink. It runs during the drain and spin parts of the cycle.

How it works

A small motor spins an impeller inside a plastic housing. Water drops from the tub into the housing, and the impeller throws it out through the outlet. Coins and buttons that get past the filter can jam it.

Signs it is failing

• Water left standing in the drum when the cycle ends
• Slow or incomplete draining, so clothes come out soaking wet
• Silence from the pump during a spin-only cycle, where you'd normally hear a hum
• Grinding or rattling during the drain
• Water leaking under the washer
• Burning smell from the bottom of the machine

Won't-drain and long-drain codes usually land here once the pump filter and drain hose have been checked. A pump circuit code points at the pump motor or its wiring.

Can you replace it yourself?

Clean the pump filter and straighten the drain hose before you buy a pump, since those two clear most drain codes. LG's quick test is a spin-only cycle on high: in the first 15 seconds or so you should hear the pump hum. If it's dead, unplug the washer, shut both faucets, drain the tub into a pan, and plan on taking off the front or bottom panel; keep towels down because the hoses hold water.

Buying the right part

Look the pump up by the full model number on the tag inside the door or lid, and check whether the listing is the pump alone or the pump with its filter housing.

Error codes linked to the drain pump

• F9 E1Washer is taking too long to drainAmana
• F21Drain problemAmana
• E18 / F18Washer is not drainingBosch
• E:30Water level problem (read the number after the code)Bosch
• E:36Drain pump blockedBosch
• E21Washer is not draining properlyElectrolux
• E21Washer is draining too slowlyFrigidaire
• EF1Drain pump is cloggedFrigidaire
• E30Washer will not drainGE
• E31Draining took too longGE
• PoSlow drain (top-load)GE
• SudToo many sudsGE
• E1Washer isn't drainingHaier
• F05Not draining: blocked pump filter or waste hoseHotpoint (UK)
• F11Drain pump circuit faultHotpoint (UK)
• OEWater won't drainLG
• FFWasher is frozenLG
• F9E1Washer is taking too long to drainMaytag
• 5CWasher is not drainingSamsung
• F9E1Long drain timeWhirlpool
• F21Drain problem (older front-loaders)Whirlpool
• F0E2Too many sudsWhirlpool

Last reviewed 2026-10-19.