Front-load washers trap coins, hair ties and lint in a small filter right before the drain pump. When that filter clogs, the cycle stalls, the drum stays full and the door often stays locked. Clearing it takes about ten minutes and plenty of towels.
What to have on hand
- Old towels, and a shallow baking dish or tray
- A flashlight
- Gloves, since the water won't be pleasant
Step by step
- Unplug the washer. If the last cycle was hot, wait until the water has cooled.
- Find the access panel low on the front, usually in a corner. Some pop off by hand; others flip open with a coin.
- Drain through the little hose first, if your model has one beside the filter. Pull it out, uncap it over the tray and let the water out one trayful at a time. A full drum can hold several gallons.
- Turn the filter slowly counter-clockwise once the hose runs dry. Expect a bit more water.
- Clean the filter and its opening. Shine the light inside and turn the pump impeller with a finger. It should move in small jerks rather than feel jammed.
- Screw it back hand-tight, then run a short spin-only cycle and watch for drips.
If the water still won't leave
- A hum, but no water moving: the pump may be jammed or worn out.
- No sound at all: the control may not be asking the pump to run, often because of a door lock or water-level sensor fault.
- Slow draining: check whether the drain hose is bent or squashed, or clogged where it enters the standpipe.
Top-load washers usually don't have a filter you can reach. The same symptom there points to the pump, the hose or the lid switch. See washer repair for what a visit covers.
