Cleaning a front-load washer drain pump filter starts at the small access door on the bottom front: drain the leftover water into a shallow pan, unscrew the filter, clear out lint and debris, and screw it back in firmly. A slow drain, water left in the drum or a drain error are the usual triggers, and a check every few months heads them off.
Time: about 30 minutes · Difficulty: Easy · You'll need: a shallow baking pan or tray, plenty of towels, a flashlight, a coin or flat tool for the access door, rubber gloves
Before you start
- •Unplug the washer.
- •If it just ran a hot cycle, wait for the water to cool before draining it.
- •Expect more water than you think. A washer that stopped mid-cycle can hold a lot.
- •Keep children and pets away from the open filter area.
Steps
Step 1 — Find the access door
On many front-load washers, including many LG and Samsung models, the filter sits behind a small panel at the lower front corner. Press or pry the panel open with a coin as your manual shows. A few front-load models have no user-cleanable filter, and the manual will say so.
Step 2 — Use the drain tube first
Many models have a small drain hose next to the filter. Pull it out, aim it into the pan, remove its cap, and let water run out, recapping it each time the pan fills.
Step 3 — Unscrew the filter slowly
Once the drum is drained, turn the filter counterclockwise slowly with towels underneath. Some water will still come out.
Step 4 — Clean the filter
Pull out lint, hair, coins, buttons and anything else you find. Rinse the filter under warm water.
Step 5 — Check the opening
With a flashlight, look into the filter opening for debris. On some models you can see the pump impeller; it should turn a little by hand. Don't use tools in the pump.
Step 6 — Reinstall and test
Screw the filter back in clockwise until it's firmly seated, tuck the drain tube back, and close the panel. Plug the washer in and run a rinse and spin while you watch for leaks.
Didn't fix it?
If the washer still won't drain with a clean filter, check the drain hose for kinks and make sure it isn't pushed too far into the standpipe. A humming pump that moves no water, or a pump that's silent, usually needs a technician. If yours is an LG, our LG appliance service team can test the pump, and we work on other front-load brands too. While the washer is pulled out, inspect the supply side too; see how to replace washing machine fill hoses.
How often to do this
Many manuals suggest checking the filter every few months, more often if you wash pet bedding or clothes with lots of pocket items. Emptying pockets before loading prevents most clogs.
From Kevin: The usual suspects I pull from these filters are coins, hair ties and the odd sock. Checking pockets on laundry day keeps them out of the pump in the first place.
Washer still holding water? Call ProFix NJ at (973) 718-9373.