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Related advice and tips for buying washing machine spares -

• Is the model and serial number all I need? (Manufacturers like Bosch, AEG, Zanussi and others use other numbers - not just the serial number - see next item for more details
• Where to find the proper model number and serial number on a washing machine

 

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How does a washing machine pump work?

As UK washing machine pumps are no longer repairable, that is, no spare parts are available, it shouldn't be necessary to understand in detail how the water pump works. The water pump inside a washing machine is just a small induction motor running at mains voltage, with an impeller that creates a vortex and pumps water. They are very simple. There are two wires to the pump, a live and a neutral. It doesn't matter which way round they go. In the good old days, when washing machine pumps were well made, every single nut, bolt, circlip, seal and functional part was available. The pump had a metal bracket which naturally earthed through the washing machine's cabinet. Modern washing machine pumps have plastic fixing brackets to they must be earthed with a separate earth wire.

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Can I repair a washing machine pump?

These days, (UK) washing machine pumps are not repairable. If any fault develops, you need to replace the whole pump. An exception is that you can usually buy a pump filter (if fitted) separately. However, the most common cause of a washing machine that wont empty water is an obstruction in the filter or pump, so read the rest of this page for further advice.

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How do I clean my pump filter - where is the pump filter?

Most washing machines have a pump filter to protect the pump from obstructions such as coins. The pump filter should be at the front of the washing machine at the bottom left or right. It should be obvious (a square or round flap) but sometimes the filter is hidden behind the front kickstrip panel. A good washing machine filter should have retractable pipe at the side so that you can drain the water into a bowl.

The best way to find out if your washing machine has a pump filter is to read the instruction book. However, you can carefully remove the kickstrip at the front of the washing machine (if fitted) to see if there is a hidden filter. Be careful because they are often flimsy and brittle and can break easily. The kickstrip usually clips into place with about 3 tabs but as I say, they are sometimes easily broken. I usually place a small flat-bladed screwdriver between the top of the kickstrip and the casing and then gently lever downwards whilst pulling forward.

Examples of washing machines that sometimes have a hidden filter are Indesit, Candy and Hoover. Most washing machines do not hide the pump filter. Hotpoint and Creda often have a pump filter hidden in the sump hose (leading to the pump from the tub), which is not meant to be customer accessible. This is a stupid place to put a pump filter because when it gets blocked, most people are forced to call out an engineer.

Taking the pump filter out

The filter should unscrew anti-clockwise. Some unscrew until they come out and some just unscrew a quarter of a turn or so and allow the filter to be pulled out. Make sure you have at least one large towel to catch water and don't take it out at all if the washing machine still has water in the drum (see next paragraph if it has).

Washing machine full of water?

If a washing machine is stuck full of water because it won't drain it will be very heavy and could damage the flooring or pull a muscle in your back if you try moving it. If there is a drain tube available next to the pump filter you may be able to slowly drain it though there. It's painfully slow but not messy and is the slow-but-easy way.

If there is a pump filter but without a draining tube I have sometimes had to use the “Draining via the pump filter” method below to save lugging the washer out if it’s not easily moved or disconnected. If possible though, by easing the washer forward a bit and lowering the drain hose into a bowl it's usually better to siphon the water out that way. It's slow but faster than through the filter drain tube and much less messy than by unscrewing the filter. Draining via the drain hose at the back isn't always possible though and if there is a sock stuck in the filter or inside the sump hose you cannot siphon out the water through the drain hose any way.

Siphoning the old fashioned way

I've had an email from Chris who suggested it could be drained by siphoning the water directly from the tub presumably using a tube. This could be an option worth considering in the right circumstances though it would only drain the water down to the bottom of the inner drum and there's a fair bit more underneath. It could get enough of it out to make the washing machine lighter and more maneuverable though. You would need a washing machine that allows the door to open when water is in the machine. In the past most washers had a pneumatic lock which locked the door unless empty but these days due to cost cutting many washing machines will let you open the door with water in after the bi-metal lock has cooled down.

Draining via the pump filter

If I decide to drain the washer through the pump filter I pull the machine forward a little and tilt it back. I then place a (strong) washing up bowl under the machine under where the filter is. I can then carefully open the filter and allow the water to pour into the bowl (this is messy and it comes out very fast). When the bowl is full the filter can be tightened back up and the bowl emptied. By repeating I can drain the washing machine almost in situ and quite quickly. This is best done with two people, with one holding back the washing machine to prevent it falling and with plenty of towels down. And of course not if the washer is full of hot water.

The pump filter won't come out?

I've had cases where the filter appeared to be jammed and wouldn't come out. It proved to be an under wire from a bra or another obstruction that was entangled in it and prevented it turning to screw out. I had to remove the hose leading into the pump and retrieve the obstruction from there.

Once the pump filter is out

If there is a clear obstruction such as a sock, or a build up of linen, then clean it all out and refit the filter. Make sure the filter is replaced correctly and watch for leaks round the filter after the washing machine is up and running.

If you can't see any blockage, or there is just the odd button in there that doesn't account for stopping the pump from working, shine a torch into the pump and look for something that could have got through the filter and jammed the impeller. Use a small screwdriver to try and turn the impeller. They are often slightly stiff and some turn a quarter of a turn and stop until you turn it again. However, it should be reasonably free. Watch out for rubber bands wrapped underneath the impeller making it too stiff for the pump to run.

You can try the washing machine on drain, or spin with the filter out and shine a torch inside to see if the impeller is turning or attempting to turn. Of course if you try to put any more water in, it will run straight out onto the floor.

Hotpoint & Creda pump filters

Although most washing machines do now have a pump filter, some older washing machines (notably but not exclusively Hotpoint, Hoover and Creda) didn't have a customer-accessible pump filter until recently. In their questionable wisdom, Hotpoint and Creda fitted a pump filter inside the sump hose instead (which is the black hose leading from the tub to the water pump). This meant that countless washing machine owners had to call out an engineer, and had to pay, for something most other washing machine owners could easily do for themselves. Many older Hoover washing machines had no pump filter but they didn't have a sump hose filter either, in fact they had no filter at all.

I would never buy a washing machine without a pump filter that can be easily cleared because it is inevitable that obstructions will get inside a washing machine pump sooner or later.

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What commonly goes wrong with a washing machine pump?

The most common fault by far, is an obstruction stopping the pump impeller from spinning. You can often detect this by listening carefully when putting the washing machine onto spin. Before the motor starts to turn, if you can hear a gentle humming noise, this is likely to be a jammed pump trying to turn. The previous section (above) deals with checking the filter for blockages.

No pump filter?

Hoover washing machines don't usually have a filter although some of the recent washing machines do (hidden behind the kickstrip panel at the bottom). This is because Hoover were taken over by Candy several years ago and some Hoover washing machines are basically Candy washing machines inside.

If yours doesn't have a pump filter, then any blockage will be in the sump hose, which is the black hose leading from the tub to the pump. If not in the sump hose, then it could be inside the pump itself. Typically, the impeller gets jammed by a small coin, a nail, screw, rubber band or bra wire.

Unusual consequences of an open circuit pump

If the field coil of a water pump goes open circuit, (or the neutral wire becomes detached or broken) then apart from the pump failing to run, the washing machine may not fill with either hot or cold water. This is because the pump sometimes shares the neutral with the water valves.

Leaking Pump

Washing machine pumps are prone to leaking. They can cease up because of corrosion or they can continue to work but just leak. A leaking water pump must be replaced as no seals are available.

Noisy Pump

Washing machine pumps can become noisy. Nine times out of ten though, a noisy pump is caused by an obstruction colliding with the rotating impeller. This often manifests itself as a grinding, grating sound that can come and go or be constant (depending on the obstruction). If the noise is due to bearing failure then the pump must be replaced.

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The water won't pump out of the washing machine

The possible problems here are blockages or pump failure. Blockages are the more likely explanation but pumps do fail. If the machine will not empty the water out you will also not be able to open the door on most modern washers. Some machines have a filter that can be checked for blockages at the front of the machine. Occasionally the filter is hidden behind a removable trim or panel at the base of the front. Most Hoover & Hotpoint washing machines do not have any customer accessible pump filters.

To drain the washing machine you will need to remove the waste water pipe from the drain pipe and lower it into a bowl or bucket. Many plumbers now plumb the machines into the U bend directly under the sink instead of a separate waste pipe at the back of the washer. If yours is connected here you can usually unscrew it easily. Remember though, that with the pipe disconnected from the U bend, any water poured down the sink will flood out into the cupboard until the hose is reconnected.

Once you have drained the water, you need to check for blockages in the sump hose (the hose leading from the tub to the pump) the drain hose, the pump itself and the plastic connector that the drain hose is connected to at the sink end (if connected this way). Also check for obstructions in the narrow spiggot that the drain hose pushes onto at the u-bend as this commonly gets blocked with small buttons and bits of lint.

Once you have the drain hose disconnected and lowered into a bowl or bucket the water should siphon out as long as the pipe is low enough. If little or no water comes out then it may be blocked by an item of clothing like a sock and it won't be possible to empty the machine this way. For more detailed advice about draining water from the machine see the section above - How do I clean my pump filter - where is the pump filter? / washing machine full of water

Once the last bit of water has drained, you are likely to be able to get the machine to spin out as the safety system for preventing a spin while water is in the machine will now recognize the water has gone and allow a spin. Keep the pipe low down and in the bowl or bucket and put the machine on a spin only program. Note, this last step is not strictly necessary as once drained, the door should open. However, you might prefer to try to spin a few more bowls of water out.

Clearly, if you put more water into the machine it is likely to fail again until the fault is rectified but these instructions should at least get the clothes out.

There is another section on Washerhelp in the repairs section which may prove useful Washing machine won't empty water

[ Related: Washing machine won't empty water (stuck full of water) / Watch out for new plumbing installations - particularly at new houses: | Pump has no blockages, filter is clear and it runs but it still won't drain water ]

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The washing machine pump is leaking

You can't buy spare parts for a washing machine pump these days. If a washing machine pump is leaking it needs replacing. The exception is the pump filter, which can usually be bought separately. Make sure that it is the pump that leaks and not a leak running onto the pump from higher up.

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The washing machine pump is noisy

A noisy water pump usually needs replacing as you can't buy bearings. However, much of the time a washing machine pump makes grinding, rattling or grating noises, it is because there is a coin, or other obstruction stuck inside which, once removed, is likely to cure the fault.

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Pump has no blockages, filter is clear and it runs but it still won't drain water

Here are the possibilities that could explain why although the pump is apparently running, and there doesn't seem to be a blockage, there is still no water being pumped out -

1: There is a blockage but you just haven't found it -

Small objects may not be noticed. They could be underneath the impeller, wrapped round the impeller or stuck inside the pump chamber out of sight.

An elastic band or elastic from a hair bobble, a small piece of torn strap from a bra, a large piece of grit or stone, a small screw, a piece of plastic etc. items like these and other similar obstructions could all cause the impeller to slow down and not be capable of creating the vortex required to force out the water. Rubber bands and similar can wrap around the impeller restricting its movement. Other items could get trapped underneath the impeller out of sight and also restrict its movement. In all these cases it should be detectable by trying to turn the impeller with a finger or screwdriver (with the machine unplugged of course!). It should move freely. However, some impellers may feel like there's a small resistance which when overcome allows the impeller to jump 180 degrees round. Then another small resistance needs overcoming before it jumps round again. Without knowing how free an impeller should be it's hard to diagnose but if one is quite tight all the way round it is probably obstructed.

A button of a specific size could be small enough to get through the pump filter and even past the impeller, but then get jammed inside the pump outlet chamber where the drain hose attaches to. This would be invisible unless the drain hose is removed and you look into it. Another common blockage here that can remain undetected is a small piece of a bra wire that got through into the pump outlet chamber and has jammed inside. Subsequently most of the fluff and threads that would normally pump away can get snagged on it and build up into a blockage.

2: There is a blockage somewhere after the pump, either inside the drain hose or in the connection that the water discharges in to under the sink -

A button of a specific size could be small enough to get past the pump and into the drain hose, but be too large to pass through the drain hose or through the plastic spout on the u-bend that the drain hose may be connected to ( see picture of a typical u-bend sink adapter for plumbing a washing machine into ).This could completely stop water from being pumped out, or it could even manifest as an intermittent fault. I've seen several cases where a button is jammed halfway up inside a drain hose or in the opening of the plastic spout of the u-bend connection but it spins round and acts like a butterfly valve. When swiveled round one way water can get past, but then the water flow can swivel it round again so that it stops the water flow. To check for this you'd need to disconnect the drain hose from the u-bend and examine the end of the drain hose and inside the spout itself to check for blockages.

If necessary, the drain hose can also be taken off the machine to see if you can detect any obstruction. I've managed to clear some large obstructions by shoving the end of the drain hose onto the cold tap at the sink and turning on the water. Be careful though, you can easily end up spraying water everywhere. I use a large dishcloth over the hose and hold on tight. If there's no blockage though or it's something that's swiveled round and not closing off the flow you shouldn't feel much pressure.

3: The pump itself is faulty -

If the impeller is broken it could be spinning on the shaft. In other words although the pump rotor is spinning it is not turning the impeller that forces the water out or due to slippage on the shaft it is not turning fast enough. The pump could sound like it's running but in fact it is not revolving at speed inside, however, I would expect it to sound different to normal.

It's even possible for the pump to be oscillating instead of revolving because of a fault causing it not to spin properly. You would have to use your imagination to find out if either of these are the case. It's relatively rare.

4: Finally - Watch out if your problem has only occurred after connecting the washing machine to new plumbing after moving house or after someone has put new plumbing in your current house and after connecting the washing machine it will not drain when it did before - Watch out for the blanking piece in new plumbing installations - particularly at new houses

Related pump troubleshooting advice: Washing machine won't empty water (From DIY repair help common washing machine problems) | The water won't pump out of the washing machine (question 6 on this page)

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