Rattling Noise When The Water Drains

[Curious]

I've a problem with a washing machine that seems to have appeared and would greatly appreciate some advice before I get too frustrated!

The washing machine has started making a rattling noise when the water drains out, and the noise seems to be coming from the drain pump. It sounds very unhealthy like a coin or screw in the pump. I can reproduce the noise by setting the machine to programme 13 which is the cycle for pumping out the rinsing water. Any suggestions on how to go about finding out what the problem is?

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

It may well be one of the items you mention stuck inside the pump. Is there a filter on this washing machine? It could be behind a panel at the bottom. If you can't get to the pump through a filter, then you'd have to take the hoses off of the pump and have a look inside.

Unplug the machine and lay it over on its back or on the side opposite to the programme timer. You may need to disconnect the hoses too in order to lay it down.

( Related: How do I clean my pump filter - where is the pump filter? | Washing machine won't empty water )

[Curious]

Thanks for that but no success. I have the washing machine all opened up. The rattling sound only seems to happen during the drainage period of the washing cycles. The rattling is slightly hard to locate but sounds like its coming from the drain pump area of the machine.

I've checked inside the pump which opens up easily from the front of the machine though its filter. I found lots of grey gunk but no coin! The draim pump seems to pump out dirty water from the bottom of the drum via a flexible rubber tube. It then pumps out water via another hose to the machine's water drainage pipe. Although I've not looked inside these hoses, I can squeeze them easily and can't feel anything inside.

However, the hose which drains from the bottom of the drum to the drain pump has a ball-valve. The ball valve moves freely when I move it. I wonder if it is trapped on one side of this.

Basically, I'm totally stuck. The good thing is that the machine still seems to work ok!

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

From what you say, it must be either a faulty pump that's making the noise, or something stuck inside it. It's far more common for it to be something stuck inside. However, if your pump is protected by a filter, it shouldn't really allow anything past the filter.

You can feel around the hoses as much as you like but will only notice large obstrcutions that way. The only way to be sure is to take the hoses off and remove the pump. Something like a button would not be detected any other way, a button can get sucked into the pump when draining but float away out of site when the pump stops running.

[Curious]

Excellent advice! Got it! It was a button. It was stuck somewhere in the flexible rubber hose. Got it out without taking all the jubilee clips off. I filled the drainage system and squeezed it out having narrowed down the location!