Lg Wm-16331Fd Drain Problems

[PJC2014]

Hi,

I've searched the forum and checked the troubleshooting section, but cant find an answer.

The washing machine come up with a drain fault code in the wash cycle and does not complete the cycle.

I've checked the filter,

Checked the large drain hose from the drum

Checked the recirc pump (it was easier to get to the recirc than the drain, I was checking on sludge build up) and it was clean.

Sometimes the machine drains and sometimes it doesn't, the pump seems to be working as it hums and occasionally does drain the machine completing the cycle or if it shows a fault code if you pause and restart it can carry on as normal, but more often than not it fails again.

So I'm a bit lost, the pipes seem clear as it does drain sometimes and you can blow/suck water through from the waste pipe.

In terms of blockages the only thing I can think is that there is something between the drums, which occasionally blocks the large drain pipe? Is that possible? Or could it be a faulty sensor?

I can feel the pump impeller and its got all the blades and is clean and free to spin.

We've run a hot wash on it to clean out any gunge and the waste water is fairly clean.

Any ideas or suggestions?

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

It sounds like a possible faulty pump cutting out intermittently or partial blockage somewhere (have you checked the u-bend connection spigot?). It's unlikely something would cover up the large sump hose hole but it's possible a sock or similar, or even gunge could partially or intermittently interfere with the flow of water. There's usually a plastic ball in the top of the sump hose which can get gunged up and stick.

I wrote an article especially for this situation - Can’t Find a Blockage But Washing Machine Still Not Draining

[PJC2014]

It sounds like a partial blockage somewhere (have you checked the u-bend connection spigot?). It's unlikely something would cover up the large sump hose hole but it's possible a sock or similar, or even gunge could partially or intermittently interfere with the flow of water. There's usually a plastic ball in the top of the sump hose which can get gunged up and stick.

I wrote an article especially for this situation - Can’t Find a Blockage But Washing Machine Still Not Draining

Hi,

Many thanks for your reply, I've read through the article and tried / checked the things you mention...apart from calling an engineer out.

The U-bend is clear (so long as its the one I'm thinking of, near the top at the back of the machine, opaque plastic U with a small vent pipe coming off the top and the main drain pipe flowing in and out?).

If it has a ball would it sit in the sump hose or in the connector to the drum? When I took the hose off, the one thing I didn't do was feel inside to short joiner pipe where it connects to the drum but the sump hose itself was clear, a few small stones in the grooves of the flex but nothing major.

Many thanks

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

The drain hose is usually pushed onto a plastic spigot, which in turn screws onto the u-bend. stuff (even small buttons) can get jammed inside the spigot, which is tapered to fit inside the drain hose but which restricts the diameter available for water to flow through. Also where the spigot screws to the u-bend you can sometimes get obstructions too.

[PJC2014]

The drain hose is usually pushed onto a plastic spigot, which in turn screws onto the u-bend. stuff (even small buttons) can get jammed inside the spigot, which is tapered to fit inside the drain hose but which restricts the diameter available for water to flow through. Also where the spigot screws to the u-bend you can sometimes get obstructions too.

Thank you, I'll check but I can pass water through and blow through the drain hose without much difficulty.

How does the machine know if it has drained or not, is there a sensor or is it just on a syphon system?

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

I've seen small buttons act as a butterfly valve swinging open and shut intermittently. Check this out for how washing machine controls water levels

[PJC2014]

Hi, Just to let you know that it was a fault with the pump, I've changed both of them and it works fine now.

Thanks for your help and suggestions.