How to clean the drain pump in your washing machine yourself

Although a washing machine is a great help in maintaining cleanliness, it also requires maintenance and cleaning. If one day during a wash cycle you hear a strange buzzing noise coming from the machine that you've never heard before, and the machine isn't draining, it's time for urgent cleaning. Most likely, the drain pump is clogged, or in the worst case, the pump is broken. That's why we decided to tell you how to clean the drain pump in your washing machine yourself, without calling a professional.

How to get to the drain pump

To clean the drain pump, you need to get to it, since it is located inside the machine body. To do this, you will need:

• spanner;
• Phillips and flat head screwdriver;
• container for draining water.

Please note: Please read your washing machine's instructions to determine the location of the drain pump. This will prevent you from guessing.

In washing machines produced under different brands, you will have to reach the drain pump in different ways. Manufacturers of brands Beko, Indesit, Samsung, LG, Ardo, Whirpool, Candy, Ariston have simplified this process to the greatest extent. In their machines, the pump can be accessed through the bottom of the housing, as the lower part may be missing or easily unscrewed. Many Indesit washing machine models are a good example of this.

Important! Before handling your washing machine, remember to unplug it and turn off the water supply.

So, let's follow these steps:

1. At the bottom of the washing machine we find a panel and use a flat-head screwdriver to open it; some models have a special door.
   
2. We unscrew the screw that holds the drain filter in the machine body.
   
3. Tilt the machine back a little and place the container under water.
4. Carefully unscrew the drain filter cap counterclockwise to allow any remaining water to drain out.
   
5. Now, turning the pump counterclockwise, push it into the washing machine body and carefully remove it through the bottom of the machine. For convenience, you can lay the machine on its left side (when viewed from the door).
6. Carefully disconnect the wires and, having loosened the clamps (clamps), remove the pipes.

To solve the problem of how to remove the drain pump In AEG, Bosch, and Siemens washing machines, you will need to disassemble the front part of the machine body, Which is typically secured with three screws. In this case, you need to follow these steps:

1. Remove the powder tray from the machine body.
2. Unscrew the screw underneath it
3. Open the door to access the drain filter on the bottom panel of the machine.
4. We unscrew the screw holding the panel and remove the panel itself.
5. We find two screws and unscrew them.
6. Now we remove the clamp from the hatch and disconnect the cuff from the front housing.
7. We disconnect the hatch locking device (you need to release the clamps).
8. Let's remove the front part of the case.

The cover is removed, now you can access the pump. To do this:

• We unscrew the screw.
• We place a container of water under the machine.
• We disconnect the hose clamp and remove the hose.
• Drain the water.
• We disconnect the electrical wires.

When deciding how to remove the pump from a washing machine of the brand Zanussi or Electrolux, you must first remove the back panel of the machine. Follow these steps:

1. We disconnect the drain hose, which is secured with clamps that will have to be unscrewed.
2. Using a suitable screwdriver, unscrew only those screws around the perimeter of the lid that hold it in place.
   
3. We remove the lid.
4. We disconnect the terminals with electrical wires.
5. Unscrew the drain pump using a wrench
   
6. Disconnect the pipes from the drain hose and from the drain filter
7. Now you can clean the pump.

Important! When disassembling your washing machine for the first time, take photos of each step as you disconnect anything. These photos will help you reassemble the machine.

Cleaning the drain pump

Cleaning a washing machine's drain pump involves cleaning the impeller. So, the question arises: how to remove the impeller from the machine's pump? It's quite simple; you'll need a screwdriver. Unscrew a couple of screws connecting the two halves of the pump body. This will reveal the head (impeller), which rotates when in operation.

All debris must be removed from the impeller; as a rule, threads, hair, and wool get wrapped around it. Proceed carefully. You also need to wipe the inside of the snail.

Next, the drain pump is assembled and installed. All steps are performed in reverse order. Once the washing machine is assembled, run a wash cycle. If the wash cycle runs smoothly, without any leaks, and completes as normal, the drain pump cleaning has been completed correctly.

Please note: If cleaning the pump does not help, the drain pump must be replaced with a new one.

Causes and prevention of drain pump clogging

Why might a drain pump become clogged, causing a washing machine to malfunction? Here are the main reasons:

• hard or dirty tap water;
• incorrectly selected detergents;
• debris washed off things (hair, wool, threads, etc.).

To prevent clogging of the drain pump, you need to follow simple steps operating rules and installation of the washing machine:

• use only automatic washing powder;
• If possible, wash items in a laundry bag (mesh);
• install water filters in front of the inlet hose;
• clean the drain filter in a timely manner.

So, cleaning the pump in your washing machine is a completely doable task. Following the instructions shouldn't cause any problems. If anything seems unclear, we suggest watching a detailed video on how to replace the drain pump.

   

9 reader comments

1. March 19, 2018 at 12:52 AM

   Garik:

   For those who understand, everything is extremely simple.

   Answer
2. May 16, 2018 at 6:17 PM

   Alik:

   Excellently described, I will try it.

   Answer
3. June 17, 2018 at 4:02 AM

   Irina:

   The description is fantastic. I think even blondes will understand it! And most importantly, the result. Everything worked! Thank you!

   Answer
4. September 22, 2018 at 1:06 AM

   Ravil:

   Thank you, everything is perfectly clear.

   Answer
5. November 28, 2018 at 8:44 PM

   Sergey:

   Sergey. Does anyone know why the water constantly foams when I clean the drum? Doesn't it rinse out the foam?

   Answer
6. June 11, 2019 at 8:26 AM

   Glory:

   Thank you!

   Answer
7. July 27, 2019 at 5:48 PM

   Elena:

   I have a problem: I can't unscrew the plug on the panel at the bottom of the pump. It used to come off.

   Answer
   • March 2, 2021 at 1:57 AM

     Anonymous:

     When you have unscrewed this plug as much as possible and it just turns, you either have to push it in or pull it towards you and continue turning.

     Answer
8. July 14, 2022 at 6:54 PM

   Dimka:

   Cleaning didn't help, so I installed a new pump.

   Answer