Why does the washing machine hum when draining water?

Any washing machine makes noise during operation, even a new one installed correctly and free of manufacturing defects. A certain noise level is acceptable according to the laws of physics. However, the machine can also emit completely incomprehensible and loud sounds that are not typical of normal operation. Noise, grinding, knocking, and humming can occur when filling with water, during the wash, rinse, or spin cycle. But in this article, we'll try to answer the specific question of why a washing machine hums while draining.

Causes of the hum

There are several reasons why a washing machine hums and makes noise during operation. Most of these noises occur during the wash cycle, as well as during the drain or spin cycle. So, what could be causing the humming or noise during draining? Before the water begins to drain, the drain pump starts, so the primary cause of the humming noise should be looked for there. Experts say that humming and crackling sounds can be caused by:

• clogged drain pump;
• drain pump failure;
• clogging of the drain hose and pipes;
• clogged drain filter.

Please note! The humming sound, which some call a growling sound, most often occurs after the rinse cycle before spinning, but it can also occur after the wash cycle when draining the used water.

We find and fix the problem

Finding and “curing” the cause of such a breakdown is not at all difficult. How to do this correctly and where is the best place to start? It's best to start with what's easiest to open, remove, or unscrew. In our case, we need to start by inspecting the drain filter.

The drain filter in most washing machines is located in the lower right corner under the front panel or behind a dedicated door. The door opens easily, and you can remove the panel using a flat-head screwdriver. Insert it into the slot and gently pry the panel open. Next, follow these steps:

1. Take a thick cloth and place it next to the machine so that the water that leaks out of the filter does not spread across the floor.
2. Carefully, counterclockwise, unscrew the lid.
3. We take out the filter and wash it under running water, possibly with detergent.
4. We inspect the filter hole for foreign objects using a flashlight, remove all debris, and wipe it with a cloth.
5. We insert the filter into place and tighten it tightly, without using excessive force so as not to strip the threads.
6. We run the machine in test mode and check if the hum has been eliminated.

Important! If the filter is heavily soiled, it may not unscrew. In this case, you will have to remove it and the pump from the inside.

If the filter is almost clean, we move on to checking the next components, namely the drain hose and the pump. To inspect them, you'll need to disassemble the washing machine. Access to the pump varies depending on the model:

• The drain pump can be removed from the bottom of the machine in Whirlpool, Ariston, Samsung, Candy, Ardo, Indesit, and LG machines. These machines either have no bottom cover or can be easily removed.
• The pump is removed from the front side of Bosch, Siemens and AEG machines;
• The pump can be accessed from the rear in Zanussi and Electrolux machines.

Overall, the process isn't complicated if you have detailed instructions. We offer such instructions with photos in the article about cleaning the drain pumpIf you're comfortable cleaning the pump and can clear the impeller of debris yourself, replacing the pump with a new one won't be difficult at all. Otherwise, only a professional can help.

The drain hose and the pipes leading from the pump must also be inspected, as they can also become clogged or broken. Once the machine is disassembled and the pump is accessible, the clamp holding the pump and drain hose must be removed. The other end of the drain hose must also be disconnected from the branch pipe. Once removed from the machine, the hose must be rinsed and cleaned of any accumulated debris and soap scum.

To do this, you'll need a special Kevlar cable with a brush at the end. The cable diameter should be no more than 10 mm. Also, choose a non-metal cable, as this could damage the hose. Now, do the following:

1. we take this cable and insert it into the drain hose,
2. We stretch it forward and backward several times.
3. then rinse the hose under running water;
4. we install the hose in place;
5. we assemble a washing machine;
6. We run the machine in test mode, you can add cleaning products for the machine, for example, citric acid or Frisch active.

If the hose is damaged, it needs to be replaced with a new one. Buy a hose that's identical to the old one; don't skimp on quality.

Preventive measures

The following operating rules will help prevent the occurrence of extraneous noises, and therefore extend the life of individual components and the machine as a whole:

• It is necessary to regularly maintain the washing machine;
• use water softeners;
• descale the machine;
• clean the machine's drain filter as often as possible;
• Check the pockets of your clothes before putting them in the drum, as they may contain small items that could clog the filter and pump.

So, it's entirely possible to eliminate the causes of humming, crackling, or noise in your washing machine when draining. We hope this has cleared up why your machine might be making humming sounds while draining. In addition to the steps we've described, watch the video on how to replace the drain pump.

   

15 reader comments

1. November 19, 2016 at 6:56 PM

   Vitamin:

   Thank you!

   Answer
2. July 15, 2017 at 8:59 PM

   Galina:

   Thank you

   Answer
3. July 23, 2017 at 5:14 PM

   Igor:

   Thank you, the drain filter was clogged! Now we'll descale it some more.

   Answer
4. September 3, 2017 at 2:40 AM

   Evgeny:

   Well done!

   Answer
5. October 25, 2017 at 11:11 PM

   Sergey:

   Thank you for your free advice

   Answer
6. November 13, 2017 at 2:08 AM

   Larisa:

   Electrolux washing machine. The water drains, but at some point it stops. You can hear the pump making noise... and that's it. Error EF0. I checked the drain filter, cleaned it, and the impeller spins, but jerkily. When plugged in, the washing machine hums and makes a sound like it's catching on something. What should I do? I'd appreciate any advice.

   Answer
7. January 13, 2018 at 7:50 PM

   Svetlana:

   Thank you, very useful information, everything is written clearly.

   Answer
8. June 16, 2018 at 5:42 PM

   Stepan:

   Thanks for the info! You've laid everything out perfectly!

   Answer
9. June 17, 2018 at 10:47 AM

   Alexander:

   Thank you!

   Answer
10. November 26, 2018 at 2:08 AM

    Evgeny:

    The drain pump is making a lot of noise during washing. I took the filter apart and removed the bag, small items, and other debris. I put everything back together, but the pump is still making noise. What could it be?

    Answer
11. June 29, 2019 at 11:44 PM

    Sergey:

    Thank you! We'll give it a try. You explained everything very well.

    Answer
12. July 9, 2019 at 12:30 AM

    Kirill:

    Thank you, it was helpful.

    Answer
13. June 22, 2020 at 3:52 PM

    Anonymous:

    Vyacheslav. Thanks, I washed everything. It's all good now.

    Answer
14. August 20, 2020 at 9:17 PM

    Anonymous:

    Thanks author, I'll try.

    Answer
15. April 6, 2021 at 8:37 PM

    Alexander:

    There is a slight noise when draining water, although I have already replaced the drain pump in the Atlant 50u82.

    Answer