LG washing machine does not drain water and does not spin

LG washing machine won't drainIf your LG washing machine isn't draining or spinning, what can you do? Users who abuse their Korean "home helper" might encounter this problem one day. Calling a technician immediately is the best solution. But if you have the time and inclination to fix the problem yourself, consider the information we'll share in this post.

What caused the breakdown?

A specialist, relying on their experience, can quickly determine the cause of an LG washing machine's failure to drain or spin, and then quickly fix the problem. This is much more difficult for the average user, primarily due to a lack of experience and technical skills, but with patience and a lot of time and effort, everything can be done. First, you need to determine the troubleshooting algorithm.

Knowing the approximate order of actions when searching for the cause of a malfunction can significantly simplify your task.

  1. First, we check for dirt plugs and stuck objects: the debris filter, pipes and pump.
  2. Then we examine the pump in more detail for mechanical and electrical faults.
  3. Next, we remove the pressure switch and check whether it is clogged, and then test the water level sensor using a multimeter.
  4. Lastly, we check all the wiring inside the LG washing machine body and the control module.

By following this plan, you will have a high chance of detecting the problem. But as they say, remember to keep your eyes open and notice any oddities when disassembling your washing machine. This way, you'll gain experience and be able to solve this and other problems faster, as this isn't the first or last time your washing machine breaks down.

The car is clogged with mud

clogged drain filterMost often, LG washing machines stop spinning and draining not because of dirt clogs, but because foreign objects have gotten into the drain hose or debris filter. Even if the foreign object doesn't immediately clog the drain, over time, small debris will settle, and a partial blockage will turn into a solid plug through which water will barely drain.

The LG washing machine's drain system is designed so that 90% of any foreign objects that accidentally end up in it end up on or near the waste filter. This is a huge advantage, as accessing the waste filter is incomparably easier than any other internal component of a Korean washing machine. Let's start with the filter.

  • In the lower right corner of the LG washing machine body, find the small plastic cover and open it.
  • Under the lid you will see a large black plug, next to which a small hose sticks out, plugged with a plug.
  • Place a shallow container under the hose to drain any remaining water from the tank. To do this, open the cap, fill the container, close the cap, empty the container, and then refill the container until all the water has been removed from the tank.

To avoid getting the floor wet, place a few absorbent rags near the front of your LG washing machine.

  • Unscrew the dust filter. Turn it half a turn to the left and then pull it out. If you haven't taken the filter out for a long time, it might stick, but this isn't critical; pull it harder and it will pop out.
  • Inspect the filter itself and the opening from which you removed it. Remove any foreign objects or debris that may be stuck there. While cleaning the filter, users often remove objects such as socks, bra underwires, coins, paper clips, pins, buttons, swimming trunks, and many other items.

If you find something like this in the waste filter, consider the drain obstruction problem solved. However, if the filter is clean, or nearly clean, and there's nothing stuck, you need to continue searching.

The drain pump is faulty

In the next step of the inspection, we'll continue to look for blockages in the washing machine. To do this, we'll inspect the pipes, drain hose, and, of course, the pump. We'll focus on the drain pump, as it really does require a thorough inspection. Unplug the washing machine, turn off the water, disconnect the inlet and drain hoses, and then carefully move the washing machine to a location where it's more or less easy to work on. Next, proceed as follows.

  1. We remove and put aside the powder tray.
  2. Carefully, without any sudden movements, place the washing machine on its left side.
    machine on the left side
  3. Having gained partial access to the insides of the LG washing machine through the bottom, We loosen and move down the clamps that secure the drain pipe coming from the tank.
  4. We remove the pipe and check if there is anything foreign stuck there.
  5. We clean and rinse the pipe, then put it back in place.
  6. Next, disconnect the drain hose and check it for blockages.
  7. Lastly, unscrew the pump mount and remove it for inspection.
    disassembled pump

First, disassemble the pump housing into two halves and inspect the impeller for contamination. Threads, human hair, and even scraps of thin fabric are often found tangled around the impeller. These impede or prevent the rotation of this moving part, meaning the pump simply stops functioning. If the impeller rotates normally and there are no foreign objects wrapped around it, it's time to check the pump's electrical system.

It's easy to do. Take a device called a multimeter. Turn its switch to the resistance test mode. Then, begin testing. If the device shows a high number as a result, then the problem is not with the pump; if the numbers 1 or 0 are displayed, then the problem is bad and the pump needs to be replaced.

checking the pump

Also inspect and ring the connector and wires connected to the drain pump; a burnt-out wire or melted contact could easily impair the operation of your "home assistant."

Level sensor or control module?

water level sensorWashing clothes in an LG washing machine is impossible if the water level sensor is malfunctioning, or if the sensor is completely burned out, this is a problem that requires immediate attention. To check the water level sensor, you need to locate it. This is easy: first, remove the top cover of the LG washing machine. Underneath, in the front right corner of the machine, just behind the control panel, you'll see a round, chip-shaped piece with a sensor attached to it—this is the pressure switch.

We will not describe the process of dismantling and checking it separately, since we have already done this within the framework of the article. The spin cycle and water drain in my Samsung washing machine don't work.In LG washing machines, the pressure switch is removed and checked in the same way.

If the water level sensor is working properly, but your LG washing machine still won't drain or spin, it's highly likely that the electronics, specifically the control module, are faulty. There are numerous reasons why washing machine electronics can fail:

  • various types of power failures;
  • poor quality soldering of board tracks;
  • moisture getting on the electronic module;
  • user errors, etc.

Whatever the cause of the breakdown, it is better not to look for it yourself. Even if you have experience working with electronics, the risk of damaging an expensive component is too high. We, for our part, cannot advise you to repair the module yourself – contact a professional!

To summarize, if your LG washing machine refuses to drain water after washing and won't spin the laundry, you can try to fix the problem yourself. However, remember that if the problem affects the electronics of your "home assistant," it's best to delegate the repair to a professional.

   

25 reader comments

  1. Gravatar Sasha Sasha:

    Thanks for the article, my sock got stuck.

    • Gravatar Mikhail Michael:

      Thanks for the information, it was very helpful! 🙂

  2. Gravatar Svetlana Svetlana:

    Thanks to the author for the helpful article! The washing machine stopped draining and spinning. I cleaned the debris filter and it's working as normal.

  3. Gravatar Dmitry Dmitry:

    Thanks for the article. I had a cotton swab in the filter. I cleaned it and everything worked!

  4. Gravatar Alexander Alexander:

    This article helped. The trash filter was clogged. Coins and other stuff. I cleaned it and everything worked. Thanks!

  5. Gravatar Vasily Vasily:

    My washing machine also stopped spinning. I read this article and unscrewed the filter, and there was dirt and a piece of rag in it. I cleaned it and everything started working again. Thanks for the article!

  6. Gravatar Ekaterina Catherine:

    Thanks for the helpful article. Everything is crystal clear.

  7. Gravatar Elena Elena:

    Everything is very clear and understandable, even for me. Thank you!

  8. Gravatar Maria Maria:

    Thank you 🙂 I cleaned the filter and everything works!

  9. Gravatar Anton Anton:

    Many thanks to the author. It helped.

  10. Gravatar Kolya Kolya:

    Thank you. I cleaned the filter and everything worked.

  11. Gravatar Oksana Oksana:

    Thank you!

  12. Gravatar Alexander Alexander:

    Good evening! The spin cycle isn't working, and the drain only drains occasionally. The filter is clean and the drain hose is clear. What could be wrong?

  13. Gravatar Alexander Alexander:

    Thank you!!!

    • Gravatar Irina Irina:

      Hello. What could it be?

  14. Gravatar Vadim Vadim:

    The condom got wrapped around the pump... thanks for the article!

  15. Gravatar Anonymous Anonymous:

    Thanks, my family got me for the trash in my pockets! 🙂

  16. Gravatar Galina Galina:

    Where is the filter located?

  17. Gravatar Sofia Sofia:

    Thanks! We cleaned the filter and it's working again. I also gave it a 95* bath. I'm so happy! I don't like this man-made stress.

  18. Gravatar Micha Micha:

    Thanks, author! I took it apart and cleaned the pump. It's working fine now.

  19. Gravatar Julia Julia:

    Thanks to your article, we cleaned the pump and filter, and flushed the drain hose. It's running like a charm now.
    Thank you very much!

  20. Gravatar Roman Novel:

    Thank you. It was very helpful!

  21. Gravatar Tattibek Tattibek:

    My pump is working. The drain hose is clean. And everything else is clean. But it's not draining the water. The pump is working.

  22. Gravatar Oksana Oksana:

    Thank you

  23. Gravatar Anton Anton:

    We cleaned the filter and it helped, thank you!

Add a comment

We recommend reading

Washing machine error codes