Clogged Washing Machine Drain
If you're trying to use your washing machine but it's:
- Starting to leak
- Making a strange noise
- Failing to run properly
then you may have a clogged washing machine drain. Although your first instinct may be to call a plumber, chances are you can take care of this problem on your own without any special equipment. Since a plumber will charge $50 to $100 for even a simple problem, it's worth seeing if you can fix your clogged washing machine drain on your own.
How Does a Washing Machine Drain Get Clogged?
The pump that fills washing machines with water is actually located near the bottom of the machine. Part of this pump is a drain. The purpose of the drain is to push water through a filter and then release it into the washing machine. When the machine is working properly, the water then makes its way through a hose and into the drainpipe. Because water has to clear all of these areas to drain properly, if a clog develops in any of them, it can cause your washing machine to make noise, not run or leak during a cycle.
Checking Your Machine and Getting Started
Before you dive into fixing your machine, you'll want to grab the few items you need to deal with this issue. Those items are a plumber's auger, pliers and wire clothes hanger. Once you grab these supplies, go into your laundry room and take a look at the washing machine's drainpipe hose. You can find this part of the machine by looking on its backside. If you notice that it has any kinks or twists, undo them to release any water that's trapped. Before you do anything else, fully unplug your machine to avoid being shocked.
The next step you need to complete is to remove the drain hose from the washer. The easiest way to do this is by taking your pair of pliers and squeezing the clip that holds the drain hose in place. Once the hose has been released from the machine, you can grab your wire hanger and stick it into the pipe. By twirling and pulling it, you will be able to snag any large items that are clogging this part of the machine.
Removing All Clogs from Your Washing Machine Drain
After you've pulled any large items out of the drain hose pipe, you can move to the front of the washing machine. If you look towards the bottom of the machine's front, you will notice a panel. Take off this panel and then look for a round dial. Once you locate the dial, start turning it in a counterclockwise motion. Doing so will lead to the filter being released from the machine.
Once the filter is released, you can pull it out and see if there are any clogs that need to be removed. The last step you need to take is feeding the plumber's auger through the drainpipe. By twisting it through the pipe, you will be able to feel if there is a large clog. If you hit one, you'll be able to use the auger to break it up.
