Question: Every 3 out of 5 washes our washing machine will fill with water and just keep filling and filling. During this time, the water will drain out normally at the same exact time. Our washer is in an endless fill/drain cycle. It is stuck filling and draining until we unplug the machine. We sometimes just set the load to the end of the wash cycle and wait a few hours before trying again. Sometimes this happens and other times it does not. What could be causing this to happen?
If your washing machine (top load or front load) is filling with water WHILE it is draining, here is a simple quick fix. This issue happens frequently and about 90% of the time it is NOT THE WASHER MALFUNCTIONING. This “washer fills and drains at same time” issue can be fixed in a matter of minutes. See below for how easy this repair solution is. This easy fix solution will work on all washers including GE, Whirlpool, Kenmore, Samsung, LG, Frigidaire, Maytag, and more.
Answer: Your washer DRAIN HOSE is causing a siphoning condition. Your washing machine drain hose is pushed way too far into the stand pipe in the wall. There needs to be an air gap and by having the drain pipe pushed too far there is no air gap. This creates a vacuum or siphoning affect and the water is pulled out of the washer as it fills with water. What you need to do is pull the drain hose out of the stand pipe and put it back in making sure it is not in the wall too far or too deep. There needs to be a bend at the apex of the drain hose. It needs to be above the height of the wash tub. Once you have the drain pipe or hose in the exact position you need it to be in to not cause siphoning, tie the drain hose to the water fill hoses with a plastic zip tie so it can’t fall back down deep or pull out.
Top Load Washer Fills and Drains At Same Time
If you know of another way for a washing machine to fill and drain at the same time, please leave a comment below to assist our other readers.
Written by Keith Schneerer
Certified Appliance Tech · Founder, RemoveAndReplace.com
Keith has spent 30+ years repairing machines, starting as a military mechanic and later maintaining food processing equipment before moving into appliance repair. He founded RemoveAndReplace.com to share field-tested repair advice.
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My bosch wfmc5301uc is draining and filling at sane time. No water is even able to get in the drum.
I have checked drain hose, pump, Aqua fill sensor , inlet valves. . What else can be wrong
I read this article but did not view the video. The adjustment of the drainage hose solved the siphoning problem that I was experiencing with my front-load washer.
Thank you so much for taking the time to post this information and help others like me!!!! I’ve bookmarked your website and will check back regularly, as well as advising others of the potential assistance that is available.
Once again, thanks!
Whirlpool topload washing machine.
Starts to drain as soon as it is plugged in. The Start/Pause/Unlock Lid and Cancel button doesn’t do nothing when it is pressed aswell as no lights turn on.
Makes sense. Our washer was draining as it filled before the wash started. After reading this post, I checked and the drain hose and it was shoved three feet deep into the drain pipe. Common user error, check drain hose depth.
My washer is a top load and it’s the typical drain hose where I left it on the floor to drain. I dont think it’s way too far from whatever because I am normally wash that way..
What could be causing it.?
This is excellent practical info, but I’m looking for an explanation about how and why, not just what.
It really makes no sense, seems like a design flaw of washing machines but why do they keep it like that even in new models? How hard is it to design the washing machine to close a valve on the drain when it knows it should not be draining?