If your front load washing machine is experiencing wet clothes after washing, washer is vibrating, longer wash cycle times, washer stops and pauses, or door stays locked? You most likely have a clogged drain pump filter. Over time small items in your washer will fall down into the drain system and get trapped in the filter. This filter is a part of your front load washer so small items like lint, dog hair, coins, and keys do not find a way into the drain pump filter (aka coin trap).
How To Clean Pump Filter On A Front Load Washer – Drain Pump Clean out
The filter on a front loading washing machine is located on the front of the machine on the bottom and the right side or left side. The filter needs to be cleaned and maintained. Cleaning it on a regular basis will avoid any future problems with your washer having operational issues.
Front load washing machine pump filter access
To open and clean your front load washer drain pump filter:
1 – Locate and open the small access door using a flat screwdriver or coin.
2 – Get a small bowl and towel and put under the door.
3 – Turn the filter counter clockwise to remove it.
4 – Let all the water drain out into the bowl or towel.
5 – Clean out any link, dog hair, or other gunk in or around the filter.
6 – Run the filter under hot water in your sink to clean it off.
7 – Clean where the filter slides into with a warm rag or dishcloth.
8 – Reinstall the filter and turn clockwise to lock it in place.
9 – Close the small access door.
Front load washer pump filter removal
How to Unclog the Drain Pump When Front Load Washer Not Draining Or Leaving Clothing Wet
Now, test your washer by doing a normal load of clothing on a normal wash cycle. You should notice that your clothes are not wet, the washer is not vibrating, the wash time is shorter, the washer does not pause and stop, and the door will not lock.
Front load washer drain pump replacement filters
If after cleaning the drain pump filter you experience the same problems with your washer, it may be washer out of balance. Make sure you are not overloading your washer or letting large items become unevenly distributed in the wash drum. Most front load washers sense when you have an unbalanced load. Your washer will try and compensate for this by washing longer or pausing and stopping. Small loads like one pairs of jeans may also be seen as an unbalance. Always have enough clothing in your washer to keep things “even” so the washer does not sense an imbalance.
Remember to always remove items from pockets of clothing before putting into the wash machine. Doing this will prevent any other foreign objects from getting into the pump filter. Keeping the filter clean is the best way to prevent the washer from experiencing wet clothing after washing, washer that vibrates, long wash cycle times, washer stops and pauses, or the door stays locked.
Front Load Washer Pump Clean Out
Note: This only applies to front loading washing machines as older style top loading washers do not have a drain pump filter.
If you know of other ways a washer will have the issues mentioned above but it is not from a clogged drain pump filter, please leave a comment below to assist others.
My washer is an LG. On the bottom left front is a door that opens easily and comes off. There is a black hose tucked into a clip, and a screw in cylinder. First I take the black hose out, remove the cap and let it drain into a bucket. When it’s finished, put the cap back on the black little hose and tuck it back into its clip. Next, unscrew the pump filter cylinder. That’s where all the stuff is. Clean that out, screw it back in.
My Samsung WF203ANW does not have a filter at the front? Where is it located on this model, I’m getting nd error, and have replaced the drain pump, and still not working.
I have as Samsung front load machine WF448AAWXAA02 with an error message of about half way through a Quick Cycle mode to “check pump filter.” When I went to take the drain filter basket out water GUSHED everywhere. It was easily 1.5-2 gallons of water just pouring out of pipe where the filter basket sits. After that mess and cleaning out the filter basket thoroughly I tried putting some damp sheets in the washer & ran them just on a spin only cycle so no water was run in to the machine. I wanted to make sure that cleaning the pump filter solved the problem. When the spin cycle finished I went to check the filter by removing the filter basket and I got another gush of water when I unscrewed the filter basket. This gush wasn’t as big as the one I got when the machine stopped mid cycle of a full wash but it was still about 1/2 a gallon of water. Any thoughts on why this is happened to my machine? Thanks for any help or tips you can provide.
I have a 2006 Kenmore front loading washing machine. The timer stops at the rinse cycle, buzzing but not doing anything. We thought it might be the timer so spent the $300 to replace it. It still does the same thing.
We have put on new hoses.
Can’t find a filter anywhere.
Any ideas?
I have a Samsung WF218ANW front load washer and it is doing the same thing. I cleaned out the filter, the propeller is moving, but it will not drain. Does anybody know the answer?
We are having the same problem…did you ever find out what the issue was?
I did this and it worked perfect. However, when I first started having the problem I was lead to believe it was the “Spider”. I ended up rebuilding my washer for about $300. I was disappointed when it still shook and the water would not drain. The spider was absolutely destroyed so needed it, but it was not running right after putting it back together. I ran across this video when I noted the code on the washer, I did this 2 minute solution and it works great. I will always wonder if it was simply this.
New Electrolux machines don’t have an access panel which means you have to take the machine apart for regular maintenance. Same thing applies for many top brands. Very bad idea and quite disappointing.
I am shopping for a new machine and I googled but nowhere can I find the answer.. Most front loading washers don’t have a filter access panel anymore. They have a filter but you need to take the entire machine apart to do what seems to me standard maintenance if you want to have the washer for 15+ years. The question is.. Why are access panels non-existent for most new washers? Are they useless? Is there no actual need to have access to coins/junk that might go down the drain? Do the machines have a pre-filter thing going on that coins/junk won’t go down in the first place?
I have tried the the measures above and I still not able to operate the machine. I have drained the system and checked the filter and the balance of the machine. No luck! I have a Samsung model WF330ANWXAA02.
I have tried the the measures above and I still not able to operate the machine. I have drained the system and checked the filter and the balance of the machine. No luck!
No small panel on front lower section? Discharge hose comes out at top left part of washer. No filter panel?
Must be older Kenmore washer. Washed an old hamock that came apart