Your clothes have been sitting in the washer for a while, thoroughly soaked, with no further action to get rid of the excess water. That’s a surefire sign of a draining problem. But why is your Maytag washer not draining?
Of course, this could happen for a few reasons. Yet, the main cause for a Maytag washer not draining is usually that the drain hose is blocked. You may also want to check if the drain pump filter is clogged or see if any of the washer’s components are faulty.
In this article, we’ll discuss the potential causes behind this problem in depth. We’ll also offer a few tips to help you fix them and tell you when you might need professional help.
1. A Blocked Drain Hose
In most cases, the common reason why a Maytag front load washing machine won’t drain its water is that the drain hose is obstructed. Since you probably use your washer every day, the hose may be prone to kinks and blockages.
A kinked hose is pretty easy to solve by gently straightening it. Yet, if the hose starts leaking water, then the kink might’ve damaged the hose. In this case, you’d better shop for a replacement.
Blockages could occur when debris builds up inside the hose with frequent use. Also, there may be a small piece of clothing blocking the hose.
Draining Excess Water
Now, before you jump in to fix the problem, you should learn how to drain the water from the washer first. Here’s the correct way to do it.
Gently move the washer away from the wall
Turn off all power and water connections
Scoop out the water inside the washer
After unhooking the drain hose from its position, empty the remaining water into a bucket
Clamp the end of the hose to stop any further spillages
Fixing a Blocked Drain Hose
Now that the washer is ready for closer inspection, it’s time to know how to get rid of blockages inside a drain hose.
Unscrew the two mounting screws on the washer’s front control panel
Carefully pull the panel edges out and unhook the top
Unclamp the drain hose from the drain pump
Ensure that there isn’t any water left inside the hose
Take a closer look at the hose and remove any blockages you find with pliers
If you see no blockages, unclamp the hose from the tub end and check for clumps there
When done, reconnect the hose to the pump and tub
Return the front panel to its original position
Reattach the outer hose to the drain
For optimum draining, ensure that the end of the hose is 30 to 96 inches above the floor
Put back the water and power connections
Move the washer to its normal position
2. A Clogged Pump Filter
Sometimes, the pump filter itself may be clogged with debris, causing draining problems in a Maytag washer. See, when the washing machine starts to drain water, the filter stops tiny articles from blocking the drain pump.
With time, this could lead to a blocked pump filter, which will prevent water from passing smoothly to the drain pump. Now, how to fix this issue?
Fixing a Clogged Pump Filter
In a few steps, you could check if the pump filter is facing a blockage.
Unscrew the washer’s front panel and remove it
Put a towel under the drain pump filter to prevent spills
Turn the filter cap counterclockwise in slow motion
Gently control the flow of the water as it comes out
Remove the filter and rinse it to dispose of residue and debris clumps
Using a paper towel, wipe away any buildup from the filter housing
Put the filter back into place and turn it clockwise
Reposition the front panel
3. Malfunctioning Washer Components
In most cases, you’ll have your Maytag washer back to work after following the previous guidelines. Yet, if the problem isn’t over, it’s likely there’s a faulty washer component keeping it from draining properly.
For example, when the door lock is secured, the washer gets a signal to begin operating. Therefore, if the lock is damaged, the washing machine may not be able to function as it should. This could lead to spinning or draining issues.
Also, the drain pump may be faulty, especially if you’ve checked that it’s not facing any blockages.
To determine if any of the washer’s components need maintenance, you must hire a professional. They’ll be able to tell you where the problem is and help you replace any damaged parts with new ones.
After a washing cycle, you might find your clothes soaked, so you may suspect it to be a draining problem. Yet, in some cases, it can be that you’ve put too many garments inside your Maytag washer.
Overloading can cause an imbalance in the washer’s spin speed, which could result in too-wet clothes after the cycle is over. To solve this issue, remove some pieces of clothing, readjust the positions of the remaining ones, and let them go through a spin and rinse cycle.
If the problem persists, the washer may be facing draining difficulties after all.
How Often Should I Drain My Maytag Washer?
Because washers can be fertile breeding grounds for germs and mold, experts recommend that you drain-clean yours once a month. Sure, the machine washes itself besides cleaning your clothes, but you should sanitize it every now and then.
Simply enough, run your washer on an empty load with hot water and a cup of distilled white vinegar. This should efficiently get rid of any germs in the washing machine.
Conclusion
‘Why is my Maytag washer not draining?’ You might ask.
The most common cause behind this problem is a blocked draining hose, so you’ll need to check it for clumps. If not, it could be that a component of the washer is damaged, or that the drain pump filter is clogged.
Hopefully, after following our guidance, you’ll be able to identify the problem and work to solve it in no time!
