Why Won't My Washing Machine Spin Or Drain? And How To Fix It (2024)

If your washing machine won’t spin or drain, you will not only be left with dirty clothes, but also an even bigger mess than when you began. The good news is that most causes are simple to address so you can get back to having clean laundry.

There Is a Problem With the Drain Hose

If your washer won’t drain, the first thing to inspect is the drain hose. If this part is clogged, frozen or bent, water won’t be able to flow out—which will leave all the liquid in the tub. Make sure the drain hose isn’t kinked or twisted in a way that obstructs the flow of water. Then inspect the drain pump to see if a small piece of clothing got trapped; that could be causing the blockage. If you need to remove the drain hose to check or unclog it, be sure to manually drain the washing machine first.

The Power Source Is Inadequate

To spin and drain, washing machines need an adequate, consistent flow of power. If your washing machine is plugged directly into an outlet, this likely won’t be a problem unless the circuit gets overloaded. Inadequate power is more likely to be an issue if the washer is plugged into a power strip or extension cord. If that’s the case, rearrange things so that you are able to plug the washer into a wall outlet.

There Is Too Much Detergent

If you have soft water or an excessive amount of detergent in the washing machine, the volume of suds may tell the appliance’s sensors that there is a larger load of laundry than there truly is. In return, the machine will respond to this false information by not spinning at a high enough velocity. You can simply correct this issue by using a high-efficiency detergent with low-foaming action—and be sure to use the right amount based on the detergent’s instructions.

The Load Isn’t Evenly Distributed

If you run a load of laundry and open the machine at the end of the cycle to find everything clumped to one side of the machine, the spin cycle may not have gotten to a high enough speed. Try redistributing the items by spreading everything out. For example, unfold a large blanket rather than putting it into the machine in a ball.

There Is a Mechanical Issue

If you’ve explored the other possibilities and are still unsure of the problem with the washing machine, there could be an issue with the rotor, drive motor, belt, control board or another part that’s essential to the machine’s function. Unless you have the skills to address and repair these parts on your own, you are probably best off calling an appliance repair professional for help.

You can do better than bailing out the water from a washer that doesn’t drain into a bucket. The process to manually drain a washing machine will vary slightly for a front-load or top-load machine. However, in either case, you should start by turning off the power, pulling the machine out from the wall and finding the drain filter and/or drain tube.

For a top-load machine, disconnect the drain hose and place the end into a large or utility sink. If the water doesn’t drain, that’s your sign there is a clog in the drain hose that you may need to get out with a plumbing snake.

For a front-load machine that has a drain hose, you can follow the same process. If the machine only has a drain pump filter, put a large towel and container on the floor directly beneath the filter. Then turn the drain pump filter knob counterclockwise to remove the filter and drain the water.

If you’ve gone through the steps to troubleshoot your washing machine issue and still can’t find the reason, there may be a bigger problem at play. On average, professional services cost $150 to $300 for a machine that won’t drain and $150 to $500 for a machine that won’t spin.

Bottom Line

The typical lifespan of a washing machine is 10 to 13 years. If your washer is younger than that, it should be worthwhile to fix it.