Washing machine not draining: what to check

Nine times out of ten, it's something stuck in the filter.

The answer in 2 lines. Most of the time the pump filter is blocked (a coin, a hair grip, a baby sock) or the drain hose is kinked behind the machine. Unplug the machine, let hot water cool, then drain it slowly through the small flap at the bottom front into a shallow tray, and clean the filter. Check the hose and the sink trap or standpipe it drains into. If water still will not go and you hear humming, the pump may have failed. If the machine is recent, the retailer you bought it from may have to repair or replace it under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

The first 4 steps

Stop the programme and unplug the machine. If it was a hot wash, wait for the water to cool.
Get towels and a very shallow tray ready (a roasting tin or baking tray works): several litres can come out.
Open the small flap at the bottom front. If there is a thin emergency drain hose, pull it out and let the water run into the tray, a bit at a time.
Unscrew the pump filter slowly (anticlockwise), remove what is blocking it, rinse it, screw it back firmly, then run a "drain" or "spin" programme.

Stop: danger

Unplug before you touch anything: before opening the filter, pulling the machine out or reaching behind it. Water and electricity together can kill.
Water on the floor near the socket: do not touch the plug while standing in water. Switch off that circuit at the consumer unit first (only if it is dry), then unplug.
After a hot wash, the water left in the drum can scald: let it cool before opening the filter or the door.
Burning smell, smoke or scorch marks on the plug or socket: switch off at the consumer unit and do not use the machine again until it has been checked. Fire: get out and call 999.

Possible causes, from simplest to most serious

What you notice	Likely cause	What to do
Water does not drain at all, no unusual noise	Pump filter blocked	Clean the filter (steps above)
Water drains slowly, or comes back up in the sink	Drain hose kinked or squashed behind the machine, sink trap or standpipe blocked	Straighten the hose, clear the trap under the sink
Newly plumbed in, or a new sink waste fitted	Blanking plug left in the spigot where the hose connects under the sink	A plumber or the installer removes it
Humming, but nothing drains	Pump jammed by an object, or pump failed	Clean the filter; if nothing changes, get it repaired
Machine stops full of water at the end	"Rinse hold" or a delicate programme chosen by mistake	Check the options in the manual, then run "drain"
An error code is shown	The machine is reporting a drain fault itself	Look the code up in the manual

What you can do yourself, and where to stop

Clean the filter, check the drain hose and clear the sink trap: safe, with the machine unplugged.
Read the manual: it shows where the filter is and what the error codes mean for your model. If you have lost it, the manufacturer's website has it: search with the model number on the label inside the door or on the back. Hotpoint, for example, has a troubleshooting page.
Stop there if the pump is at fault: replacing it means taking the machine apart. Use a repairer, unless you already repair appliances.

What not to do

Forcing the filter with pliers: it is plastic and breaks easily.
Opening the filter without a tray and towels: the whole drum can empty at once.
Pouring drain unblocker into the machine: it can damage the seals and the pump.

Your rights in England, and who to call

Bought it recently from a business? Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you can reject a faulty machine for a full refund within 30 days. Within 6 months, the retailer must repair or replace it, and it is up to them to show it was not faulty when delivered. After 6 months you can still claim, but you may have to show the fault was there from the start. You deal with the retailer, not the manufacturer. See Citizens Advice: return faulty goods, or call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.
Manufacturer's guarantee or extended warranty: check the paperwork; a repair may be free on top of your legal rights.
Choosing a repairer: ask for a written quote with parts and labour before work starts, and check whether there is a call-out fee. The manufacturer's own service can be a safe choice for a recent machine.
Register your machine on Register My Appliance (free, run by the appliance makers' association AMDEA) so the manufacturer can contact you if there is a safety recall.
If you rent and the machine came with the home: tell your landlord in writing; repairing appliances they supplied is usually their job, unless your tenancy says otherwise.

Good to know

Empty pockets before every wash: coins, tissues, keys and hair grips end up in the filter.
Wash small items (baby socks, underwired bras) in a mesh laundry bag.
Clean the filter regularly, as often as the manual says.
The Consumer Rights Act also applies in Wales and Scotland, but the time limit for taking a claim to court is 6 years in England and 5 years in Scotland. The checks on the machine are the same everywhere.

In Bristol, Hannah finds her washing sitting in grey water at the end of the cycle. She unplugs the machine, waits for the water to cool, drains the drum into a roasting tin through the little flap and pulls a £1 coin and a hair grip out of the filter. One "drain" programme later, everything works.

A made-up story, for illustration.

Bobby

Sources, verification, confidence

Verified on 1 November 2026, for England. Confidence: high for the safety steps and the usual causes (manufacturer guides); high for the Consumer Rights Act 30-day and 6-month rules in England; medium for repair costs, which vary widely and for which we found no official average, so we do not give a figure. We found no official statistics on drain faults. This guide describes common cases, not a diagnosis.