Guide
Why Your Washing Machine Won't Drain
A practical UK guide to the most common reasons a washing machine will not empty properly and the safe first checks worth trying.
Understand the usual signs of a drainage fault, what you can safely inspect first, and when a blocked filter, hose, or pump needs professional help.
Last updated: 17 September 2026
If your washing machine is not draining, the problem is often somewhere in the drainage path rather than the spin system itself. Many users first notice water left in the drum, a failed spin cycle, or a humming sound as the pump tries to clear a blockage.
Common signs the machine is not draining
- Water is still sitting in the drum at the end of the cycle.
- The machine stops before spin or refuses to start a spin programme.
- You hear the pump humming but the water level does not drop.
- The door stays locked because the appliance still contains water.
The safest first checks are the simple external ones: the accessible filter, the drain hose route, and the waste connection if your machine drains into a standpipe or sink spigot. A blocked filter, crushed hose, or jammed pump can all stop water leaving the machine properly.
Drainage codes to compare by symptom
- Use Hotpoint F05, Hotpoint F11, or Indesit F11 when the washer stops before spin with water left in the drum.
- Use Samsung 5C if the machine is clearly not draining, or Samsung LC if the same drainage issue has also triggered a leak-style warning.
- Use Bosch E18 if you are seeing the same not-draining pattern on Bosch machines.
Safe first checks
- Switch the appliance off and unplug it from the mains before opening any accessible filter or checking hoses.
- Prepare towels, a tray, or the emergency drain hose if your model has one because trapped water can spill out quickly.
- Check the accessible pump filter for coins, lint, buttons, hair grips, or small fabric items.
- Inspect the drain hose and waste connection for kinks, squashing, or obvious blockages before trying another drain cycle.
If the machine will not drain and there is also water on the floor, treat that as more than a simple blocked-drain problem. Leak and overflow pages such as Samsung LC or Samsung LC1 are a better match than repeating spin cycles.
When to stop and call an engineer
- The filter and hose are clear but the machine still will not drain.
- The pump only hums, sounds rough, or appears to leak after refitting the filter.
- The machine keeps stopping with water inside even after one safe drain test.
- Any next step would require opening the cabinet, removing the pump, or working around live electrical parts.
Browse related appliance hubs
Related brand and appliance hubs
Beko Washing Machine hub
Open the full Beko washing machine code list connected to this guide.
Hotpoint Washing Machine hub
Open the full Hotpoint washing machine code list connected to this guide.
Samsung Washing Machine hub
Open the full Samsung washing machine code list connected to this guide.
Bosch Washing Machine hub
Open the full Bosch washing machine code list connected to this guide.
Electrolux Washing Machine hub
Open the full Electrolux washing machine code list connected to this guide.
LG Washing Machine hub
Open the full LG washing machine code list connected to this guide.
Drainage-related washing machine fault codes
Samsung Washing Machine LC1
The washer has detected a drain-hose problem
Hoover Washing Machine E03
The washing machine is not draining water on models using Hoover's E03/E3 mapping
Hotpoint Washing Machine F11
The washer has a drain pump or drainage-circuit fault and cannot empty water properly.
Indesit Washing Machine F11
The washer has a drain pump or drainage-circuit fault and is not emptying water properly.
Samsung Washing Machine 5C
The washer cannot drain the water away properly.
Samsung Washing Machine ND
The washer has detected a no-drain condition
Samsung Washing Machine SE
Drainage timeout or not-draining fault
Bosch Washing Machine E36
The meaning depends on the full E36 suffix and the exact Bosch model
Leak and overflow warnings that can look like drainage faults
Bosch Washing Machine E30
Bosch washing machine E30 usually means leak or overflow protection has been triggered.
Samsung Washing Machine LC
Samsung UK lists LC as low water level detected.
Samsung Washing Machine LE
Samsung UK lists LE as low water level detected.
Samsung Washing Machine OE
Samsung UK lists OE as an overflow error.
Samsung Washing Machine OC
Samsung OC usually means the washer thinks the drum is overfilling or the water level is rising too high.
Samsung Washing Machine FE
Overflow or abnormal foam/water-level condition
Frequently asked questions
Is a washing machine that will not drain always a pump fault?+
No. A blocked filter, obstructed hose, blocked waste outlet, or trapped debris around the pump can all cause the same behaviour.
Why does a drain fault stop the spin cycle?+
Most washing machines will not spin properly until the water has left the drum, so drainage faults often look like spin faults at first.
Should I force the door open if water is still inside?+
No. Leave the appliance switched off and use only the safe draining method described for your model. Forcing the door can spill a large amount of water.