How to Drain a Washing Machine Manually

How Do You Drain a Washing Machine Manually?

Oh no! The worst has happened, and your washing machine hasn’t drained after washing your clothing. How on Earth are you supposed to take care of the gallons of water still stuck inside your machine with your clothing? Can you manually drain a washing machine?

Rest assured, you can drain a washing machine manually with minimal fuss, hassle, and mess.
Whether it’s caused by a blockage in your drain pump, a lint clog, or a simple drain hose kink, you can take this matter into your own hands by following the advice below:

What You Will Need to Drain a Washing Machine Manually

Before you learn how to manually drain a washing machine, you’ll need a few tools and essentials to make the process go as smoothly as possible:

• A large bucket (preferably five gallons or larger)
• A pair of needle-nose pliers
• A plumber’s snake
• A screwdriver
• Towels
• A shallow container if you have a front-loading machine
• An owner’s manual, if available

How to Manually Drain a Top-Loading Washing Machine

Before you get the draining process of a top-loading washing machine underway, make sure the lid is securely closed. Most top-loading machines will only drain water and complete their spin cycle if the lid is closed. Some machines also have a locking mechanism.

In some cases, a defective or broken lid switch can be why your machine isn’t draining by itself. Press the lid firmly and see if your washing machine attempts to drain the water.

You can also follow the steps below when you’re attempting to manually drain a washing machine in a front-loader style:

1. Lay down towels around your machine and turn off the power

Place towels all around your machine in case of water spillage and turn off the power. This may mean unplugging your machine or turning off your circuit breaker if it’s hard-wired into your electrical system.

2. Find the drain hose

Before you learn how to drain water from an automatic washing machine manually, you’ll need to find the drain hose. Pull your front-loading washing machine away from the wall to allow for more space to work. You may notice three hoses in the back that are color-coded:

• Red = hot water
• Blue = cold water
• Gray = drain hose

Turn off the water supply to your hot and cold water hoses and disconnect the drain hose from the pipe. Hold the drain pipe above the washing machine to prevent water from spilling.

3. Drain the water

Lower the washing machine drain hose into your bucket. Once the bucket is full, connect the drain hose back to the pipe so you can empty the water into your sink. Repeat the draining process until the washing machine drum is empty.

How to Manually Drain a Front-Loading Washing Machine

When you research ‘how do you manually drain a washing machine,’ you must read instructions carefully to ensure you’re following the right advice for the right machine type. If you have a front-loading washing machine, take these actions:

1. Lay down towels around your machine and turn off the power

Just as you would lay down towels and switch off the power for your top-loading machine, take the same first step for your front-loading machine. Unplug the machine or turn off your circuit breaker if it’s hard-wired into your power supply.

2. Find the drain hose

The drain hose in a front-loading machine is typically in a different location than one in a top-loading machine. Your machine will either have one drain pump filter by itself or a drain pump filter with a separate drain hose. In either case, these will be behind a panel on the front of your machine. If you’re unsure, refer to your owner’s manual. You may need a screwdriver to open the panel.

3. Drain the water

How you drain the water from your front-loading washing machine can depend on whether you have one drain pump filter or a drain pump filter with a separate drain hose.

If you have a drain pump filter, put your shallow container against the washing machine under the filter to catch the water. Turn the knob slowly until the water starts flowing. Each time you fill the container, turn the knob off and empty it into a sink and repeat the process until all the water has been drained.

If you have a drain pump filter and drain tube, release the drain tube and unscrew the end cap once your container is in place to catch the water. You can put the cap and clip back in place once the water has been drained.

4. Clean the filter

If you see any debris around the filter, rinse it with warm water and lightly scrub it with a soft-bristled brush.

Common Causes of Washing Machine Drainage Problems

You wouldn’t have to ask, ‘How do you manually drain water from a washing machine’ if you weren’t experiencing this very problem. So, what’s causing it? After draining your washing machine, you may encounter some of these common problems:

A Drain Hose Clog

If you noticed that water didn’t rush out of your washing machine hose when you lowered it into a bucket, you might have a clog. A plumber’s snake can be an ideal tool to remove it.

A Drain Pump Clog

Sometimes, washing machines don’t drain when there’s a clog in the drain pump. Refer to your owner’s manual to locate the drain pump. It’s normally behind a removable panel on your machine’s front or rear. Use needle-nose pliers to clear any clogs.

Detergent Buildup

Some blockages are caused by detergent buildup. Ensure you use the correct amount of detergent to prevent such clogs.

Contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing for Help to Manually Drain a Washing Machine

Not everyone feels confident researching ‘How do you manually drain water from a washing machine’ and following step-by-step instructions. That’s okay! You can contact your local Mr. Rooter Plumbing for help. We’re ready and waiting to help you tackle your washing machine-related plumbing woes.