The short answer
A Costway portable washer that will not drain is usually being defeated by where the drain hose is sitting. A twin-tub drains by gravity, so the hose has to be lower than the water in the tub, and a single-tub machine pumps into a sink that has to be able to take it. Both are owner checks that cost nothing.
What you are actually seeing
- The tub holds water at the end of the cycle — Means: on-page
- Water drains very slowly rather than not at all — Means: on-page
- The machine drains into the sink and water comes back — Means: on-page
- Draining stopped after the machine was moved — Means: on-page
- The hose gurgles and then stops — Means: on-page
- Water on the floor rather than in the tub — Means: different-fault — Go to: costway-washer-water-leak
- The cycle stops with the tub full and no drain attempt — Means: different-fault — Go to: costway-washer-cycle-fault
- Body: Match what you see before you take anything apart. The tub holds water at the end of the cycle. Water drains very slowly rather than not at all. The machine drains into the sink and water comes back. Draining stopped after the machine was moved. The hose gurgles and then stops. Some near-miss symptoms belong on a different page: Water on the floor rather than in the tub points at a leak, covered on costway-washer-water-leak; The cycle stops with the tub full and no drain attempt points at a cycle or timer fault, covered on costway-washer-cycle-fault.
Causes, ranked for this machine
- The drain hose is not lower than the water in the tub, on a gravity-drain machine — Why this rank: First because on a twin-tub the hose height is the drain design, and it is reset every time the machine is moved
- A kinked drain hose behind or under the machine — Why this rank: Portable machines are pushed back against a wall after every use, which is exactly where a hose kinks
- A blocked lint filter or pump filter — Why this rank: Small machines have small filters, and they fill quickly with lint and hair
- The sink or tub receiving the water draining slowly — Why this rank: A machine emptying into a slow sink appears to fail intermittently
- A blocked or failed drain pump on a single-tub machine — Why this rank: Last because everything above it is free and because a genuinely failed pump is rarer than a hose problem
- Body: Ranked for a portable washer: either a twin-tub with a separate wash tub and spin basket that drains by gravity, or a compact single-tub machine that fills from a tap adapter and drains with a pump. Most likely: The drain hose is not lower than the water in the tub, on a gravity-drain machine. First because on a twin-tub the hose height is the drain design, and it is reset every time the machine is moved. Next most likely: A kinked drain hose behind or under the machine. Portable machines are pushed back against a wall after every use, which is exactly where a hose kinks. Third: A blocked lint filter or pump filter. Small machines have small filters, and they fill quickly with lint and hair. Fourth: The sink or tub receiving the water draining slowly. A machine emptying into a slow sink appears to fail intermittently. Fifth: A blocked or failed drain pump on a single-tub machine. Last because everything above it is free and because a genuinely failed pump is rarer than a hose problem.
What to check, in order
- Lay the drain hose so its outlet is clearly lower than the water in the tub, on a gravity-drain machine
- Trace the hose for a kink where the machine sits against the wall
- Clean the lint or pump filter
- Run the sink tap and confirm the sink itself drains freely
- Body: Each check rules out the causes above it. First, lay the drain hose so its outlet is clearly lower than the water in the tub, on a gravity-drain machine. Second, trace the hose for a kink where the machine sits against the wall. Third, clean the lint or pump filter. Fourth, run the sink tap and confirm the sink itself drains freely.
Checks you can safely make yourself
- On a gravity-drain machine, lay the drain hose down to a floor drain or a low bucket so its outlet is below the tub water level — Tools: bucket — Time estimate: a quarter of an hour
- Pull the machine forward and follow the drain hose along its whole run, straightening any kink or crush point — Tools: torch — Time estimate: a quarter of an hour
- Unplug the machine, open the lint or pump filter over a shallow tray, empty it, rinse it and refit it — Tools: shallow tray, towel — Time estimate: a quarter of an hour
- Run the sink tap for a while and confirm the sink drains freely rather than filling — Tools: none — Time estimate: a few minutes
- Fill the tub with a small amount of water and run only the drain, watching the hose from end to end — Tools: none — Time estimate: a quarter of an hour
- Body: Checks an owner can make with the machine unplugged or by watching a short cycle. Step one: On a gravity-drain machine, lay the drain hose down to a floor drain or a low bucket so its outlet is below the tub water level. Tools: bucket. Time: a quarter of an hour. Step two: Pull the machine forward and follow the drain hose along its whole run, straightening any kink or crush point. Tools: torch. Time: a quarter of an hour. Step three: Unplug the machine, open the lint or pump filter over a shallow tray, empty it, rinse it and refit it. Tools: shallow tray, towel. Time: a quarter of an hour. Step four: Run the sink tap for a while and confirm the sink drains freely rather than filling. Tools: none. Time: a few minutes. Step five: Fill the tub with a small amount of water and run only the drain, watching the hose from end to end. Tools: none. Time: a quarter of an hour.
Safety first
Safety
Unplug the machine before opening a filter housing or reaching into a tub, and dry the floor before restoring power. Be ready for the water still standing in the hose when you open a filter. Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. unplug-before-service
Where the owner fix ends
Call for a warranty claim or a technician when the hose is correctly positioned and unkinked, the filter is clean and the sink drains freely, and the tub still holds water. That leaves the drain pump on a single-tub machine, which is inside the cabinet.
Nearest pages of the same kind
Generalized information
This page is generalized across the Costway portable washer line. Twin-tub machines and compact single-tub machines share the ranking above but almost none of their parts, and this page does not cover a specific model or control revision. Family- and model-specific pages, where they exist, are linked below.
Links: - [Common COSTWAY Washer Problems](/blog/costway-washer-problems) - [COSTWAY Washer: Abnormal Noise or Vibration](/blog/costway-washer-abnormal-noise) - [COSTWAY Washer: Does Not Clean or Dry](/blog/costway-washer-cleaning-performance) - [COSTWAY Washer: Controls, Display or Error Code](/blog/costway-washer-control-fault)
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
