The short answer
Drain the water through the filter hatch or by lowering the drain hose, then clean the pump filter. If the filter is clear, check the drain hose for a kink and the standpipe or trap for a blockage before assuming the pump has failed.
What you observe
- The cycle stops with water in the drum — The machine cannot proceed and will not unlock.
- The pump runs but the level does not fall — A blockage between the pump and the drain.
- No pump sound at all — The pump, its supply or the control.
- Water drains slowly — A partial restriction.
- It drains but will not spin — Sensing that the water has gone, or balance.
- Not this fault: water on the floor — Read the leak page.
Ranked by what is found
- Pump filter blocked with lint, coins and debris — First, and usually the whole fault.
- Drain hose kinked behind the machine — Second.
- Standpipe or sink trap blocked — Third, and it is plumbing rather than appliance.
- Object jammed in the pump impeller — Fourth, and often visible through the filter.
- Drain hose pushed too far into the standpipe — Fifth, and it causes siphoning as well.
- Pump or its control failed — Last.
Work through it in this order
- Drain the water before anything else — It releases the door and makes the rest possible.
- Open and clean the pump filter — The commonest fix on the page.
- Pull the machine out and straighten the drain hose — Kinks form when a machine is pushed back.
- Check where the hose discharges — A blocked standpipe stops everything.
Owner checks
- Place a shallow tray and towels, then open the filter hatch — There is more water than people expect.
Tools: shallow tray, towelsAbout 25 min
- Unscrew and clean the pump filter thoroughly — Coins and hair grips collect here.
Tools: glovesAbout 25 min
- Turn the impeller by hand once the filter is out — It should move freely.
About 10 min
- Straighten the drain hose behind the machine — Pushing a washer back is what kinks it.
Tools: torchAbout 20 min
- Pour water into the standpipe to test the drain — A blocked standpipe imitates a failed pump.
Tools: jugAbout 15 min
- Stop before removing the pump or the cabinet panels — Water and mains wiring share that space.
Standing water in a mains appliance
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Drain water into a shallow tray and never onto a live outlet or a mains lead. The water may be hot, and the filter may hold sharp objects, so wear gloves and do not reach into the pump housing with the machine powered.
When to call
Call when the filter is clean, the hose is straight, the standpipe drains and the machine still holds water - that points at the pump or its control. Call a plumber instead when the standpipe or the sink trap is blocked, because that is household plumbing. Say whether the pump makes any sound, because it separates an electrical fault from a mechanical one.
Other faults on this washer
Scope of this page
Generalized across washer families under this badge; where a family-specific or model-specific page exists it is the narrower answer. Not here: pump specifications, hose dimensions, standpipe heights and filter part numbers.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
