Washer dryer not draining: what our engineers find
These figures come from NAC's own repair records: 190 washer dryer jobs our engineers attended for this fault. Here is what they found, what fixed it and what it typically cost.
When a washer dryer will not drain, the cause is most often a blocked drain pump. Fluff, lint and small items washed out of pockets can wrap around the part that spins inside the pump and stop it moving water out. The next most common cause is a blocked pump filter, which collects debris over the course of many washes. Less often the drain pump itself has failed, and now and then the drain hose is blocked. Engineers sometimes find a blockage in the hose inside the machine, or in the plumbing under the sink that the machine drains into, and the machine may show an error code or keep its door locked while water is left in the drum.
An engineer will usually start by removing the standing water, then check the filter and the pump for anything caught inside. They run a drain cycle to see whether the pump starts and turns, and clear any blockage from the pump, filter or hoses. If the pump has power but will not turn, a new pump is needed, and this often has to be ordered and fitted at a second visit. The machine is then run through a rinse and spin to confirm it drains properly. Cleaning the filter regularly helps stop the problem coming back.
Written by our engineers from these jobs.
- Jobs attended
- 190
- Confirmed repairs
- 133
- This is not a success rate. Jobs inside their 60-day window, jobs still being classified, jobs held for review and visits that didn't end in a repair aren't counted.
- Fixed at the first appointment
- 70%
- about 7 in 10 of our repairs
- Typical total paid by customers
- £98 to £148
- including parts and VAT, from 125 repairs
What's usually behind it
The causes our engineers found and fixed, as a share of our 133 confirmed repairs for this fault.
-
Blocked drain pump: about 1 in 4 of our repairs, from 36 jobs.
27% -
Blocked pump filter: about 1 in 4 of our repairs, from 35 jobs.
26% -
Failed drain pump: about 1 in 5 of our repairs, from 28 jobs.
21% -
Blocked drain hose: about 1 in 5 of our repairs, from 28 jobs.
21%
We only list causes with enough repairs behind them, so the shares won't add up to 100%.
Error codes we see with this fault
- AEG E20: Drain fault: the machine cannot empty water.
- Bosch E06: Drain fault: the machine cannot empty water.
- Bosch E18: Drain fault, often linked to a blocked or failed drain pump.
- Hoover E20: Drain fault: the machine cannot empty water.
- Samsung 5C: Drain fault: water is not draining from the machine.
About the price. £98 to £148 is the typical total paid by customers, including parts and VAT: the middle half of what customers paid on 125 of these repairs. Repairs paid for by manufacturers and insurers aren't counted, because that work is charged at contract rates. It's a guide, not a quote. Your engineer confirms a fixed price before any work starts.
Before you check anything yourself
- Switch the washer dryer off and unplug it, or turn it off at the isolator switch, before you touch anything. Our guide to safely isolating an appliance walks you through it.
- If it involves the mains supply, sealed parts, or you're not confident at any point, stop and book a qualified engineer rather than risk injury or further damage.
Rather leave it to us?
- Fixed-price quote before any work starts
- Same or next-day visits where available
- UK-wide engineer coverage