Why Is My Washing Machine Draining So Slowly?

Most washers, especially front-load models, have a small filter that catches lint, coins, and other small items before they reach the pump. Whirlpool explains that "the filter helps to keep unwanted items like lint or forgotten pocket items out of the pump by straining them from the dirty water."

A clogged filter is one of the more common causes of slow drainage. Whirlpool is direct about it: "if your filter is clogged with debris, your washer may not be able to drain properly." Filter location varies by model, so checking the owner's manual first saves time over guessing where to look.

If the filter looks clear, the hose is the next place to check. Whirlpool notes that "if the hose is the wrong length, installed at the wrong height or has kinks in it, you may find yourself facing drainage issues."

A hose that loops or bends sharply behind the machine restricts flow the same way a kinked garden hose does. Straightening it out, or making sure it wasn't pushed too far into the standpipe, is worth checking before assuming the problem is a clog.

Not every slow drain is a mechanical blockage. Whirlpool points out that the cause can be as simple as a setting: "from cycle or spin settings to an unbalanced load, or even using too much soap, there may be a straightforward reason your washer won't drain."

High-efficiency washers need less detergent than older machines, and using a standard detergent in one, or just too much of it, can leave excess suds that slow the drain cycle down without any actual clog.

A washer that's slow but still eventually drains is usually a partial restriction somewhere in the filter, hose, or standpipe rather than a full blockage. Letting it run through a full cycle while watching for where the water backs up, if anywhere, can help narrow down whether it's the machine or the drain it empties into.

If water backs up at the standpipe itself rather than inside the machine, the problem has likely moved from the washer to the drain line it shares with the rest of the house.

After checking the filter, the hose, and the settings, a washer that still drains slowly may have a pump issue or a blockage further down the drain line than any of these steps reach.

Call to get connected with a local plumber who serves Eden Prairie if the washer keeps draining slowly after you've checked the filter and hose, especially if other fixtures nearby are slow too.