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  1. Repair
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  3. Washer will not drain

Maytag washer won't drain

Common reasons your Maytag washer won't drain

The most common reasons your Maytag washer won't drain are a broken motor, cracked drain hose or a jammed door lock assembly.

  • 56%

    56% of the time it's the
    Motor

  • 9%

    9% of the time it's the
    Drain Hose

  • 5%

    5% of the time it's the
    Door Lock Assembly

  • 30%

    30% of the time it's the
    Something else

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    Most common repairs needed to fix a Maytag washer

    Motor Replacement

    A broken washer motor will prevent the spin basket from rotating or agitating, and can also cause a variety of other issues that affect the washer’s ability to function properly. Signs that the motor is wearing out include unusual noises during operation, such as grinding or squealing sounds. The washer may also exhibit erratic spinning or agitation, with clothes not being properly rinsed or still soaking wet after the spin cycle. Additionally, a worn-out motor may lead to the washer not completing its cycles, stopping abruptly, or not starting at all. Burnt smells or overheating around the motor area can be indicative of internal problems. In some cases, visible damage to the motor itself may be apparent.


    Drain Hose Replacement

    A cracked washer drain hose produces leaks, and if the crack is small it can often go undetected until water is seen pooling around the bottom of the washer. Additionally, a cracked hose may also collapse, preventing water from efficiently draining from the tub. Water may accumulate inside the drum, resulting in prolonged washing cycles. If you suspect your washer drain hose is cracked, have it replaced by a Sears Home Services professional

    Door Lock Assembly Replacement

    When a washer door lock assembly is jammed, you may encounter difficulty in opening or closing the washer door. The door may not latch properly, leading to issues in starting or completing a wash cycle. The washer might display an error code indicating a door lock problem. During operation, the door lock may make unusual clicking sounds or fail to engage, preventing the washer from starting. Additionally, if there is a malfunction, the door lock indicator light may not illuminate as expected. Users might notice water remaining in the drum even after the wash cycle has finished, indicating a potential problem with the door lock assembly preventing proper drainage.

    What to expect when you experience a Maytag washer won't drain issue

    How is the won't drain problem fixed?

    Correcting most won't drain problems usually involves replacing the motor, drain hose or door lock assembly. However, there are many potential causes, so a thorough diagnosis is key to fixing the problem. An accurate diagnosis is essential to understanding how much the repair will be.

    Sears Home Services recommendations for a washer that won't drain

    When the washer won't drain it can be for many reasons. To avoid replacing unneeded parts we recommend having a Sears Home Services professional perform diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of the problem. Our technicians are experienced at diagnosing all types of washer failures.

    What to look out for with a washer won't drain diagnosis

    Diagnosing modern appliances without proper knowledge and training can be difficult. Without using proper diagnostic techniques, fixing your washer problem will only be achieved through changing parts on a hunch. Appliances, especially in the last 10 years, have become extremely advanced, and many models have electronic parts that are difficult to test. DIY repairs on the latest appliance models are becoming increasingly difficult.

    Maytag Bravos Washer Not Draining

    When your Maytag Bravos washer is not draining, it could have a clogged drain hose, broken drain pump, faulty electronic control board or an internal wiring failure. Excessive suds could also keep a Maytag Bravos top load washer from draining.

    Check for excessive suds or foam surrounding the garments in the washer. If you see lots of suds, pour a half cup of white vinegar into the tub to dissipate the suds. Stir the clothes around and let the washer sit idle for 15 minutes. Start a new wash cycle with no detergent added to rinse the vinegar and detergent residue out of the clothes. This may fix the problem with your Maytag Bravos washer not draining.

    If you don’t see excessive suds in the washer, you may be able to fix the drain problem yourself if the failure is caused by a clog in the drain hose. Pull the drain hose out of the stand pipe behind the washer and check for lint or debris clogging the end of the drain hose. Remove media from that area if you find any.

    An internal drain hose clog is more difficult to verify and reach. Use a wet/dry shop vacuum to suck a potential clog of lint and debris out of the drain hose. If the shop vac removes the clog and evacuates the water from the washer tub, then your drain problem is likely fixed. Run a Rinse & Drain cycle on your Maytag Bravos top load washer.

    If the washer still doesn’t drain after performing these troubleshooting steps, schedule repair service and we’ll send a Sears Home Services technician to your home to fix the problem with your Maytag Bravos washer not draining.

    Maytag Washer Won’t Drain and Spin

    Most Maytag washers won’t spin clothes dry if the machine won’t drain out the water.

    Check for excessive suds in the washer tub. If you see lots of foam surrounding the clothes in the tub, pour a half cut of white vinegar into the washer tub and move the clothes around to mix the vinegar with the sudsy water to dissipate the excessive suds. Wait 15 minutes and then run a new wash cycle with no detergent added to rinse out detergent residue and vinegar from the load.

    If you don’t see excessive suds, check the house drain for the washer. If that washer drain is clogged, clear the clog using a plumber’s snake or have a plumber clear that drain.

    If the house drain is clear, check the washer drain hose for a clog using these steps:

    1. Check the end of the drain hose for lint and debris that can keep the washer from draining and spinning. Clear any debris your find at the end of the hose.
    2. Unplug the washer.
    3. Use a wet/dry shop vacuum to suck water, lint and debris out of the drain hose. If you can drain all of the water out of the washer using the shop vacuum, then you know that the drain path is likely clear.
    4. If your have a Maytag front-load washer with a drain pump filter accessible from the front panel of the washer, drain water out of the washer using a wet/dry shop vacuum and remove that drain pump filter as shown in the owner’s manual for your model of Maytag washer. Debris and lint caught in that area can keep the washer from draining.

    If these basic troubleshooting tips don’t help you resolve the problem when your Maytag washer won’t drain and spin, schedule washer repair service and we’ll send a technician to your home to fix the machine.

    What To Do When Your Maytag Bravo XL Washer is Not Draining

    The house drain for the washer is the first thing to check when your Maytag Bravo XL washer is not draining. Use a plumber’s snake to clear that drain if it’s clogged. Call a plumber to clear that drain if you’re unable to clear the clog yourself.

    If the house drain for the washer is draining properly, follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve the properly with your Maytag Bravo XL washer not draining:

    1. Check the end of the drain hose for lint and debris that could be clogging the drain hose. Clear debris and lint out of that area and see if the washer drains properly.
    2. Use a wet/dry shop vacuum to clear an internal clog from the drain hose and drain pump. If you’re able to suck debris, lint and water out of the washer, the machine may drain water.
    3. If the washer won’t drain after using the shop vac to clear the drain path inside the washer, schedule washer repair service to have a technician examine the machine and fix the drain problem.

    Maytag Bravos Washer Not Draining or Spinning

    When you discover your Maytag Bravos washer not draining or spinning because the cycle stopped, check the control panel display for an error code. The washer won’t work until you resolve the problem indicated by the error code. Check your owner’s manual for information on error codes. Not all error codes are listed in the manual. Look up the code on our Sears PartsDirect error code charts and follow the troubleshooting listed for that code. Schedule washer repair service if you’re unable to find and fix the problem causing the error code.

    If the control panel display isn’t showing an error code, try resetting the electronic control board using these steps.

    1. Turn the washer off.
    2. Unplug the washer power cord to completely disconnect electrical power from the machine.
    3. Let the washer sit idle for 2 minutes.
    4. Plug the power cord back into the electrical outlet to restore power.

    After the electric control board reboots, the washer may work normally. Run a Drain & Spin cycle to drain water out of the washer and spin the clothes dry.

    If these basic troubleshooting tips don’t help you resolve the problem with your Maytag Bravos washer not draining or spinning, schedule washer repair service and we’ll send a Sears Home Services technician to your home to fix the machine.

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    Additional possible Maytag washer symptoms you may experience

    • Maytag washer won't start cycle
    • Maytag washer not working
    • Maytag washer not turning on
    • Maytag washer not starting
    • Maytag washer not spinning
    • Maytag washer not filling
    • Maytag washer not agitating
    • Maytag washer noisy
    • Maytag washer no power
    • Maytag washer leaking from bottom