Washers
Washer full of water and won't drain
A tub full of grey water is alarming, but this is one of the most fixable washer faults. Most of the time something is caught between the tub and the pump.
- Proudly CanadianOttawa-based team
- BBB accreditedRepairWell, our operator
- 15+ yearsof technician experience
- Insured technicianslicensed for gas work
- Satisfaction guaranteed90-day warranty on replaced parts
- Free diagnosticwhen you go ahead with the repair
Safe checks before you book
- Cancel and let it try once. Run a drain or spin-only cycle. A humming sound with no water moving points to a blocked or failed pump.
- Front-load: the filter. Most front-loaders have a small access door low on the front. Put towels and a shallow tray down, then open the filter slowly: it will release water. Socks, coins and hair ties often turn up here.
- The drain hose. Check it isn't kinked behind the machine and that the standpipe it goes into isn't blocked.
- Error codes. Write down any code on the display. Drain codes are common and help the technician bring the right pump.
Unplug first. Switch off power (and close the water or gas supply where it applies) before looking behind or inside an appliance. If anything feels unsafe, stop and call.
What usually causes it
| Blocked pump or filter | A small item jammed in the pump. Cleared on the visit, often without parts. |
|---|---|
| Failed drain pump | The pump hums but doesn't move water, or is silent. A common part on most brands. |
| Blocked hose or standpipe | Lint and debris can clog the hose or the house drain. |
| Lid switch or door lock | Some washers won't drain or spin if they don't detect a closed lid or locked door. |
When to stop and call
Water on the floor that keeps coming, or a burning smell. Turn the washer off at the outlet and close the water taps behind it.
What the visit costs
The diagnostic is free when you approve the repair and it's completed. You get the cause, the parts, labour and total in writing before any work. If you don't go ahead, it's $89 + tax for a home electric appliance, or $149 + tax for a gas appliance.
Repairs that fix this
Related guides
Washer not spinningClothes come out soaked. Sometimes it is just how the load sat in the drum; sometimes it is a belt, a lid…Washer leakingTiming matters: a leak while it fills, while it washes, or while it drains each point to different…Front-load washer door won't openFront-loaders lock the door while there is water in the drum or the drum is moving. A door that stays locked…