How does a drain pump work in a washing machine?

Almost every home has automatic washing machines today, but not everyone knows how they work. Many people only have a superficial understanding of how a drain pump works in a washing machine. Users know that the part pumps soapy water from the tank into the sewer, and that's all. We'll tell you what parts the element consists of and what its operating principle is.

How does the pump work and where is it located?

Washing machine users rarely think about what processes the equipment performs after starting the cycle. They load the laundry into the drum, pour the powder into the tray, press the "Start" button and calmly go about their business, waiting for the program to end. Knowing how the automatic machine works will help you quickly react to a malfunction and identify the cause of the malfunction. Therefore, it is still worth understanding how the "home assistant" functions. So, after starting the wash, the following processes occur in the machine:

• The inlet valve opens, water under pressure begins to enter the system: it is poured through the pipes into the powder receiver, mixed with the detergent and “goes” into the tank,
• The pressure switch is activated. It measures the water level in the tank, and when enough water is collected, it sends a signal to the control module,
• The "brain" closes the electromagnetic valve, the flow of fluid stops,
• The main cycle begins – the washing machine spins the laundry in soapy water.

The drain pump functions not only at the end of the cycle, but also after pre-cleaning (if such an option is set) and during rinsing. Without a pump, the automatic machine will not be able to perform any washing program. When the module signals the need to drain water from the tank, the element immediately gets to work. The path of waste water is as follows:

• Water from the tank “passes” through the drain pipe,
• Enters the pump through the filter element (it protects the impeller from debris and other objects that accidentally end up in the drain),
• Flows through the drainage hose connected to the snail into the sewer.

The process continues until all the waste water is drained from the tank. When the pressure switch detects the zero filling level of the centrifuge, it notifies the control module about it. Then the "brain" will turn off the pump. The principle of the pump is clear. During the operation of the machine, the water is in the lower part of the machine, where the pump and all the pipes are located. That is why it is important to follow the rules for fixing the drainage hose - it should be located no lower than 50-60 cm from the floor level. This will prevent spontaneous leakage of liquid from the system.

The pump is fixed at the bottom of the machine body, under the tank. The pump is connected to the snail with three bolts. The plastic snail itself is fixed to the front panel of the machine, which allows access to it if necessary. For example, you can easily clean the garbage filter or manually drain the remaining liquid from the system, only by removing the false panel or opening the door of the technical hatch.

Types of pumps

If you want to delve deeper into this issue, you can figure out what type of pump is installed in an automatic machine. There are only two types. It can be:

• Circulation pump. It is installed in pair with a standard pump on modern premium washing machines of Indesit, Ariston and other brands. In this case, water constantly circulates in the system, due to which the efficiency of washing increases,
• Standard pump. Most washing machines are equipped with such a pump. In this case, dirty, soapy water is simply drained from the tank into the sewer.

If the pump installed on your washing machine burns out, it will not be practical to repair the part. In such a situation, you need to buy a new pump and install it instead of the old one. Fortunately, it is now quite easy to find and order components for most brands of machines. If the part is simply clogged, you can clean it yourself. To do this, you should:

• De-energize the machine,
• Turn off the valve responsible for the water supply,
• Drain the remaining liquid from the system through a waste filter,
• Lay the machine on its side,
• Remove the tray, if present,
• Disconnect the connected pipes from the element,
• Remove the pump from the housing by unscrewing the bolts holding it,
• Disassemble the pump body, clean the “insides” from debris and dirt, remove threads, lint and hair wound around the impeller.

Then the pump is assembled and installed in its original place. You can remove debris from the impeller without removing the pump from the housing. To do this, simply unscrew the debris filter and remove everything that has wound around the blades through the resulting hole.

What elements does the part consist of?

There is nothing complicated in the design of the drain pump. The pump rotor is a magnet made in the form of a cylinder. It is "hidden" in a plastic casing. After starting the system, the rotor is activated first, then the impeller located on the shaft begins to rotate.

There is an insulating winding on the magnetic core. The pump design is similar to an asynchronous motor, which also has a moving (rotor) and stationary (magnetic rod with winding) part. This is how the pump functions. If any of its components is damaged, for example, the impeller of the impeller breaks, you will have to install a new pump. There is no point in repairing the part - this will only be a temporary measure.

The circulation pump also has a sealing cuff. It serves to prevent water from pouring into the bearing unit. These mechanisms are additionally equipped with a rotor shaft passing through a cuff sleeve compressed by a spring ring. The standard SMA drainage pump is characterized by the following technical parameters:

• Power – 25-40 Watts,
• Contact placement: paired or separate,
• Type of connection to the snail: screw or using snap fasteners.

If you need to replace the pump of an automatic machine, you need to buy a new part based on the characteristics of the old part. Otherwise, the purchased pump may simply not fit, and the money will be "thrown to the wind."

Drain pumps for washing machines differ in power and contact arrangement, as well as in the type of snail and filter element installed inside them. Therefore, when selecting replacement components, be sure to focus on the model of your machine. It is worth keeping in mind that if the garbage filter is clogged, the water from the tank may not drain completely. Dirty liquid remaining in the system causes an unpleasant odor. To eliminate the problem, you need to clean the "garbage can".

You can easily clean the dust filter yourself. To do this, you need to de-energize the machine, turn off the water supply tap, and cover the floor around the washing machine with dry rags. The "plug" is located in the lower corner of the body, behind the decorative panel or the door of the technical hatch. Unscrew the element from the machine, rinse it in warm water, wipe the walls of the hole, pull out the accumulated debris from the inside and put the "spiral" back.

What can I do to make the pump last longer?

The water pump is an integral part of any washing machine. Manufacturers guarantee that if the operating rules of the equipment are followed, the pump will work properly for 9-10 years. Whether the "pumping station" will last so long depends greatly on the user. Many factors can shorten the "lifespan" of the part:

• Debris (paper, hair, lint, threads) getting into the drainage system,
• Accumulation of dirt on clothes loaded into the drum,
• Voltage fluctuations in the network,
• Paper clips, hairpins, candy wrappers and other foreign “things” from pockets of things getting into the pump.

To ensure that the drain pump works perfectly, it is important to follow several rules:

• Shake out the laundry before placing it in the drum,
• Check the pockets of things - they should be empty,
• Pre-soak heavily soiled laundry in a basin and only then load it into the machine,
• Use special water softeners to reduce the likelihood of scale formation,
• Make sure that the water is completely drained from the tank after the wash cycle is complete.

If you feel that the machine has started to drain water worse, it is better not to postpone diagnostics of the unit. Having identified a breakdown at an early stage, you can fix it with the least cost. If you start the process, you may have to change not a separate part, but the entire washing machine. To repair the machine, you can invite a technician or understand the structure of the unit and fix the washing machine yourself. It is important not to forget about safety regulations. They must be followed when working with electrical appliances.