How to remove and clean the drain pump in a washing machine

Despite the fact that the washing machine is a “helper” in maintaining cleanliness, it itself also needs care and cleaning. If one day while washing, you hear an incomprehensible buzzing noise coming from the machine that you have not heard before, and the machine does not drain the waste water, this means that it urgently needs to be cleaned. Most likely, the drain pump is clogged, or in the worst case, the pump fails. That's why we decided to tell you how to clean the drain pump in a washing machine on your own, without the help of a professional.

How to get to the drain pump

To clean the drain pump, you need to get to it, since it is located inside the machine body, for this you will need:

• Wrench,
• Phillips and flat screwdriver,
• Container for draining water.

In washing machines produced under different brands, you will have to get to the drain pump in different ways. Manufacturers of the Beko, Indesit, Samsung, LG, Ardo, Whirlpool, Candy, Ariston brands have simplified this process the most. In their machines, you can get to the pump through the bottom of the housing, since the lower part may be missing or easily unscrewed. A good example in this regard can be considered many models of Indesit washing machines.

So, let's do the following:

• At the bottom of the washing machine, we find a panel and use a flat-head screwdriver to open it; some models have a special door.
• We unscrew the screw that holds the drain filter in the machine body,
• We tilt the machine back a little and place the container under water.
• Carefully unscrew the drain filter cap counterclockwise to release the remaining water inside.
• Now, turning the pump counterclockwise, you need to recess it into the body of the washing machine and carefully remove it through the bottom of the machine. For convenience, the car can be placed on its left side (if you look at it from the hatch).
• Carefully disconnect the wires, and, loosening the clamps (clamps), remove the pipes.

To solve the problem of how to remove the drain pump in machines under the brands AEG, Bosch, Siemens, you will have to disassemble the front part of the machine body, which, as a rule, is attached to three self-tapping screws. In this case, you need to perform the following sequence of actions:

• Remove the powder tray from the machine body.
• Unscrew the screw underneath
• Open the door to access the drain filter in the bottom panel of the machine.
• We unscrew the screw holding the panel and remove the panel itself.
• We find two screws and unscrew them.
• Now remove the clamp from the hatch and disconnect the cuff from the front body.
• Disconnect the hatch locking device (you need to release the clamps).
• Let's remove the front part of the housing.

The cover has been removed and you can now get to the pump. For this:

• Unscrew the screw.
• Place a container of water under the machine.
• Disconnect the pipe clamp and remove the pipe.
• Drain the water.
• Disconnect the electrical wires.

When deciding how to remove the pump from a Zanussi or Electrolux washing machine, you must first remove the back wall of the machine body. We perform the following steps sequentially:

• We disconnect the drain hose attached to the clamps, which will have to be unscrewed.
• Using a suitable screwdriver, unscrew only those screws around the perimeter of the cover that hold it in place.
• Remove the cover.
• Disconnect the terminals with electrical wires.
• Unscrew the drain pump using a wrench
• Disconnect the pipes from the drain hose and from the drain filter
• Now you can clean the pump.

Cleaning the drain pump

Cleaning the drain pump of a washing machine involves cleaning the impeller of this pump. Therefore, the question arises of how to remove the impeller from the machine pump. Everything is quite simple, you just need a screwdriver. You need to unscrew a pair of screws connecting the two parts of the pump housing. And you will see the head (impeller), which rotates in working condition.

All debris must be removed from the impeller; as a rule, threads, hair, and wool are wound around it. Proceed carefully. You also need to wipe the inside of the snail.

Next, the drain pump is assembled and installed in its place. All steps are performed in reverse order. When the entire process of assembling the washing machine is completed, you need to start the machine for washing. If the wash runs without noise, water leaks and ends as usual, this means that the drain pump was cleaned correctly.

Causes and prevention of drain pump clogging

Why can the drain pump become clogged, which leads to a malfunction of the washing machine? Here are the main reasons:

• Hard or dirty tap water,
• Incorrectly selected detergents,
• Debris washed off from things (hair, wool, threads, etc.).

To prevent clogging of the drain pump, you need to follow simple rules for operating and installing the washing machine:

• Use only automatic washing powder,
• If possible, wash things in a laundry bag (mesh),
• Install water purification filters in front of the inlet hose,
• Clean the drain filter promptly.

So, it’s quite possible to solve the problem of how to clean the pump in a washing machine yourself. If you follow the instructions, there shouldn't be any problems. If something seems not entirely clear, we suggest watching a detailed video on how to change the drain pump.