Whirlpool Washer Troubleshooting Guide (Complete Guide!)

Faulty appliances are unexpected expenses that can put a dent in our finances. If you look at repair costs, it can range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars, depending on the underlying cause of the problem.

Needless to say, it can be very stressful, especially when the repairs you need are no longer covered by the warranty.

Lucky for you, we know how to troubleshoot Whirlpool washers. We’ll walk you every step of the way to help you perform the fixes yourself and save money on repairs.

The Most Common Whirlpool Washer Problems

Here are the most common problems with Whirlpool washing machines.

• The washer won’t start.
• The washer is leaking.
• The washer isn’t spinning.
• The washer is slow to fill or won’t fill at all.
• The washer won’t drain.

Let’s delve into these issues, understand why they occur, and learn how to resolve them.

Troubleshooting Whirlpool Washer Problems

Before making any service calls, you should inspect your Whirlpool washer and assess the possible damages. Believe it or not, most fixes are easy to do, even with little repair know-how, which can save you hundreds of dollars in repair costs.

We’ll walk you through all the steps to help you troubleshoot your Whirlpool washer.

The washer won’t start.

As the appliance owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your household meets the necessary electrical requirements to run a Whirlpool washer. For starters, you should secure a 3-prong outlet for the appliance because an adapter isn’t ideal.

Ideally, you should also connect your washer to its own dedicated outlet to prevent overloading the circuit, which can cause it to trip.

Not to worry, we’ll go over the most common reasons why a Whirlpool washer won’t start in our guide below.

Causes	Solutions
Insufficient Power	• Plug the washer into a grounded 3-prong outlet. Never remove the ground prong or use an adapter or extension cord. • Make sure it is a 120-volt, 60-Hz outlet.
Tripped Circuit Breaker	• Locate the circuit breaker and identify the one that keeps tripping. The switch would be out of place when a breaker trips. • Move the switch on the circuit breaker to the OFF position. • After a few seconds, flip the switch back to the ON position. • Plug in your Whirlpool washer. Confirm that it can turn on and operate properly. • Turn on the lights and plug in the other appliances in the circuit.  • If the circuit trips, the appliance or light you plugged in may have faulty wiring or overloaded the circuit. • Contact a licensed electrician who can help you diagnose and resolve the issue.
Locked Control Panel	• To disable the Control Lock function on a Whirlpool washing machine, push and hold the End of the Cycle Signal for 3 seconds.  • The Control Lock indicator light will turn off once the function is disabled

Insufficient Power

A Whirlpool washer that won’t start isn’t necessarily in need of repair. Its power cord might have been knocked out by pets or children, and in such cases, plugging it properly should fix the problem.

As long as you meet the necessary electrical requirements of your washer, which are detailed in the user manual, your appliance should be able to function properly. 

Solution: First, confirm that your Whirlpool washer is plugged in properly and that its plug isn’t loose.

Make sure to meet the following electrical requirements.

• Plug the washer into a grounded 3-prong outlet. 
• Make sure it is a 120-volt, 60-Hz outlet.
• Never remove the ground prong.
• Never use an adapter or an extension cord.

Tripped Circuit Breaker

If your Whirlpool washer can’t start because power keeps on turning off in one part of the house, your circuit breaker has tripped. This usually happens when the circuit can no longer handle the electrical demand.

To protect the circuit from overheating, it will shut off power, preventing you from running your washer and other appliances connected to the circuit.

Solution: Turn off all the lights and unplug the appliances connected to the tripped circuit breaker. Follow these steps to reset the circuit.

• Step 1: Locate the circuit breaker in your household and identify the one that keeps tripping. The switch would be out of place when a breaker trips.
• Step 2: Move the switch on the circuit breaker to the OFF position.
• Step 3: After a few seconds, flip the switch back to the ON position.
• Step 4: Plug in your Whirlpool washer. Confirm that it turns on and operates properly.

If the circuit doesn’t trip, your washer isn’t the problem. It should function well if you plug it into a different circuit.

• Step 5: Turn on the lights and plug in the other appliances in the circuit. 

If the circuit trips, the appliance or light you plugged in may have faulty wiring. Or, it may have overloaded the circuit, causing it to trip.

Contact a licensed electrician who can help you diagnose and resolve the issue.

Locked Control Panel

Whirlpool washers have a Control Lock function, which enables you to lock its control panel and prevent accidental changes to the settings. This is very useful if you have children or pets.

Once the Control Lock function is enabled, your washer’s buttons will no longer respond to your inputs. Thus, it won’t run a cycle when you press start.

You must deactivate the function to use your washer. 

Solution: To turn off the Control Lock function on a Whirlpool washing machine, push and hold the End of the Cycle Signal for 3 seconds. The Control Lock indicator light should turn off.

The washer is leaking.

If you notice that your washer is leaking, always inspect the appliance to trace the source of the leak. Most of the time, it’s the excess production of suds that will cause the washer to overflow.

However, leaks can also happen when an internal component is defective. Replacement is necessary in such cases.

Here’s an overview of the most common causes of leaks on a Whirlpool washer.

Causes	Solutions
Excess Suds	• Stop the cycle and clean up the spill all over your laundry room floor to prevent any accidents.  • Open the lid of your washer and empty the tub. Transfer all the clothing to a separate container before running a cleaning cycle. • Add affresh® cleaning tablets or pods to the washer basket. Never add tablets to the detergent dispenser. • Close the lid of your washer. • Select the Clean Washer cycle. Push the Start/Pause button for 3 seconds to start it. • Once the cycle is done, leave the washer’s lid open to let the tub fully dry.
Loose or Damaged Hoses	• Replace the water inlet hoses every 5 years to minimize the risk of malfunctions.  • If you notice cuts, bulges, and other signs of damage, replace the hoses immediately.
Malfunctioning Drain Pump	• Unplug your washer or turn off power at the circuit breaker.  • Disconnect the supply and drain hoses. Then, carefully move the washer away from the wall. • Tape the lid shut. Set a towel on the floor, then lay your washer on its back to access the pump.  • Locate the drain pump on the washer. Check your user manual for reference. • Disconnect the wires on the drain pump. • Unthread all three 5/16 screws securing the pump to the washer. • Loosen the clamp on the drain hose and the tub using a wrench. Take the clamps off and set them aside. • Insert the clamps into the new drain pump. • Slide the drain pump into position. Then, tighten the clamps to secure the hoses.  • Rethread the screws to secure the drain pump to the washer. • Reconnect the wires. • Pull the washing machine back to an upright position. • Reconnect the hoses to the washer. • Restore power. Run a quick wash cycle to check if the tub drains properly and doesn’t create excess suds.

Excess Suds

An SD error code on any Whirlpool washer(Whirlpool cabrio sd code) is never a good sign. Aside from preventing your clothes from getting cleaned, excess suds can leak out of your washer and flood your laundry room floor.

Although it mostly happens when you use the wrong detergent or too much detergent (even the right kind), your washer also produces excess when the pump is broken or the laundry isn’t loaded correctly.

Solution: Stop the cycle and clean up the spill all over your laundry room floor to prevent any accidents. Then, clean up your washer to get rid of the suds and excess detergent.

• Step 1: Open the lid of your washer and empty the tub. Transfer all the clothing to a separate container before running a cleaning cycle.
• Step 2: Add affresh® cleaning tablets or pods to the washer basket. Never add tablets to the detergent dispenser.
• Step 3: Close the lid of your washer.
• Step 4: Select the Clean Washer cycle. Push the Start/Pause button for 3 seconds to start it.
• Step 5: Once the cycle is done, leave the washer’s lid open to let the tub fully dry. 

Loose or Damaged Hoses

No matter how well you take care of your Whirlpool washer, over time, it is going to exhibit signs of wear and tear. Luckily, you can easily get replacement parts online and other repair shops near you.

According to Whirlpool, hoses need to be replaced every 5 years or so to prevent malfunctions and appliance downtime. If the hoses have gone bad, water can leak all over your house, causing serious damage to your floors and furniture.

Solution: Inspect the water supply hoses for loose connections and signs of damage, such as cuts, cracks, and bulges. Install the hoses properly or replace them if you see signs of damage.

Malfunctioning Drain Pump

Leaks at the bottom of the washer could be caused by a broken drain pump. If the component is defective, water can leak directly from the pump or prevent sudsy water from draining.

If the foam can’t drain, it will accumulate in the drum and, eventually, leak out of the washer.

What you’ll need:

• 5/16 nut driver
• Towels
• Wrench
• New drain pump

Solution: To replace a bad drain pump on a Whirlpool washer, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug the power cord or turn off power at the circuit breaker. Then, disconnect the supply and drain hoses.
• Step 2: Tape the lid shut. Set a towel on the floor, then lay your washer on its back to access the pump. 
• Step 3: Locate the drain pump on the washer. Check your user manual for reference.
• Step 4: Disconnect the wires on the drain pump.
• Step 5: Unthread all three 5/16 screws securing the pump to the washer.
• Step 6: Loosen the clamp on the drain hose and the tub using a wrench. Take the clamps off and set them aside.
• Step 7: Insert the clamps into the new drain pump.
• Step 8: Slide the drain pump into position.
• Step 9: Tighten the clamps to secure the connection of the hoses and prevent leaks. 
• Step 10: Rethread the screws to secure the drain pump to the washer.
• Step 11: Reconnect the wires.
• Step 12: Pull the washing machine back to an upright position.
• Step 13: Reconnect the hoses to the washer.
• Step 14: Restore power. Run a quick wash cycle to check if the tub drains properly and doesn’t create excess suds.

The washer isn’t spinning.

Spinning problems are mostly caused by laundry mistakes–not errors in the washing machine. That means you can easily correct these unideal habits and prevent them from recurring.

Let’s take a look at the reasons why your Whirlpool washer isn’t spinning.

Causes	Solutions
Too Much Laundry	• Measure your laundry load to prevent overloading. Then, distribute the clothes evenly around the drum. • Fill up ⅓ of the drum to do a small load and about half to do a medium load. To do a full load, fill ¾ of the drum.
Malfunctioning Main Control Board	• Disconnect your washer from its power source, then move it away from the wall.  • Use a ¼” nut driver to remove the screws securing the control panel assembly. • Slide a putty knife under the front corners of the control panel housing until the clips securing the housing are released. • Disconnect the user interface control wire connector, then set the control panel assembly aside. • Take a photo of the wires connected to the main control board. Use this as a reference during the reassembly process. • Then, unplug the wires and disconnect the air pressure tube. • Use the ¼” nut driver to unfasten the screws on the control board. • Release the wires from their retainers, then remove the old board. • Get the replacement part. Align the side clips into the slot in the main top, then rethread the screw to secure it in place. • Insert the wires into their retainers. • Reconnect the wires to the correct terminals on the control board. Pull up your reference photo for accuracy. • Attach the air pressure tube to the control board. • Reconnect the user interface control wire connector to the main control board. • Slide the rear clips of the control panel housing into the rear slots on the main top, then push the front clips down until they snap into place. • Rethread the screws to secure the control panel assembly. • Rove the washer back into place and restore power. • Turn on the washer. Run a test cycle to check if it spins.

Too Much Laundry

Packing too much laundry into your Whirlpool washer can prevent it from spinning properly. The same can happen if you don’t properly sort or distribute the laundry evenly around the drum, causing it to tangle, twist, and knot.

Solution: Measure your laundry to prevent overloading the Whirlpool washer. Then, distribute the clothes evenly around the drum.

Type of Washer	Drum Capacity	Pounds of Laundry Per Load
Compact	1.5 to 3.4	4 to 8
Standard	3.5 to 4.4	12 to 16
Large	4.5 to 5.0	16 to 20
Extra Large	5.1 to 6.2	20 to 25

Malfunctioning Main Control Board

The main control board regulates a variety of functions on your Whirlpool washing machine. Spinning is one of them.

Diagnosing a faulty control board is difficult because it can trigger different symptoms if it is broken. Thus, you should only consider it once you’ve ruled out the most common causes of the error.

If the control board is defective, a replacement is necessary. You can opt to perform the fix yourself to save a few hundred dollars.

What you’ll need:

• Putty knife
• ¼” nut driver
• New main control board

Solution: To replace the control board on a Whirlpool washer, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug the washer’s power cord or turn off the power at the circuit breaker.
• Step 2: Move the washer away from the wall. 
• Step 3: Use a ¼” nut driver to remove the screws securing the control panel assembly.
• Step 4: Slide a putty knife under the front corners of the control panel housing until the clips securing the housing are released.
• Step 5: Disconnect the user interface control wire connector, then set the control panel assembly aside.
• Step 6: Take a photo of the wires connected to the main control board. Use this as a reference during the reassembly process.
• Step 7: Unplug the wires on the main control board.
• Step 8: Disconnect the air pressure tube.
• Step 9: Use the ¼” nut driver to unfasten the screws on the control board.
• Step 10: Release the wires from their retainers, then remove the old board.
• Step 11: Get the replacement part. Align the side clips into the slot in the main top, then rethread the screw to secure it in place.
• Step 12: Insert the wires into their retainers.
• Step 13: Reconnect the wires to the correct terminals on the control board. Pull up your reference photo for accuracy.
• Step 14: Attach the air pressure tube to the control board.
• Step 15: Reconnect the user interface control wire connector to the main control board.
• Step 16: Align the rear clips of the control panel housing with the rear slots on the main top, then push the front clips down until they snap into place.
• Step 17: Rethread the screws to secure the control panel assembly.
• Step 18: Move the washer back into place.
• Step 19: Restore power to your washer. Run a test cycle to check if it spins.

The washer is slow to fill or won’t fill at all.

Your household must have adequate water pressure in order for your Whirlpool washer to function properly. If it doesn’t meet the minimum requirement, your appliance will either take too long to fill or it won’t fill at all.

Not to worry, filling errors are usually caused by kinked or obstructed hoses, which are quite easy to fix. We’ll show you how below.

Causes	Solutions
Poor Water Pressure	• Call a licensed plumber who can resolve your household’s low water pressure problem.  • Don’t attempt to fix this yourself if you have no experience or knowledge of plumbing.
Clogged Water Inlet Screens	• Turn off and unplug your washer. • Remove the hot water supply hose by rotating the coupling by hand. Use pliers, if necessary. • Repeat the same step for the cold-fill hose. • Use pliers to pull out the inlet screens on both valves. • Wipe the mesh screens using cotton swabs or soak the screens in soapy water. • Wipe the screens with a soft cloth or let them air dry before reinstalling them into the washer. • Use pliers to reinsert the inlet screens. • Attach the hot water fill hose to the inlet valve to the right.  • Rotate the coupling by hand until it is snug, then secure the connection using pliers. • Repeat the same step to attach the cold fill hose. • Restore power to the washer. Turn it on and run a test cycle to check if the washer fills and starts.
Clogged Water Lines	• Disconnect the hot and cold fill hoses from the washer. Use pliers, if needed. • Place the hoses over a laundry tub, bucket, or drain pipe.  • Open the supply valves and let the water run for a few seconds to clear any obstructions. • Reconnect the hot water fill hose to the red inlet valve. Screw the coupling by hand until it is snug, then secure the connection using pliers. • Repeat the same step to reconnect the cold water-fill hose.
Malfunctioning Main Control Board	• Disconnect your washer from its power source, then move it away from the wall.  • Use a ¼” nut driver to remove the screws securing the control panel assembly. • Slide a putty knife under the front corners of the control panel housing until the clips securing the housing are released. • Disconnect the user interface control wire connector, then set the control panel assembly aside. • Take a photo of the wires connected to the main control board. Use this as a reference during the reassembly process. • Then, unplug the wires and disconnect the air pressure tube. • Use the ¼” nut driver to unfasten the screws on the control board. • Release the wires from their retainers, then remove the old board. • Get the replacement part. Align the side clips into the slot in the main top, then rethread the screw to secure it in place. • Insert the wires into their retainers. • Reconnect the wires to the correct terminals on the control board. Pull up your reference photo for accuracy. • Attach the air pressure tube to the control board. • Reconnect the user interface control wire connector to the main control board. • Slide the rear clips of the control panel housing into the rear slots on the main top, then push the front clips down until they snap into place. • Rethread the screws to secure the control panel assembly. • Rove the washer back into place and restore power. • Turn on the washer. Run a test cycle to check if it fills with water.

Poor Water Pressure

No matter what model you have, a Whirlpool washer needs at least 20 psi of water pressure to fill and function properly. If this minimum requirement isn’t met, your washer will either fill slowly or not fill at all.

Solution: Call a licensed plumber who can resolve your household’s low water pressure problem. 

Clogged Water Inlet Screens

Behind your washer, you’ll find two water supply hoses – one for hot and the other for cold water. Each of these supply lines has a tiny mesh screen that traps debris from the water supply, preventing it from entering the tub.

Cleaning the screens once a year is usually enough. However, once you start seeing dirt, sand, lint, and other foreign debris on your freshly washed clothes, you should inspect the screens and clean them if needed.

What you’ll need:

• Pliers
• Cotton swab
• Soft cloth

Solution: To clean the inlet screens of your washing machine, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Turn off and unplug your washer.
• Step 2: Remove the hot water fill hose by rotating the coupling by hand. Use pliers, if necessary.
• Step 3: Repeat the same step for the cold water fill hose.
• Step 4: Use pliers to pull out the inlet screens on both valves.
• Step 5: Wipe the mesh screens using cotton swabs or soak the screens in soapy water.
• Step 6: Wipe the screens with a soft cloth or let them air dry before reinstalling them into the washer.
• Step 7: Use pliers to reinsert the inlet screens.
• Step 8: Attach the hot water fill hose to the inlet valve to the right. Rotate the coupling by hand until it is snug, then secure the connection using pliers.
• Step 9: Repeat the same step to attach the cold water fill hose.
• Step 10: Restore power to the washer. 
• Step 11: Turn it on and run a test cycle to check if the washer fills and starts.

Clogged Water Lines

Depending on the quality of the water in your area, as well as its hardness, you might notice dirt or mineral build-up on the lines. This accumulation of dirt can clog the lines, restricting the flow of water into the drum.

Sometimes, you can clear the obstruction by turning the valves on and running the water into an empty bucket. However, if the clog won’t budge, you can opt to replace the hose.

What you’ll need:

• Pliers
• Bucket

Solution: To remove obstructions in your washer’s water lines, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Disconnect the hot and cold fill hoses from the washer. Use pliers, if needed.
• Step 2: Place the hoses over a laundry tub, bucket, or drain pipe. 
• Step 3: Turn on the supply valves and run the water for a few seconds to clear the lines.
• Step 4: Reconnect the hot water fill hose to the inlet valve to the right. Screw the coupling by hand until it is snug, then secure the connection using pliers.
• Step 5: Repeat the same step to connect the cold fill hose to the inlet valve on the left.

Malfunctioning Main Control Board

Aside from causing spinning problems, a faulty main control board can prevent your washer from filling up with water. As mentioned, a replacement is necessary once the component is damaged.

What you’ll need:

• Putty knife
• ¼” nut driver
• New main control board

Solution: To replace the control board on a Whirlpool washer, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug the washer’s power cord or turn off the power at the circuit breaker.
• Step 2: Move the washer away from the wall. 
• Step 3: Use a ¼” nut driver to remove the screws securing the control panel assembly.
• Step 4: Slide a putty knife under the front corners of the control panel housing until the clips securing the housing are released.
• Step 5: Disconnect the user interface control wire connector, then set the control panel assembly aside.
• Step 6: Take a photo of the wires connected to the main control board. Use this as a reference during the reassembly process.
• Step 7: Unplug the wires on the main control board.
• Step 8: Disconnect the air pressure tube.
• Step 9: Use the ¼” nut driver to unfasten the screws on the control board.
• Step 10: Release the wires from their retainers, then remove the old board.
• Step 11: Get the replacement part. Align the side clips into the slot in the main top, then rethread the screw to secure it in place.
• Step 12: Insert the wires into their retainers.
• Step 13: Reconnect the wires to the correct terminals on the control board. Pull up your reference photo for accuracy.
• Step 14: Attach the air pressure tube to the control board.
• Step 15: Reconnect the user interface control wire connector to the main control board.
• Step 16: Align the rear clips of the control panel housing with the rear slots on the main top, then push the front clips down until they snap into place.
• Step 17: Rethread the screws to secure the control panel assembly.
• Step 18: Move the washer back into place.
• Step 19: Restore power to your washer. Run a test cycle to check if it fills with water.

The washer won’t drain.

Kinked hoses and obstructions are common causes of drain errors on Whirlpool washers. In most cases, removing the obstruction and straightening the kinks will promote better water flow and enable your washer to drain.

If not, you should look for the underlying cause of the drain error. Then, resolve it to promote better drainage.

Here are a few common causes of drain errors.

Causes	Solutions
Incorrect Standpipe Drain Installation	• Insert the drain hose about 4.5” into the standpipe. Use the supplied drain hose clamp to keep the spout bent. • Secure the drain hose to the standpipe using a cable tie. Don’t seal the drain hose into the standpipe to prevent siphoning.
Incorrect Laundry Tub Drain Installation	• Hook the drain hose on the side of the laundry tub using the supplied clamp. • Place 4.5” of the drain hose into the laundry tub. Don’t lay any excess hose on the bottom of the tub. • Use the supplied cable tie to secure the drain hose to the laundry tub leg.
Incorrect Floor Drain Installation	• Loosen the clamp on the drain hose and insert the hose around 4.5” into the drain pipe.  • Confirm that the siphon break is installed no less than 28” from the floor.
Malfunctioning Drain Pump	• Unplug your washer or turn off power at the circuit breaker. Then, disconnect the supply and drain hoses. • Tape the lid shut. Set a towel on the floor, then lay your washer on its back to access the pump.  • Locate the drain pump on the washer. Check your user manual for reference. • Disconnect the wires on the drain pump. • Unthread all three 5/16 screws securing the pump to the washer. • Loosen the clamp on the drain hose and the tub using a wrench. Take the clamps off and set them aside. • Insert the clamps into the new drain pump. • Slide the drain pump into position. Then, tighten the clamps to secure the hoses.  • Rethread the screws to secure the drain pump to the washer. • Reconnect the wires. • Pull the washing machine back to an upright position. • Reconnect the hoses to the washer. • Restore power. Run a quick wash cycle to check if the tub drains properly and doesn’t create excess suds.
Malfunctioning Main Control Board	• Disconnect your washer from its power source, then move it away from the wall.  • Use a ¼” nut driver to remove the screws securing the control panel assembly. • Slide a putty knife under the front corners of the control panel housing until the clips securing the housing are released. • Disconnect the user interface control wire connector, then set the control panel assembly aside. • Take a photo of the wires connected to the main control board. Use this as a reference during the reassembly process. • Then, unplug the wires and disconnect the air pressure tube. • Use the ¼” nut driver to unfasten the screws on the control board. • Release the wires from their retainers, then remove the old board. • Get the replacement part. Align the side clips into the slot in the main top, then rethread the screw to secure it in place. • Insert the wires into their retainers. • Reconnect the wires to the correct terminals on the control board. Pull up your reference photo for accuracy. • Attach the air pressure tube to the control board. • Reconnect the user interface control wire connector to the main control board. • Slide the rear clips of the control panel housing into the rear slots on the main top, then push the front clips down until they snap into place. • Rethread the screws to secure the control panel assembly. • Rove the washer back into place and restore power. • Turn on the washer. Run a test cycle to check if it drains.

Incorrect Standpipe Drain Installation

To ensure proper draining, a standpipe must be at least 30 inches tall but it must not exceed 96 inches from the bottom of the washer. It must also have a carry-away capacity of at least 17 gallons per minute.

Solution: Follow these steps to set up your Whirlpool washer’s standpipe drain system:

• Step 1: Insert the drain hose about 4.5” into the standpipe. If there’s any excess hose, don’t push it far down the standpipe to prevent siphoning.
• Step 2: Use the supplied drain hose clamp to keep the spout bent.
• Step 3: Secure the drain hose to the standpipe using a cable tie. Don’t seal the drain hose into the standpipe to prevent siphoning.

Incorrect Laundry Tub Drain Installation

Aside from a standpipe, you can hook the drain hose into a laundry tub. It must be no less than 39 inches and no more than 72 inches in height.

Laundry tub drain systems also require a carry-away capacity of at least 17 gallons per minute.

Solution: To set up a laundry tub drain system, follow these steps carefully:

• Step 1: Set up the drain hose on the side of the laundry tub. 
• Step 2: Place 4.5” of the drain hose into the laundry tub. Don’t lay any excess hose on the bottom of the tub.
• Step 3: Secure the drain hose to the laundry tub leg using the supplied cable tie.

Incorrect Floor Drain Installation

Floor drain systems require a siphon break kit, which you must purchase separately. It prevents the siphoning effect, which causes the washer to drain and fill at the same time.

Simply put, without the siphon break assembly, your washer can’t fill properly. It will continue to drain.

Solution: To set up a floor drain system, remove the pre-installed drain hose clamp from the hose. Insert the hose about 4.5” into the drain pipe. 

Confirm that the siphon break is installed no less than 28” from the floor.

Malfunctioning Drain Pump

During cycles, your washer is able to drain water out of the drum because of the drain pump. It pumps water through the hose and into the sewage system.

If the hose has no kinks and the drain system is installed correctly, you might have a defective pump. Unfortunately, you can’t fix it once it’s broken but you can replace it yourself.

What you’ll need:

• 5/16 nut driver
• Towels
• Wrench
• New drain pump

Solution: To replace a broken drain pump on a Whirlpool washer, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug the power cord or turn off power at the circuit breaker. Then, disconnect the supply and drain hoses.
• Step 2: Tape the lid shut. Set a towel on the floor, then lay your washer on its back to access the pump. 
• Step 3: Locate the drain pump on the washer. Check your user manual for reference.
• Step 4: Disconnect the wires on the drain pump.
• Step 5: Unthread all three 5/16 screws securing the pump to the washer.
• Step 6: Loosen the clamp on the drain hose and the tub using a wrench. Take the clamps off and set them aside.
• Step 7: Insert the clamps into the new drain pump.
• Step 8: Slide the drain pump into position.
• Step 9: Tighten the clamps to secure the connection of the hoses and prevent leaks. 
• Step 10: Rethread the screws to secure the drain pump to the washer.
• Step 11: Reconnect the wires.
• Step 12: Pull the washing machine back to an upright position.
• Step 13: Reconnect the hoses to the washer.
• Step 14: Restore power. Run a quick wash cycle to check if the tub drains properly and doesn’t create excess suds.

Malfunctioning Main Control Board

If none of the fixes mentioned above resolved the drain error on your Whirlpool washer, it’s time to consider a defective control board. 

Like a broken pump, a bad control board can’t be fixed. It needs to be replaced to get your washer back up and running.

However, a control board isn’t a cheap replacement. You can replace the part yourself to cut costs, but if you have an old washer, you might want to consider replacing the unit.

What you’ll need:

• Putty knife
• ¼” nut driver
• New main control board

Solution: To replace the control board on a Whirlpool washer, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug the washer’s power cord or turn off the power at the circuit breaker.
• Step 2: Carefully pull the washer away from the wall. 
• Step 3: Unthread the screws on the control panel assembly using a ¼” nut driver.
• Step 4: Slip a putty knife under the front edges of the control panel housing to release the clips securing the housing.
• Step 5: Disconnect the user interface control wire connector, then set the control panel assembly aside.
• Step 6: Take a photo of the wires connected to the main control board. Use this as a reference during the reassembly process.
• Step 7: Disconnect the wires on the main control board.
• Step 8: Detach the air pressure tube.
• Step 9: Unfasten the screws on the control board using the ¼” nut driver.
• Step 10: Remove the wires from their retainers, then take out the faulty board.
• Step 11: Get the new control board. Align the side clips into the slot in the main top, then rethread the screw to secure it in place.
• Step 12: Slip the wires into their retainers.
• Step 13: Reconnect the wires to the correct terminals on the control board. Use your reference photo for accuracy.
• Step 14: Attach the air pressure tube to the control board.
• Step 15: Reconnect the user interface control wire connector to the main control board.
• Step 16: Align the rear clips of the control panel housing with the rear slots on the main top, then push the front clips down until they snap into place.
• Step 17: Rethread the screws to secure the control panel assembly.
• Step 18: Move the washer back into place.
• Step 19: Restore power to your washer. Run a test cycle to check if it drains.