4 Reasons Why Your Samsung Washer Isn’t Draining [Very Easy Fix!]

Why Samsung Washer Isn’t Draining

Laundry is definitely not our favorite chore. The process can be very tedious, socks go missing all the time, and every now and then, the washer just won’t drain.

No matter how unexciting laundry is, we all need to keep our clothes clean and fresh. If you can’t start a load because your washer isn’t draining, there are a few things that you can do to fix this issue.

Below, we delve into the common causes behind draining issues on a Samsung washer. We also provide step-by-step instructions to get your washer back in working order.

Why isn’t my Samsung washer draining?

A Samsung washer that isn’t draining most likely has a clogged drain hose, a dirty debris filter, or a faulty drain pump. 

In some cases, drainage issues are caused by poor installation of the drain hose or incorrect leveling of the washer.

Most modern Samsung washers will display error codes(Samsung washer error codes) when a problem is detected. These codes make it easier for you to diagnose issues with your unit.

For instance, a 5C (5E) error might appear when you have an issue with the debris filter of your front-load washer. If you see an ND error code, it’s most likely that a faulty drain pump is preventing your washer from draining.

How to Fix a Samsung Washer That Isn’t Draining

You can fix a Samsung washer that won’t drain by leveling your unit properly and installing its drain hose correctly. 

If the debris filter is jammed, a quick rinse under warm water should remove the lint and debris clogging it. If the drain pump is faulty, replace the component to resolve the issue.

CausesSolutions
The washing machine isn’t level.Front-Load Washers:

• Put the spirit level on top of your washer and check if it’s level from side to side. Then, place it parallel to the seam of your unit and check if it’s level from front to back. 

• Use a wrench to loosen the clamp nut of the leveling leg. Rotate the height nut clockwise to lower the leg and counterclockwise to raise it.

• Check if the washer is leveled on all sides.

• If it is, rotate the clamp nut counterclockwise to secure the leveling leg.
Top-Load Washers:

• Fill up the tub with water right below the pulsator level.

• Check the position of the pulsator. 
The pulsator will be centered if the washing machine is leveled correctly. If it is off-center, your washer isn’t level and requires adjustment.

• Use Channellock pliers to adjust the height of the leveling legs. Turn the leg clockwise to lower its height or counterclockwise to raise it.
The drain hose isn’t installed correctly.Front-Load Washers:

• Connect the drain hose to a vertical drain pipe, which should be no less than 39 inches and no more than 96 inches from the floor. 

• You must insert the hose about six to eight inches into the pipe.
Top-Load Washers:

• Press the joint ring and install it into the drain hose.

• Use the joint ring to connect the hose to the drain outlet securely.

• Adjust the length of the hose if needed.
The drain pump is faulty.• Unplug the washer, and disconnect its water supply.

• Tape the lid shut. Then, carefully lay the washer on its back.

• Locate the drain pump. Remove its cover by pulling on its edges.

• Disconnect the electrical connectors.

• Press the clamps on the hose and slide it off the drain pump assembly. Then, disconnect the hoses.

• Use a wrench to remove the two bolts mounting the pump.

• Take a photo of the pump for reference. This makes it easier for you to reassemble the pump later.

• Remove the four screws on the drain pump housing and remove the bracket. 

• Wipe the housing before installing the new component.

• Pull up the photo you took of the pump for reference. Align the new pump in its housing and push it in place.

• Reinstall the screws on the drain pump and the bracket. Make sure the shortest one goes right next to the drain fitting.

• Mount the pump on the washer. Then, reconnect the hoses and slide the clamp back in place.

• Reconnect the electrical connectors. reinstall the drain pump cover.

• Lift the washer back in an upright position.

• Plug the washer back in and turn on the water supply. Test if it is draining properly.
The debris filter is clogged.• Turn off the washer, and unplug its cord. Then, put a towel under the cover to prevent spills.

• Open the debris filter cover. 

• Grab the drain hose and remove its cap to drain excess water into a bowl. Or, use the auto drain feature in your washer.

• Reinstall the cap and push the hose back in after the water stops draining.

• Rotate the debris filter counterclockwise and pull it out to remove it.

• Remove any blockages (e.g. coins, clips, and buttons).
Clean the filter with a soft brush and rinse it under running water.

• Reinstall the filter into the housing and rotate it clockwise.

• Close the cover.

The washing machine isn’t level.

Ideally, before using your Samsung washer for the first time, you must make sure that it is level. It must be level from front to back and from side to side.

Incorrect leveling can cause a variety of issues. For starters, it will most likely cause your washer to go off balance during cycles, triggering a UE error code (Samsung washer UE code).

Aside from having trouble spinning properly, your washer can have trouble draining the water out of the tub. By adjusting the height of the leveling legs, you can keep your unit balanced, which should solve your drainage issues.

Leveling Front-Load Samsung Washers

First, you’ll need a spirit level, also known as a carpenter’s level, to check if your front-load washer is leveled correctly. Then, you can adjust the leveling legs if it is tipping to one side.

Solution: To level a front-load Samsung washer, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Put the spirit level near the lid of your washer to check if it’s level from side to side. Then, place it along the seam of your unit and check if it’s level from front to back. 

In a balanced washer, you’ll see the bubble in the spirit level between the leveling marks. If it isn’t well-balanced, the bubble will rise to the higher side.

  • Step 2: Use a wrench to loosen the clamp nut of the leveling leg.
  • Step 3: Turn the height nut clockwise to lower the leg and counterclockwise to raise it.
  • Step 4: Check if the washer is balanced using the spirit level. Make sure to check from front to back and side to side.
  • Step 5: Adjust the leveling legs until your wash is leveled on all sides.
  • Step 6: Turn the clamp nut counterclockwise to secure the leveling leg.
Tips:
• If you put the level along the seam of the washer, and the bubble moves to the front, you must lower the leveling legs.
• If you set the level on top of the lid of the washer, and the bubble moves to the left, you either need to lower the left leg or raise the right one.

Leveling Top-Load Samsung Washers

If you have a top-load Samsung washer, you can check if the unit is level by looking at the position of its pulsator.

Solution: To level a top-load Samsung washer, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Pour water into the tub. Make sure it’s right below the pulsator level.
  • Step 2: Check the position of the pulsator. 

If it is centered, your washing machine is leveled correctly. However, if it appears off-center, your unit is off balance and requires adjustment.

  • Step 3: Use Channellock pliers to rotate the leveling leg. Turn it 

clockwise to lower the height or counterclockwise to raise it.

The drain hose isn’t installed correctly.

Like poor leveling, incorrect drain installation can cause a variety of issues for your washer. This includes drainage problems.

Even with a functioning drain pump, if the hose isn’t connected correctly to a drain pipe or an outlet, your washer might be unable to extract the water out of its drum. Or, it could take forever to drain the water out. 

You must also make sure that the hose has no kinks or bent areas. If it does, just fix the position of the hose to straighten these kinks.

Drain Hose Installation on Front-Load Washers

There are different ways to drain water out of your Samsung front-load washer. No matter which method you choose, Samsung recommends setting a 60 cm to 90 cm distance between the floor and the drain hose.

Solution: Pick your preferred method of drainage: over the side of a sink or on a drain pipe.

  • Over the sink: Samsung provides a plastic hose guide for front-load washers, which enables you to drain water over the sink. 

We recommend using this guide to keep the spout bent. You must also mount it on a wall using a hook to ensure steady drainage.

  • On a drain pipe: Connect the drain hose to a vertical drain pipe, which should be no less than 39 inches and no more than 96 inches from the floor. You must insert the hose about six to eight inches into the pipe.

If the hose is positioned too low or too deep into the pipe, siphoning can happen. Water can drain out of the tub, but drain water can also fill it up, making your washer smell like sewage (Samsung top load washer smells like sewer).

Drain Hose Installation on Top-Load Washers

For top-load washers, the method of installation will vary per model. 

For example, some units have a joint ring that secures the connection of the hose to the drain outlet. Others don’t have this and won’t require it in the installation process.

Solution: To install the drain hose on a top-load washer, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Press the joint ring and pull out the drain hose pipe.
  • Step 2: Press the clip again and insert it into the pipe. 
  • Step 3: Connect the hose to the drain outlet. Use the joint ring to secure the connection.
  • Step 4: Adjust the length of the hose if needed.
  • Step 5: Check the hose for kinks and bent areas. Then, straighten them if necessary.
Tips:
• Don’t place the end of the hose into the water.
• Don’t position the hose below the outlet’s floor level.
• If there is no barrier, keep the length of the hose under three meters.
• Don’t position the middle part of the hose higher than the ends.
• Make sure it doesn’t form an airtight connection.

The drain pump is faulty.

The drain pump is responsible for pumping water from the drum to the hose and down the drain. If this component malfunctions, your washer may take a long time to drain, or it may not drain at all.

To resolve this issue, you must replace the malfunctioning drain pump. Since it is located at the bottom of the washer, you must have enough space to tip the unit on its back and access it.

Solution: To replace a faulty drain pump on a Samsung washer, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Unplug the washer, and turn off the water supply.
  • Step 2: Tape the lid closed.
  • Step 3: Carefully lay the washer on its back.
  • Step 4: Locate the drain pump.
  • Step 5: Pull on the edges of the cover to remove it.
  • Step 6: Remove the electrical connectors.
  • Step 7: Press the clamps on the hose and slide it off the drain pump assembly. Then, disconnect the hoses.
  • Step 8: Use a wrench to remove the two bolts mounting the pump.
  • Step 9: Take a photo of the pump for reference. This makes it easier for you to reassemble the pump later.
  • Step 10: Remove the four screws on the drain pump housing and remove the bracket. Take note that the shortest one goes right next to the drain fitting.
  • Step 11: Clean the housing before installing the new component.
  • Step 12: Pull up the photo you took of the pump for reference. Align the new pump in its housing and push it in place.
  • Step 13: Reinstall the screws on the drain pump and the bracket.
  • Step 14: Align the pump on the frame and reattach the mounting bolts.
  • Step 15: Reconnect the hoses and slide the clamp back in place.
  • Step 16: Reconnect the electrical connectors.
  • Step 17: Reinstall the drain pump cover.
  • Step 18: Carefully lift the washer back in an upright position.
  • Step 19: Plug the washer back in and turn on the water supply.
  • Step 20: Check if it is draining properly.

The debris filter is clogged.

If you have a Samsung front-load washer, another component that you need to check is the debris filter. It is located at the bottom right corner of your unit.

The debris filter, also known as a drain pump filter, traps foreign objects such as lint, hairs, and coins. Over time, this filter can get clogged and prevent your washer from draining properly.

Solution: To clean a debris filter on a Samsung washer, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Turn off the washer, and unplug its cord.
  • Step 2: Place a towel to protect your floors from water damage.
  • Step 3: Open the debris filter cover. 
  • Step 4:  Grab the drain hose and remove its cap to drain excess water into a bowl. Or, use the auto drain feature in your washer.
  • Step 5: Reinstall the cap and push the hose back in after the water stops draining.
  • Step 6: Rotate the debris filter counterclockwise and pull it out to remove it.
  • Step 7: Remove any blockages (e.g. coins, clips, and buttons).
  • Step 8: Clean the filter with a soft brush and rinse it under running water.
  • Step 9: Reinstall the filter into the housing and rotate it clockwise.
  • Step 10: Close the cover.
Tips:
• Insert the filter properly to prevent leaks and operational errors.
• Make sure the filter knob is also closed tightly to prevent leaks.
• Some models have a safety knob on the filter to prevent curious hands from tampering with it. To open it, just push and rotate it counterclockwise.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should you clean the debris filter?

According to Samsung, you should clean the debris filter after 30-40 washes. Depending on your usage, that could be once every two or three months.

Keeping the debris filter clean can prevent drainage issues and funky odors from developing inside your washer.

How do I know if my washer drain hose is clogged?

A quick visual inspection can help you check for clogs in your drain hose. If dirt or debris accumulates inside the hose, it can prevent water from draining out of the drum and onto the outlet.

Just disconnect the ends of the hose and look for obstructions. Simply pull them out of the hose to unclog it.

If there’s dirt lodged deep into the hose, you can use a fish wire to free up the obstructions and push it towards the other end.


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