How to clean a washing machine pump.
The new, small front load washers sometimes have problems pumping out the water. It is usually due to something being stuck in the pump.
This may seem like a big repair but with the right tools and a few minutes you can be back running and save a lot of headaches and money trying to get a service tech.
Use the pliers that I show in the video (here is the link to buy CLICK HERE). You can get by with one but I always use 2.
One of the pliers is used to pinch the hose from the washer drum to the pump. The second one is used to pinch the drain line. There is usually a rubber check valve in the drain tube but I don’t want to find out if it’s working OK when I open the pump.
So here are the steps.
1- Turn off the power or unplug the machine.
2- Remove the access cover at the bottom on the front. Some machines are designed for the pump access to be easy to get to but if there is still water in the drum you want to get to the hoses.
3-Located the pump and the hoses going in and out of the pump.
4- Pinch off the hoses with the pliers. They should be tight but the hose is soft so it usually doesn’t take much to squeeze them.
5- Unscrew the end of the pump. This can be done by hand but may require a set of pliers if there is something jammed.
6- Remove the end of the pump. Normally the obstruction comes out with the end of the pump but you can check to see if there is anything left inside.
7- Reinsert the end of the pump. Turn until guides line up and the piece slides in easily.
8- Hand tighten, remove clamps, pt the covers on, plug in the washer and run it through a cycle.
As I mentioned it’s an easy process but you may still have some water leak out so keep some towels handy.
If you have any comments please post them below.
Ken
