Why will it not spin if the problem is draining?

Spinning a drum full of water would throw the machine around and overload the motor, so the control board blocks the spin until the pressure system confirms the water has gone. Fix the drainage and the spin usually returns without any further work.

What does a suds or 5D error mean?

The machine has decided foam is preventing it from draining and pumping properly. It is usually too much detergent, the wrong type for the machine, or a soft-water area needing less than the dose on the box. Run a rinse cycle with no detergent and reduce the dose.

Is a new pump worth it or should I replace the machine?

A drain pump is one of the cheaper repairs and is usually worth doing on a machine that is otherwise sound and not very old. The picture changes if the drum bearings are also going, since that is the repair that often costs more than the machine is worth.

Can I just tip the machine to empty it?

Do not. Tipping moves water into the electrics and can shift the drum on its suspension. Drain it deliberately through the emergency drain hose or the filter cap at the bottom front, into a shallow tray, with the machine unplugged.

Low risk

Updated 30 August 2026

Washing Machine Not Draining

The cycle stops part-way with the drum full of water, often showing a drain error code and refusing to spin.

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Appliance repair work, illustrative image

What's happening?

A washing machine that will not empty has failed at one point in a short chain: drum, sump hose, pump filter, pump, then the drain hose out to the waste. Machines monitor drain time, so when the water level does not fall within the expected window the cycle halts and an error is displayed — commonly in the F, E or 5D family depending on the make, with 5D or Sud meaning the machine thinks excess foam is defeating the pump. Because the machine also refuses to spin with water in the drum, people report it as a spin fault when the real problem is drainage. The good news is that the most common cause is the one you can reach: the pump filter behind the kickboard, blocked with lint, coins, hair grips and the underwiring from a bra.

What usually causes it?

A blocked pump filter — lint, coins, buttons, hair grips, bra wires and small socks
An item lodged in the pump impeller itself, stopping it turning
A kink, crush or sag in the drain hose behind the machine, often after it has been pushed back
A blocked waste trap, standpipe or sink spigot the machine drains into
The drain hose pushed too far into the standpipe, causing siphoning and drain errors
A failed drain pump — no sound at all at the drain stage, or a hum without flow
Excess detergent creating foam the pump cannot shift, giving a suds error rather than a blockage
A blocked or crushed sump hose between the tub and the pump, common with larger debris

Is it dangerous?

Not dangerous, but capable of causing water damage. There will be several litres in the drum, and opening the door on a front loader mid-cycle releases the lot across the floor. Turn the machine off at the socket and turn the water off before you open anything, and have towels and a shallow tray ready — the filter housing empties surprisingly fast. Never open a hot wash's door as soon as the cycle stops. If water has reached a socket, a floor void or a downstairs ceiling, deal with that as an electrical and building problem too.

Can I fix it myself?

Yes, the first checks are genuinely a homeowner job. Unplug the machine, put towels down, open the flap at the bottom front and drain through the emergency hose or filter cap into a tray, then unscrew and clean the filter and feel inside the housing for anything jammed in the impeller — it should turn freely. Pull the machine out and check the drain hose is not kinked, crushed or sagging into a water-filled loop, and check the sink trap or standpipe it discharges into. Run a hot maintenance wash with no detergent afterwards. What you should not do is dismantle the pump or the sump hose from underneath.

When should you call an appliance repair engineer?

Call an appliance engineer when the filter is clean, the hose is clear and the waste runs freely but the machine still will not drain. That points to the pump, the sump hose or the control board, and pump replacement means tipping the machine, disconnecting the electrics and dealing with the water still in the sump. Call sooner if the pump makes no noise whatsoever at the drain stage, if it hums but shifts nothing, or if there is a burning smell from behind the kickboard.

What will the appliance repair engineer actually do?

Read the stored fault code and cycle history rather than working from the symptom alone
Drain the machine down safely and check the filter, impeller and sump hose for obstruction
Test the pump for continuity and running current to separate a seized pump from a failed winding
Check the pressure system — hose, chamber and sensor — which tells the board the drum is empty
Verify the drain hose height and the household waste connection, not just the machine
Replace the pump or sump hose, then run a full test cycle and check for leaks under load

Frequently asked questions

We’re happy to answer all your questions.

Sources & References

Washing Machine Not SpinningLow risk Washing Machine Leaking WaterCaution Dishwasher Not Draining Or Leaving Dishes DirtyLow risk

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