LG is one of the most popular washer appliance brands around due to its outstanding quality and high reliability. This has made them a top pick amongst buyers who need a washer that can really perform.
Yet despite all the praise around LG washers, users have reported running into an issue where it will struggle to drain the old dirty water. Needless to say, this is a big problem as you’re going to be left with wet clothes that are still dirty.
So in this article, I’m going to share all the information you need to get your washer fixed and back in working order as quickly and easily as possible.
Why is your LG Washer Not Draining?
In order for a dryer to drain properly, certain criteria need to be met. This includes ensuring the drain hose is not kinked and is clear of blockages.
You should also ensure you are using the washer correctly, which includes loading the clothes properly and using the correct type and amount of detergent.
1. The Drain Hose is Kinked
After the water has circulated around the clothes, it leaves the washing machine through a drain hose. If there is a kink in the drain hose, the water won’t be able to drain away and will end up sitting in the LG washer.
The most common reason this happens is when the LG washing machine gets pushed into place against the wall, the hose bends in on itself, causing it to be pinched.
When this happens, the LG washing machine will need to be pulled out, and the hose should be arranged in such a way that it won’t crimp when it’s pushed back into place.
2. The Hose is Clogged
While there is a filter in place that’s designed to catch any loose debris, hair, or lint before it can make it to the drain. Often some things still make it through due to the clogged lint filter.
This debris can accumulate in the hose, which also prevents water from being able to drain away.
The filter will need to be cleaned out and the hose removed and checked for blockages. If any are located, then they will have to be removed by hand.
3. The Drain Hose is Too High
Many users aren’t aware that it’s possible for the drain hose to be installed too high. When this happens, the drain pump won’t be able to remove the dirty water with enough force to make it to the drain.
LG recommends not installing the end of the drain hose any higher than 96 inches above the bottom of the washer.
If that happens, the hose will need to be adjusted to ensure it’s at least above 29 inches from the floor but below 96 inches for optimal performance.
4. The Clothes have Bundled Up
When clothes tangle and bundle up together inside a washer, it can cause a number of problems.
Firstly, unbalanced loads can cause harm to the internal bearing and rollers through excessive vibration. And the washer tub will also struggle to spin properly.
It will also prevent water from circulating between the clothes properly, which in turn causes them to hold extra water that can’t drain away. Here you’ll need to re-distribute the clothes better so the washer drum can properly spin and extract the remaining water.
5. Too Much Detergent or the Wrong Type has Been Used
When washing clothes, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that using more detergent equals cleaner clothes. In reality, this ends up causing more problems.
This is due to an overabundance of suds that collect all around the washer that won’t properly drain away and end up collecting all around the clothes. Additionally, using the wrong type of detergent for your LG washing machine can cause this problem.
So you’ll need to review how you use the detergent and ensure you follow the instructions indicated on the packet.
6. The Drain Pump Filter is Clogged Up
The drain filter is designed to filter out all the hair, debris, lint, and detergent deposits so they can’t build up and cause problems.
When the drain filter gets clogged, the water won’t be able to pass through the pump and drain away, causing it to back up into the LG washing machine.
This is also commonly caused by accidentally leaving small items in your pockets, such as tissues, coins, etc. So the drain filter will need to be cleaned out so the water can drain again.
How to Fix an LG Washer Not Draining?
As you can see, the majority of drainage problems are caused by simple problems that a bit of maintenance and operational adjustments can fix quite easily.
So before you go out and call the repairman, be sure to follow through with these simple steps, and there’s a good chance you’ll be able to resolve the issue.
1. Unkink the Drain Hose
The water won’t freely flow away when the drain hose is kinked or pinched. This is most commonly caused by the LG washing machine being pushed back too close to the wall.
So you should start by pulling out the washer from the wall and checking the hose for any areas where it might get pinched. You may need to disconnect the hose from either the washer or the drain to untangle it.
Once it’s been straightened out, very carefully push the LG Washing Machine back into place, be mindful of how the hose is sitting, and be sure not to push it too tightly to the wall where you may potentially crush it.
2. Unclog the Hose
If the drain hose is clogged and the blockage cannot passively drain away, you will need to unblock it by hand. This can be tricky to do depending on how long the hose is and where the blockage lies.
The simplest way to do this is to disconnect the hose from both the washer and the drain and take it somewhere with enough room.
See if you can look through the hose and identify a blockage; depending on what’s blocking it, it might require a bit of creativity to address. If the blockage is fairly close to one of the hose ends, you can use something like a bent wire hanger to grab it out.
If it’s more like a buildup of lint or detergent deposit that’s become stuck in there, you can always soak the hose in a sink filled with hot water and a bit of dish soap to loosen it first. As a last resort, you can always replace the hose.
3. Adjust the Drain Hose Height
When the drain end is located higher than 96 inches above the base of the washer, it will not be able to drain. Likewise, if it’s below 26 inches, this will also cause problems, so it should sit somewhere in the middle.
The quickest way to adjust the height of an LG washing machine is by adjusting all 4 feet and turning the height nut counterclockwise.
If the washer is too low, you may need to shim it, which means putting something underneath each foot to raise the height above which the legs can each reach.
One-inch plywood squares can work very well for this as they also assist in absorbing the vibrations of the washer, which also increases its operational efficiency.
4. Re-distribute the Clothes
If the clothes have bundled up and become tangled together, it will dramatically affect how well the washer works, so they will need to be manually re-distributed by hand.
The simplest way to do this is by pausing the wash cycle (you can also just open the door, which will automatically stop the washing cycle) and ensuring the clothes are spread out properly within the washer tub.
If anything has loose tassels, cords, or other material that can wrap around things, consider putting them in a netted laundry bag, so they don’t cause more problems.
5. Use the Correct Detergent Type and Amount
If you use the wrong detergent type or use too much of it, the excess of suds that form can cause all manner of problems with the wash cycle.
The first thing to do is ensure you use the correct detergent for that washer type. For example, if you use a HE (high efficiency) washer, you should only use HE detergent.
You should also check the detergent packaging and only load the amount specified on the instructions into the LG Washer Detergent Dispenser. Using more will not result in a cleaner wash.
6. Unclog the Drain Pump Filter
When there is a drain issue, the water won’t be able to drain away, so you’ll need to unclog it by hand. This needs to be done in 2 stages. First, you need to drain the filter of excess water.
- Start by making sure the machine is powered off and unplugged.
- Locate the access panel on the front of the appliance.
- Place a small pan under the access panel so the excess water can drain into it.
- Open it by pulling the tab down towards the floor and out.
- Remove the hose plug and drain the excess water into the pan.
Now the filter is drained, we can remove and clean the pump filter.
- Start by turning the drain pump filter cover counterclockwise and carefully pulling it out. Some water will spill out, this is normal, and you can just let it fall into the pan.
- Wipe the area down with a cloth.
- Now you can remove any foreign objects or lost items, such as coins, and any lint buildup from the filter.
- Wash the filter thoroughly by hand using warm water and some dish soap.
- Once the filter is clean, reinstall it by reversing these steps.
Adrian is an ISCET licensed professional that has completed the National Appliance Service Technician Certification Exam and has the expertise to diagnose and repair any appliance. He is well-versed in the latest technologies and techniques and is always up-to-date on the latest industry standards.
