Maytag washers are highly praised by users thanks to their plethora of great user-friendly features and high reliability; therefore, these washers are considered to be sound investments. But as with all electronic appliances, they can run into problems from time to time.
An issue we see come up time and time again with Maytag washers is that they will stop draining. This can be a big problem as your clothes will be left sitting in dirty water, and you may even be faced with leaking.
That’s why in this article, I’m going to explain why this problem occurs and give you all the information you need to get this problem fixed.
Why is your Maytag Washer Not Draining?
If you’re faced with a washer that’s not draining, there may be a few potential causes behind it. Most commonly, it’s due to some blockage in the drainage system or a simple user error such as the wrong setting or too much detergent being used.
In rarer cases, a component failure may need replacing by a trained technician.
1. The Drain Hose is Blocked or Kinked
A washer expels the dirty water by having the drain pump send the dirty water out through the drain hose. This drain hose can be prone to kinking or blockages forming inside, which must be remedied before the contaminated water can flow out of the machine.
2. The Drain Pump isn’t Working Correctly
The drain pump is required to force the dirty water out of the washer tub during the spin cycle, which is then led away from the machine through the drain hose.
Sometimes small items or a buildup of lint can cause an obstruction that restricts the water from making it through the drain pump. So these obstructions must be cleared out to allow water to flow out of the machine freely.
Additionally, as a motor powers the drain pump, this motor can also experience faults or wear out over time and need to be replaced.
3. The Filters/Coin Trap are Clogged
Two of the most common item types to clog up a washing machine are lint, which is essentially a buildup of clothing fibers that bundle together and get stuck in things, and small items that have been accidentally left in pockets, such as coins, tissues, etc.
An object called a coin trap is specifically designed to catch coins and other small items that can be retrieved.
There is also a lint filter or lint screen, which is designed to catch the lint or things like pet hair before they can build up and cause trouble in the machine.
The lint filter needs to be cleaned out intermittently, as if it becomes too blocked up, it will stop doing its job.
4. Incorrect User Settings
While it’s great that Maytag washers have so many features to help you customize your wash cycle to your preferences, some of these settings can actually cause water to remain inside the tub and not drain away.
Two common culprits of this are the slow spin cycle; while great for reducing the strain put on the machine when washing heavy items, the reduction in centrifugal force dramatically reduces how much water is expelled from the clothes.
Likewise, other more gentle wash cycles, such as delicate and hand wash, also reduce the spinning speed, which causes a lot of water to remain in the machine.
Consider disabling these options, so they don’t impede the washer’s effectiveness at draining the water.
5. The Drainpipe is Mounted Too High
In order for the water to drain optimally through the drain hose, it needs to be mounted at the correct height. Maytag recommends this be at least 39 inches from the floor but no more than 96 inches in height.
If the drainpipe height is set incorrectly, the pump may struggle to generate enough force to pump the water away, which may even cause water to back up into the washer.
6. The Wash Load is Uneven
The wash tub spins on a mounting system and rollers, so when the clothes bundle together, they can create an imbalanced load which causes excessive vibration, and the washer drum will struggle to spin.
It also reduces the effectiveness of the cleaning cycle as the water is not able to be worked in between the clothes.
So steps should be taken to untangle and re-distribute the clothes more evenly within the washer.
7. The Lid/Door isn’t Fully Closed
Washers utilize a lid switch sensor that lets the machine know the door is fully closed before the tub can spin. This ensures water doesn’t splash out and get all over your kitchen/laundry room.
If there is an obstruction that prevents the lid from closing properly, such as a piece of clothing, then the door might not be fully closed, and the washer won’t be able to drain.
Similarly, if the sensor has failed, even if the door or lid is fully closed, it may still believe it’s open and not turn on.
8. The Wrong Type or Amount of Detergent is Being Used
Washers require a specific amount of detergent to wash optimally; while it’s tempting to use more than the instructions state to produce a cleaner wash, this only results in excessive suds being formed, which the washer will have trouble draining away.
Likewise, using the wrong detergent type can cause this issue too. So you should ensure you’re only using the correct detergent type, and amount, specified for Maytag washers.
How to Fix a Maytag Washer Not Draining?
Most of the time, this issue is caused by a blockage or operational error, which you can get fixed very easily. In some very rare cases, a sensor or motor failure might require a trained technician to be able to replace it.
1. Fix the Drain Hose
If the drain hose is blocked, then the water won’t be able to drain away properly. The first thing to do is ensure the hose is not kinked or pinched.
Pull the Maytag washer out from the wall and arrange the hose in a way where the water can freely flow through it. Be extra careful when pushing it back into place, so you don’t introduce any new kinks into the hose.
You will also need to remove the drain hose in order to clear any blockages preventing the water from draining.
- Fill a bucket with hot water and add some baking soda
- Pour this down the drain hose, and ensure it coats the entirety of the inner
- Wait for 10 minutes; the baking soda will break down the blockage
- Rinse the inside of the hose out with water and reinstall
2. Unclog the Drain Pump
If the drain pump isn’t working, it may be due to a buildup of debris. You’ll need to remove the side panel to gain access to the pump and inspect it for blockages. It’s a good idea at this time to address the lint filter, too, as this can also contribute to pump blockages.
Remove all the obstructions you are able to, and then run an empty cleaning cycle using Affresh, which is specially formulated to remove residues that build up in the washer.
In some rare cases, the pump motor itself may have failed, in which case the entire pump will need to be replaced. We recommend contacting Maytag customer support, who will arrange for a trained technician to do this for you.
3. Clean Out the Lint Filter and Coin Trap
The coin trap can usually be accessed at the bottom of the washer. You’ll need to drain the hose into a basin and remove any objects caught inside the trap.
Additionally, you will also need to clean the lint filter. The easiest way to do this is to let it sit in a sink filled with warm water and a bit of dish soap to loosen the built-up lint.
Then just run it under some clean water; if anything is particularly stuck, you can gently brush it with a sponge or an old toothbrush.
4. Change the Cycle Settings
When the wrong settings have been chosen, the washer tub may spin slower, which prevents the water from draining.
If you are using a slow spin or gentle wash cycle, consider changing it back to normal. If you have delicate items, you can always place them inside a netted bag to protect them.
5. Mount the Drainpipe at the Correct Level
If the standpipe is too high or too low, the pump will struggle to expel water from the washer. You should measure yours and ensure it’s above 36 inches but below 96 inches, as specified by Maytag.
In order for the water to drain optimally through the drain hose, it needs to be mounted at the correct height. If, for some reason, your washer is not at the right level, you may need to contact a local plumber to adjust this for you.
6. Re-distribute the Clothes
The clothes bundle up too much it can cause excessive vibration, prevent the clothes from being washed properly and prevent the water from draining well.
If you’ve noticed the clothes bundling up, you can press the pause button to pause the cycle and then manually re-distribute the clothes by hand.
If there are delicate items or items with tassels/strings that may easily tangle with other clothing items, you should put them in a netted bag.
7. Fix the Lid
Carefully inspect the lid to make sure no clothing items are preventing it from closing all the way.
If you are sure the door is completely closed, but the washer still isn’t draining, there may be an issue with the door sensor, which is causing the washer to believe the door is still open when it isn’t.
Here you should test the door sensor for continuity using a multimeter. If it’s found to be defective, then you should contact Maytag customer support, who will arrange for a technician to install a new sensor for you.
8. Use the Detergent Correctly
To prevent excessive suds buildup, you should only use the amount of detergent as specified on the packaging. Additionally, you should also ensure you only use the detergent type which your specific Washer model requires.
For example, if you use a HE (high-efficiency) washer, you should only use HE detergent; otherwise, it may not operate correctly.
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.
