Water enters, then disappears quietly
You can hear fill water, but the tub never gets very full and you may not hear the drain pump running.
Start here: Check the drain hose height and how deep it is inserted into the standpipe or laundry sink.
Washer troubleshooting
GE Washer Fills and Drains at the Same Time
Direct answer: When a GE washer seems to fill and drain at the same time, the most common cause is a drain hose installed too low or shoved too far into the standpipe, which lets the tub siphon itself empty as it fills.
Most likely: Start with the drain hose height and how it sits in the standpipe. If that looks right, the next likely causes are a drain pump that is running when it should not, or a washer pressure switch hose issue that is confusing the water level reading.
This problem usually falls into two lookalike patterns: the washer fills normally but water slips right back out through the drain, or the drain pump is actually running during fill. Separate those first and you will save a lot of time. Reality check: a bad hose setup is more common than a bad electronic part. Common wrong move: replacing the water inlet valve just because water will not stay in the tub.
Don’t start with: Do not start by ordering a control board or water inlet valve. Those are not the first suspects for this symptom.
If you do not hear the pump motorCheck for siphoning at the drain hose first.
If you do hear a steady drain sound during fillFocus on a stuck drain pump or control issue next.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-17
What this usually looks like
You hear a clear pump or draining sound during fill
The washer fills, but there is also a steady motor or rushing-drain sound at the same time.
Start here: Pause the cycle and listen near the lower front or rear of the washer to confirm whether the drain pump is actually running.
The washer overfills a little, then dumps out
Water level acts erratic, or the machine keeps trying to correct the level and never settles into wash.
Start here: Inspect the washer pressure switch hose area for a loose, kinked, split, or clogged air tube.
The problem started right after moving the washer
The machine worked before, then started losing water after being pushed back or reconnected.
Start here: Look for a drain hose that got shoved too far down the standpipe or dropped too low behind the washer.
Most likely causes
1. Drain hose siphoning because of bad hose position
This is the most common reason a washer fills and drains at the same time. Water leaves by gravity even though the pump is off.
Quick check: During fill, listen for no pump motor but watch the standpipe or sink for a steady water flow. Then verify the drain hose is not too low or sealed tightly into the pipe.
2. Drain pump running when it should not
If you hear an actual pump motor during fill, the washer is not siphoning. It is being told to drain, or the pump is stuck on mechanically or electrically.
Quick check: Start a fill cycle and listen low on the cabinet. A humming or whirring pump sound points away from siphoning and toward the pump/control side.
3. Washer pressure switch hose loose, split, or clogged
If the washer cannot read tub level correctly, it may keep filling, pause oddly, or trigger draining behavior that looks like a fill-and-drain problem.
Quick check: Unplug the washer, remove access as needed, and inspect the small air tube from the tub to the pressure switch for damage, kinks, or soap sludge.
4. Drain hose pushed too far into the standpipe after installation or cleaning
This is really a setup issue, but it is common enough to call out separately because it often starts right after the washer was moved.
Quick check: Pull the hose back so it is supported near the top of the standpipe instead of buried deep inside it.
Step-by-step fix
Step 1: Figure out whether it is siphoning or the pump is actually running
These two problems look similar from the top, but the fix is completely different.
- Start a normal fill cycle with the washer empty.
- Stand near the lower part of the washer and listen carefully.
- If you hear only incoming water and no separate motor sound, suspect siphoning first.
- If you hear a steady hum, whir, or active draining sound during fill, suspect the washer drain pump or control side instead.
- If possible, watch the standpipe or laundry sink for water flow while the washer is filling.
Next move: You have separated the problem into the right path and can avoid guessing at parts. If the sounds are unclear, pause the cycle and restart once more with the room quiet. This symptom is much easier to solve once you know whether the pump is on.
What to conclude: Quiet water loss points to drain hose siphoning. Active pump noise points to a drain pump or control command problem.
Stop if:
- Water is overflowing from the standpipe or laundry sink.
- You see sparking, smell burning insulation, or hear harsh grinding from the pump area.
Step 2: Check the drain hose setup behind the washer
A bad drain hose position is the most common and least expensive fix for this complaint.
- Unplug the washer and pull it forward carefully.
- Find the washer drain hose where it enters the standpipe or hooks into a laundry sink.
- Make sure the hose is not lying too low on the floor before rising to the drain.
- If it goes into a standpipe, make sure it is not jammed deep down into the pipe.
- Make sure the hose is not taped or sealed airtight into the standpipe; it needs an air gap.
- Reposition the hose so it is supported properly and not kinked when you slide the washer back.
Next move: Run a fill cycle again. If the tub now holds water and the wash cycle starts normally, the problem was siphoning. If the hose setup looks right and the washer still loses water, move on to confirming whether the pump is running during fill.
What to conclude: If correcting the hose position fixes it, you do not need internal parts. If not, the problem is inside the washer or in how it senses water level.
Step 3: Confirm whether the washer drain pump is running during fill
Once the hose setup is ruled out, pump operation is the next clean split in the diagnosis.
- Plug the washer back in and start a fill cycle.
- Listen low on the cabinet for a constant drain pump hum or whir.
- Pause or cancel the cycle and note whether the drain sound stops immediately.
- If the pump keeps running when the cycle should be filling, unplug the washer.
- Check the pump area for obvious debris, a jammed impeller sound, or signs of water leakage around the pump housing.
Next move: If you clearly confirm the pump is running during fill, you have narrowed the problem to the washer drain pump path or the control telling it to run. If there is no pump sound and the hose setup is correct, move to the water level sensing check.
Step 4: Inspect the washer pressure switch hose and water level sensing path
A washer that cannot read tub level properly may keep adding water, interrupt itself, or act like it is filling and draining at once.
- Unplug the washer before opening any access panel.
- Locate the small pressure hose that runs from the outer tub area to the washer pressure switch or sensor.
- Check for a loose connection at either end.
- Look for pinches, splits, rub-through spots, or soap residue clogging the hose.
- If the hose is dirty, remove it and clear it gently with warm water, then let it dry before reinstalling.
- Reattach the hose firmly and make sure it is routed without kinks.
Next move: Run a test fill. If the washer now reaches a normal water level and stops filling correctly, the sensing path was the issue. If the hose is intact and the pump still runs during fill, the problem is likely beyond a simple homeowner check.
Step 5: Finish with the most likely repair or call for service with a clean diagnosis
At this point you should know whether you fixed a hose setup problem, found a pump-running problem, or found a water-level sensing issue.
- If repositioning the drain hose stopped the problem, secure the hose so it cannot slip back down or get shoved too deep again.
- If the washer drain pump clearly runs during fill and the hose setup is correct, plan on replacing the washer drain pump only if the pump is noisy, jammed, leaking, or electrically stuck on after basic checks.
- If the pressure hose was split, loose, or clogged, repair that issue first and retest before buying anything else.
- If the pump runs during fill but the pump itself does not appear failed, or if the pressure hose is good but the washer still behaves erratically, schedule service and report exactly what you observed: siphon ruled out, pump running during fill, or pressure hose checked good.
- Before putting the washer back into regular use, run a small test load and watch the first fill.
A good result: You either solved the setup issue or you now have a specific repair path instead of guessing.
If not: Do not keep running the washer hoping it will sort itself out. Repeated fill-and-drain cycling wastes water and can lead to overflow or pump damage.
What to conclude: Most homeowners can fix siphoning and obvious hose issues. A confirmed pump-running or control-side problem is where the repair becomes more component-specific.
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FAQ
Why does my GE washer keep filling but never gets full?
Most often the water is siphoning out through the drain hose because the hose is too low or pushed too far into the standpipe. If you also hear the drain pump running, then it is not siphoning and you need to look at the pump or water-level sensing side.
Can a clogged house drain make a washer fill and drain at the same time?
A clogged house drain usually causes backing up or overflow, not a true fill-and-drain-at-once symptom. If the washer is quietly losing water during fill, the drain hose setup is still the first thing to check.
Should I replace the water inlet valve for this problem?
Usually no. A bad washer water inlet valve can cause overfilling or slow filling, but it is not the usual reason water leaves the tub while the washer is filling. Check for siphoning and pump operation first.
How do I know if it is siphoning instead of pumping out?
Siphoning usually happens without a separate pump motor sound. You hear fill water, but the tub level stays low and water may be flowing out the drain by gravity. If you hear a steady hum or whir from low on the washer during fill, that points more toward the washer drain pump running.
Is it safe to keep using the washer if it fills and drains at the same time?
No. It wastes water, can overwork the pump, and can lead to overflow if the drain setup or standpipe is marginal. Fix the hose setup or confirm the internal fault before regular use.