Water stays in the tub
The cycle ends or pauses with several inches of water still in the basket or drum.
Start here: Start with the drain filter and the drain hose routing.
Washer Drain Trouble
Samsung Washer Not Draining
Direct answer: A Samsung washer that will not drain usually has a clogged pump filter, a kinked drain hose, or a blockage where the washer hose enters the house drain. The drain pump itself is a real failure point, but it is not the first thing to assume.
Most likely: Start with standing water in the tub, a humming sound during drain, or a slow trickle out of the hose. Those clues usually point to a blockage before they point to a dead washer drain pump.
Treat this like a drain-path problem first and a part problem second. A lot of washers get called "bad pump" when the real issue is lint, a sock, sludge in the filter housing, or a partially plugged standpipe. Reality check: if the washer drained fine last week and suddenly quit after a heavy load, a blockage is more likely than an electrical failure. Common wrong move: forcing a spin cycle over and over with a tub full of water, which just strains the pump and wastes time.
Don’t start with: Do not start by ordering a Samsung washer drain pump just because the cycle stopped with water inside.
If the pump hums but little or no water leaves,check the filter and hose path before replacing anything.
If the pump stays silent during drain,suspect a jammed or failed washer drain pump after the simple blockage checks.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-16
What this drain pump problem usually looks like
Humming or buzzing during drain
You hear the washer trying to drain, but water barely moves or does not move at all.
Start here: Look for a clogged filter, jammed pump impeller, or blocked hose before calling the pump bad.
No drain sound at all
The washer reaches the drain part of the cycle and stays quiet, then times out or stops.
Start here: After checking for a simple clog, the washer drain pump becomes more likely.
Slow drain and weak spin
Some water leaves, but clothes stay wet and the washer struggles to reach full spin.
Start here: Check for a partial blockage in the filter, drain hose, or standpipe.
Most likely causes
1. Clogged washer drain pump filter
This is the most common cause when the washer still tries to drain but water moves slowly or not at all.
Quick check: Open the service access, drain the tub safely, and inspect the filter for lint, coins, hair pins, fabric, or sludge.
2. Kinked or obstructed washer drain hose
A crushed hose behind the washer or debris lodged in the hose can stop flow even when the pump is working.
Quick check: Pull the washer forward enough to inspect the full hose path and make sure the hose is not pinched or packed with debris.
3. Blocked household standpipe or sink drain connection
If the washer hose and filter are clear but water backs up or spills at the wall drain, the problem may be outside the washer.
Quick check: Watch the standpipe or laundry sink while the washer tries to drain and look for overflow or immediate backup.
4. Failed or jammed washer drain pump
A pump that is silent, trips, smells hot, or has a damaged impeller can no longer move water even with a clear drain path.
Quick check: Once the filter and hose path are clear, listen for pump operation and check the pump area for broken impeller blades or obvious seizure.
Step-by-step fix
Step 1: Drain the water safely and confirm the exact symptom
You need the tub empty enough to work, and the sound the washer makes during drain tells you a lot before you touch parts.
- Unplug the washer before opening any service access.
- Keep towels and a shallow pan ready because the first release of water is usually messier than people expect.
- Use the washer's small emergency drain hose if your model has one, draining into a pan a little at a time.
- If there is no small drain hose, open the filter area slowly and control the spill with towels and a pan.
- After the tub is mostly empty, plug the washer back in and run a short drain or spin command just long enough to listen.
- Note whether you hear a steady hum, a harsh grinding noise, or no pump sound at all, then unplug the washer again.
Next move: If the washer drains normally once the water level is lowered and reset, you may be dealing with a partial clog that shifts around. Keep going and clean the filter anyway. If it still will not drain, the next checks will tell you whether the blockage is in the washer or in the house drain.
What to conclude: A humming pump usually means the motor is getting power but cannot move water. Silence pushes the pump higher on the suspect list, but only after the easy blockages are ruled out.
Stop if:
- Water is pouring out faster than you can control it.
- You smell burning plastic or see signs of overheating near the pump access.
- The washer must be tipped or disassembled further than you are comfortable handling alone.
Step 2: Clean the washer drain pump filter and inspect the pump opening
This is the highest-payoff check on a washer that will not drain, especially when the machine hums or drains slowly.
- With the washer unplugged, remove the washer drain pump filter completely.
- Clean lint, hair, coins, buttons, and sludge from the filter screen and filter cavity using warm water and mild soap if needed.
- Reach carefully into the filter opening and feel for debris wrapped around the pump impeller.
- Check whether the impeller turns with light resistance instead of being locked solid or wobbling loosely.
- Reinstall the filter snugly by hand so it seals evenly, then run a quick drain test.
Next move: If the washer now drains with a strong rush of water, the problem was a blocked filter or debris at the pump inlet. If the filter was clean or cleaning it changed nothing, move to the hose and standpipe checks.
What to conclude: A packed filter or jammed impeller opening is far more common than a failed pump motor. A broken-feeling or badly loose impeller points back toward pump replacement.
Step 3: Check the washer drain hose and the house drain connection
A working pump cannot overcome a crushed hose or a blocked standpipe, and those problems can look exactly like a bad pump from the front of the machine.
- Pull the washer forward enough to inspect the full washer drain hose from the cabinet to the wall or sink connection.
- Straighten any sharp kink and make sure the hose is not flattened behind the machine.
- Disconnect the end of the washer drain hose from the standpipe or sink connection and inspect for lint plugs or small clothing items.
- If the hose is dirty inside, flush it with water at a sink or outside until it runs clear.
- Check the standpipe or laundry sink drain for slow drainage, backup, or overflow signs.
- Reconnect the hose securely and keep the hose end positioned correctly, not shoved too deep into the standpipe.
Next move: If clearing the hose or standpipe restores normal draining, the pump was probably fine all along. If the hose and house drain are clear and the washer still will not move water, the pump itself becomes much more likely.
Step 4: Decide whether the washer drain pump is blocked, jammed, or failed
By this point you have ruled out the common external restrictions, so the pump diagnosis is more trustworthy.
- Run a drain command and listen closely near the lower front or rear pump area, depending on washer layout.
- If the pump hums but no water moves and the filter and hose path are clear, suspect a damaged or slipping washer drain pump impeller.
- If the pump makes a harsh grinding or rattling sound, suspect debris damage inside the pump or a failing pump body.
- If the pump stays completely silent during drain after the simple checks, suspect a failed washer drain pump motor or wiring issue.
- Inspect the pump area for leaks, heat damage, or signs the pump has been running hot.
Next move: If the pump suddenly starts moving water strongly after debris removal, keep using the washer and monitor it through a few loads. If the pump remains silent or only hums with a clear drain path, replacement of the washer drain pump is the most supported next move.
Step 5: Replace the confirmed failed part or stop and call for service
Once the drain path is clear and the pump behavior points to internal failure, guessing is no longer helping.
- Buy a replacement washer drain pump only if the filter, hose, and standpipe checks are already clear and the pump is silent, overheated, or mechanically damaged.
- If the drain hose is split, permanently kinked, or still restricted after cleaning, replace the washer drain hose instead of the pump.
- After replacement, run a rinse and drain cycle with no laundry first, then a small test load.
- Watch for a strong discharge into the standpipe or sink and confirm the washer reaches full spin without leaving clothes soaked.
- If the washer still will not drain after a confirmed pump replacement, stop there and have the wiring or control side checked professionally rather than stacking more parts.
A good result: If the washer drains fast, spins normally, and finishes a full cycle dry at the end, the repair is confirmed.
If not: If a new pump does not change the symptom, the problem is no longer a simple homeowner parts guess.
What to conclude: This keeps you from buying the wrong part twice. A successful repair gives you strong drain flow, no standing water, and normal spin recovery.
Replacement Parts
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FAQ
How do I know if my Samsung washer drain pump is bad or just clogged?
If the washer hums during drain, a clog is still more likely than a bad pump. Clean the washer drain pump filter, check the impeller opening, inspect the drain hose, and watch the standpipe. If all of that is clear and the pump still only hums, grinds, or stays silent, the pump is much more likely.
Can a washer drain pump still make noise and be bad?
Yes. A drain pump can hum with a jammed or damaged impeller, or grind when internal parts are worn or debris has scored the pump. Noise alone does not prove the pump is good. What matters is whether it actually moves water once the filter and hose path are clear.
Why does my washer not spin when it will not drain?
Most washers will not go into full spin with a tub full of water. The machine has to get the water out first. That is why a drain problem often shows up as both standing water and wet clothes at the end.
Should I use drain cleaner in the washer or standpipe?
No. Do not pour chemical drain cleaner into the washer. It can damage parts and create a nasty spill when you open hoses or the filter. For the washer itself, stick to manual cleaning with water and mild soap. If the standpipe is blocked, treat that as a plumbing issue.
What if I replaced the washer drain pump and it still will not drain?
Stop buying parts at that point. Recheck the hose routing, standpipe, and installation of the new pump. If those are correct, the problem may be wiring, a control issue, or a drain problem outside the washer, and that is the point where a service tech is worth it.