In an ideal world, washing machines would always work perfectly and never break down. Unfortunately, washing machines will eventually give you some problems. There are some common problems that most washing machines will eventually experience at some point such as the water not draining properly.
If your Hoover washing machine is not draining properly there are a number of troubleshooting tips that can help you fix the problem and drain all the water every time. Many times it is human error that causes the issue such as overloading the washing machine, a blocked drain pump, or there could be a drain hose blockage.
In this article, we will go over some of the common causes so you can get your Hoover washing machine back in good order.
The most common reasons for water not draining properly
Having a Hoover washer that doesn’t drain is not an uncommon problem with washing machines at all. It is very likely to happen to every washing machine owner since there are a variety of reasons for it to happen. Usually, it is a quick fix that anybody can do themselves. The worst-case scenario is that there is a malfunction within the washing machines in which case a technician will have to come and sort it out. However, don’t call for service until you have gone through all the possible causes first.
Unbalanced washing machine
Nobody likes to do laundry so many people end up overloading their washing machines with clothes in an effort to do fewer loads. This might sound like a logical thing to do but your washer has limits on the load size for a good reason.
When the washer is overloaded the clothes get very heavy when they get wet. This causes the washing spin cycle to struggle and risks the drum and motor getting damaged. To make sure this doesn’t happen, the wash stops before that cycle is finished. This leaves you stuck with a load in the drum that isn’t going to drain since it didn’t reach the drain cycle.
Another issue is when an overloaded washing machine does get to the spin cycle, it is unbalanced and the washing machine skates quite a bit. If it finds itself tilted or not on level ground then the cycle will stop prematurely.
If you find the water level is high in the washer and not draining then remove some of the load, balance the machine to where it is level, and restart the cycle. Usually, it will begin draining right away and the problem is solved without any effort. However, if there is still water left then proceed to the next common cause.
Clogged drain hose
The water from washing machines is drained out through a drain hose that connects the machine’s drain pump to the house drain pipes. This drain hose is flexible and corrugated so it can easily get clogged with a small object like a coin or even sludge from lint that gets through the filter.
This is the first thing to check since it is one of the easiest things to fix in case of a clog somewhere in the system. If the sump hose is made of an opaque material then you may even be able to see a blockage just by looking at it. If not, you can feel around the hose since it is soft and flexible. If you are able to locate a blockage, or there is some sludge in the drain hose that is slowing the flow down then you can remove the hose and flush it out.
- Shut the washer off from the main power supply by unplugging it
- Shut the incoming water supply off by locating the valve that runs to the machine or turning it off at the source that enters the whole house
- Locate where the hose connects to the machine (It is usually the bottom of the machine in the back)
- Unclip the hose from the nozzle to the tub while using a towel to mop up any excess water that comes out or by placing a small receptacle under the drain
- Remove the other end of the hose from the drain that leads out of the house
- Carefully bring the hose out to the garden and flush it out with a garden hose
- Reattach the hose to the machine and the drain being careful to not let the end of the hose go further than 4 inches deep into the drain
At this point, you should be able to run a wash cycle to see if that solves your problem and get the water to drain properly. If anything was flushed out that could have been blocking the flow, or there was a build-up of sludge then this was most likely the cause of the water not draining.
If you have a lot of lint then this is a common cause of the hose getting clogged since they are usually corrugated. The ridges trap some of the sludge that comes out of the washer and then it builds up.
Blockage in the drain pump
The water in the washing machine gets expelled by a mechanical pump. This pump has a filter since there are often small items that pass through the drum and should get caught there before heading through the drain. There can also be a build-up of sludge that forms due to very linty items being washed. If you have pets then their hair is often the culprit for these sludge build-ups. When this happens, the water can’t pass through the filter and the rinse cycle shuts off before draining.
If you already checked the hose and found that it had no obstructions then the blockage is likely inside the washer at the drain pump. You’ll need to get your hands dirty a bit to unblock the drain pump filter so have some towels ready to mop up some spillage and a small receptacle to catch the water when you open the hatch.
- Disconnect the washing machine by disconnecting it from the mains power supply
- Turn off the incoming water to the washer or locate the valve that controls the water for the entire house and close it
- Take a large sponge and empty as much of the drum as possible
- Locate the service valve on the lower right of the washing machine
- Open the flap and gently turn the cover cap for the drain pump filter with an anti-clockwise motion
- Only open the cap a little at a time to be able to catch the water as it comes out
- Once it is fully open and the tub has been drained then remove the filter
- Check the pump for any small objects or debris and clean it if any are found
- Inspect inside the pump housing of the filter to remove any sludge and look for small objects like coins or small socks
- Try to move the impeller at the rear of the chamber to make sure it is able to turn
- Once everything has been wiped clean and obstructions removed, reattach the cover cap snugly and close the service flap
The drain filter is also called a coin trap for obvious reasons. Since coins are slim and can slip through the drum into the drain this is designed to grab them before they can lodge themselves into the draining hose or drain. If you find an obstruction, turn everything back on and run a cycle. Usually, when there is a build-up of sludge in the chamber or pump filter there will be a bad smell. Make sure to add some washing machine cleaning powder directly into the drum and run a hot cycle at 90°C.
If it drains away then you can now move on with your life and put the number of the technician away.
Blocked drain
There is another area of concern that is further downstream from the drain pump is the actual drain that leads water away from the house. Sometimes the filter doesn’t catch an object, or debris is able to build up in the u-bend section of the pipe. There are two possible pipes to inspect. If your washing machine drain hose connects to a dedicated pipe with its own u-bend, then start there. If not then check under the sink if the drain hose runs to that pipe.
In either case, look for the U-bend at the bottom of the pipe. This is designed to catch blockages and also block any bad odours coming through the pipes and into the house. Have a small receptacle ready and a towel to catch any water. Open up either end of the pipe and then carefully pour it into the receptacle. Look inside for any obstruction such as a small object or some sludge build-up. Clean it out and then replace it.
Once again, run a cycle to see if you are able to complete the cycle and if the washer drains after the rinse. If this is the case then you can begin a regular wash with clothes.
Damaged drive belt
There is one more possible cause that you can troubleshoot yourself without needing to call a repair technician. There is a drive belt that links the motor and things like the filter pump. Underneath the washing machine, you will find the belt and will be able to see if it has been damaged or is loose. Either way, the function of the machine depends on the belt. If you see anything wrong with the belt then you’ll need to replace it.
You should be able to change this part yourself without the need to call a repair technician. Order one online and then you can make the switch with just a screwdriver and some elbow grease.
- Turn off the power to the washing machine by disconnecting the outlet from the mains
- Turn the washing machine on its side to be able to work on the bottom
- Remove the protective plate underneath to reveal the belt
- Inspect the belt and if there is any damage or it is loose then proceed to the next steps
- Locate the screws that attach the washers of the belt to the motor
- Remove the screws and belt and then attach the new one
- Replace the screws and protective plate and right the machine
- Connect back to the power supply and run a test cycle to make sure it is working
- If it doesn’t run then check for error codes
Replacing a belt drive will seem intimidating at first but it is easy enough to do as long as you can use a screwdriver.
Damaged pump or internal issues
Unfortunately, we have come to the section in which you will need to call for service if none of those other troubleshooting tips worked. This is because there is a damaged pump that is causing the malfunction, or there is something amiss internally such as a faulty circuit board.
These are repairs that you will likely not be able to do yourself unless you have some experience repairing home appliances.
Final Word
These are basically all of the common reasons that could be wrong with your Hoover washing machine. It may have taken you a while to figure out the exact cause, but now that you know you will know what to do if this happens again and get back to your normal laundry routine.
FAQ
What does error code E03 mean?
Before you even realize that the tub hasn’t drained you will see this error light on the display when you go to check on your laundry. This indicates that the drain cycle couldn’t be completed and there is still water inside. Unfortunately, it doesn’t tell you what the problem was caused by so you will have to go through the troubleshooting tips.
What does error code E08 mean?
If you have standing water and this error code is on the display then it means the machine wasn’t able to complete the cycle because of a faulty motor. This is usually caused by worn carbon brushes that need to be replaced.
