How to get a drain filter if it does not twist?

The drain filter in the washing machine protects the pump from debris and foreign objects that get into the tank together with the clothes. The filter needs to be cleaned regularly so that it does not become clogged and does not obstruct the emptying process. But sometimes owners of washing machines forget about it and the filter is overflowing with garbage. The result is the following situations of technical failure:

• The machine does not pump water out of the tank and shows the drain error code.
• The washer works with interruptions. The water from the tank leaves slowly and not completely. The machine stops and shows the error code. A strong pump noise is often heard. Sometimes there is a tapping sound as if something has got into the pump.

In the Owner’s Manual, it is recommended to remove the filter from the washing machine and clean it to eliminate such errors. Information is usually given in the form of a diagram and a short description of the cleaning steps.

After reading the manual, the owner or host of the machine opens the hatch or bottom panel and faces another problem:

• It is not possible to unscrew the drain filter. The handle on the cover does not move as if it were welded to the housing.
• The filter scrolls a quarter or half turn, but it does not go any further.
• The filter seems to have fully unscrewed, but it doesn’t pull out.

What to do and what to do if the filter in the washing machine does not open, the manual does not say. So we have prepared a short tutorial on how to get an untouchable drain filter out of a washing machine.

First of all, we will figure out why the drain unit is draining and does not want to listen.

Why I can’t unscrew, remove and get the filter?

The main reason is foreign objects. Nap, wool, hair, small foreign bodies, handkerchiefs, napkins, socks get into the trap in front of the pump and deliberately block its movement in the snail.

More rarely, removing the washing machine filter makes it difficult to scale the threads. It will form if it has not been cleaned for a long time.

Recommend! Every 2-4 months, clean the filter from debris and foreign objects. You can find detailed instructions in the article here “How to clean the filter in the washing machine”.

3 ways to open a drain filter

Disconnect the mains supply and cut off the water supply before starting the “operation”. Apply the methods presented in succession, if the previous version did not help, use the following one.

The first method is to use a tool if the filter cover does not open.

There is a knob on the filter cover or the hole plug. Try turning it with pliers or pliers. Proceed very carefully, do not break the filter.

The second way is to tilt the machine back and tap the filter cover with your hand.

The method is suitable for all three troubles:

• when the filter does not rotate at all,
• spinning, but only a quarter or a half turn,
• is unscrewed, but it’s not taken out.

Tilt the machine back by 45 degrees (it is better to lean on the wall) and tap with your fist or palm on the filter cover and next to the body. It is possible that foreign objects (coins, bra bone parts, hairpins, socks, etc.) locking the filter will change their position and stop blocking its unscrewing or pulling out.

The third method is to dismantle the drain pump, clean the snail and unscrew the filter.

It’s also good for all three “trouble” with the filter:

• when the filter isn’t spinning at all,
• turns, but only a quarter or half a turn,
• is unscrewed, but not pulled out.

The method is complicated, so start with it if the first two options did not help to remove the drain filter. Your goal is to get to the snail with the drain pump, disconnect the pump from it (sometimes it is more convenient to do it by removing the snail glass itself) and clean the filter through the resulting hole.

Tip! If you are far from the technique and do not understand the device washing machine, we recommend calling a technician. For example, from our office. Independent repair can not only take a lot of time from a non-specialist, but also lead to more expensive consequences.

In modern washing machines with horizontal loading, it is possible to dismantle the snail with a drain pump using the following three methods depending on the design.

1. Bottom through the bottom, if available. If there is no bottom or it can be easily removed, it is most convenient to dismantle the pump using this method. Lay the washing machine on its side or tilt it back 45-60 degrees on the wall. Look for the pump right behind the filter at the bottom edge of the housing.

Please note! Some models of washing machines do not have a bottom, but access to the pump is complicated by a steel strip with a shock absorber mount (a very common design in the Bosch brand). Or the models with housing leak protection have an “Aquastop” sensor on the bottom. In both cases, the pump access method described above is not suitable.

2. Through the back wall. In such washers, the drain pump is closer to the rear wall, so it is very convenient to get to it this way. The rear wall is usually mounted on four screws and is easy to remove. This pump design is often found on Ardo washing machines.

3. At the front, removing the front panel with the hatch. The most time consuming, but sometimes the only method. For example, in many Bosch, Siemens, Samsung, Lg and etc models with horizontal loading it is not possible to get to the pump any other way.

You will need to remove the top cover of the machine and the external clamp that attaches the rubber cuff of the door to the front panel. Additionally, you may need to remove the detergent hopper, remove the control panel and unscrew the screws that attach the ULV to the front door with the hatch. Only after these steps can the facade itself be removed, which is usually held on 3-4 screws. The two screws are usually located in the corners at the bottom (to get to them you sometimes have to remove the bottom panel). With the remaining one or two screws, there are different options, depending on the brand model of eraser. Usually they should be looked for in the upper corners of the front panel or in the area of the dispenser.

Note: The described methods of access to the drain pump of the AmeriPro wizard are used for machines with horizontal linen tab. If you have a washer with vertical loading, it is very easy to get to the pump through the side wall – right or left. What exactly, look at the location of the filter. Closer to which wall is the filter, if you look at the front of the machine, you remove it.

The general procedure after you access the pump is as follows:

• Disconnect the power cables from the pump. Place a rag or basin under the pump cochlea, and follow the steps above.
• Using pliers or pliers, remove the clamp that attaches the tank drain outlet to the pump and disconnect it from the snail.
• Try to clean the snail through the opening for the drain outlet. If it is not possible to reach the opening or if it is not possible to remove objects that block the filter from being opened and removed, continue disassembling the pump.
• Disconnect the clamp that holds the drain hose to the pump and remove the hose from the snail.
• Disconnect the pump assembly from the washing machine housing. Normally, the pump assembly with the snail is attached either to the front wall of the machine or to the bottom with a few screws or screws.
• Disassemble the pump by disconnecting the pump itself from the glass (snail). It is fastened to the snail with screws or latches. In the first case, unscrew the screws (usually 3 pieces), in the second case, turn the pump counterclockwise so that the latches come out of the grooves.
• Clean the glass of pump through the formed hole.

After cleaning, the drain filter should be easily unscrewed or pulled out.

What to do if none of the ways helped?

This means that the washing machine filter is not removed due to scale or lime deposits from hard water. Consistently follow the following steps to solve the problem. This will help to minimize possible costs for new parts.

• Soak the glass with the filter in citric acid water solution if you have already removed it to dissolve the lime. Or start a preventive wash with “citric acid” if you haven’t already disassembled the pump. To soak it, you will need a container in which the glass with the filter is placed so that it is completely under water. Pour hot water, but not boiling water, around 40-60°C to reduce the risk of damage to the plastic parts of the assembly and the rubber gasket of the filter.
• Pour approximately one tablespoon of citric acid onto the pelvis. It may be necessary to weight the filter snail with something to prevent it from floating up after filling the container with water. Allow the filter to soak for 1-2 hours, then try twisting it out. It is not a fact that it will work, but if it does, you will save on new details. The only thing that can get hurt is the rubber gasket of the filter. The acid can damage it, and then it will need to be replaced. A good sign of gasket damage is leakage from the filter after backfilling.
• Try to gently break the filter out of the snail and install a new one. The plastic is brittle enough to be cut with wire cutters and then unscrewed and cleaned. Proceed carefully, do not damage the thread of the glass (snail). Otherwise, the entire snail will need to be replaced, not just the filter. If the snail thread is damaged, the new drain filter will leak.
• Replace the snail assembly with the filter. Immediately, if you don’t want to mess around with the unscrewing or if you can’t gently break the filter. This will cost more than buying a gasket or new filter-catcher. But replacing it will ensure that the filter does not leak after installation.

Competent service for washing machines in all cities in California.

AmeriPro service has been servicing and repairing all brands and types of automatic washing machines since 1995. We work at the client’s home, we know how to get the filter out of the washing machine with horizontal and vertical loading. We serve brands: Samsung, Bosch, Electrolux, LG, Zanussi, Indesit, Whirlpool, Kenmore and many others.

Call us for help at ️(800) 657-0765