Kenmore washer not draining: 13 reasons with proven solutions

You’re in the right place if you’re coming with your Kenmore washer not draining. 

Here we will describe the possible causes of this problem with their simple and quick fixes. 

Let’s try them before calling professional service. Yet you can first keep an eye on the drain hose or pump to check if it is clogged or has any issues.

Kenmore washing machine not draining: learn what to do

Kenmore washers are known for their reliability, cleaning performance, and user-friendly features. 

But over time, you may have some trouble with this washer as it may not drain water.

There could be several reasons why a Kenmore washer not draining suitably. Here are some of the probable causes with their solutions.

Reason 1: Faulty Drain pump 

The drain pump is reliable for removing wastewater from the washer drum and trying it out through the drain hose. 

If the pump is malfunctioning, it can’t effectively drain the water. Even small objects may be stuck inside the pump and work as a blockage.

1. Start by unplugging your Kenmore washer.
2. Remove any water from the drum. Do it either manually or by using a wet or dry vacuum. 
3. Access the drain pump.

4. Check the pump for any obstructions or blockages and remove them. 
5. If there are no obstructions and it is damaged or malfunctioning, you may need to replace the drain pump.

Reason 2: Clogged drain hose

A clogged or obstructed drain hose will prevent water from flowing out from your Kenmore washer. 

It may happen due to a buildup of lint, dirt, debris, or foreign objects. Kinks or bends in the hose may also prevent the water flow.

1. Check the drain hose for any kinks, bends, or clogs. 
2. Straighten out the drain hose if it is twisted.

3. Remove any blockages or debris. 
4. Ensure the end of the drain hose is not submerged in water or sealed shut. 
5. If necessary, disconnect the hose from the washing machine and drain pipe.
6. Then clean it thoroughly.
7. Alternatively, you can replace it if required.

Reason 3: Blocked pump filter

The pump filter catches lint, small objects, and dirt to prevent them from entering the drain pump. If the filter becomes clogged, it may impede the whole draining process mostly water leaking from the bottom.

1. Locate the pump filter. You may normally get it at the front or bottom of the washer. 
2. Turn the Kenmore washer off and unplug it from the wall outlet. 

3. Put a towel or bucket under the filter area to get any water. 

4. Open the filter cover.
5. Take out any lint, dirt, or small objects that may be blocking the filter. 

6. Now, reinsert the filter and then secure the cover back in place.

Reason 4: Clogged or damaged drain pipe

The drain pipe may become clogged with dirt, debris, or mineral deposits over time. Additionally, a faulty or improperly installed drain pipe may prevent proper drainage.

1. Check the drain pipe if it has any clogs or damage. 
2. You can use a plumber’s snake or a wire coat hanger to remove any obstructions gently. 
3. Ensure the drain pipe is not bent or kinked. It may restrict water flow. 
4. If the drain pipe is badly damaged or worn out, its replacement will be a better option.

Reason 5: Defective lid switch of top load washer

Your top-load Kenmore washers may have a lid switch. It prevents the washer from draining or spinning whether the lid is open. 

If the lid switch is faulty, the washer won’t start the draining process.

1. First, check if the lid is securely closed. 
2. Test the lid switch by opening and closing the lid while listening for a clicking sound. 
3. If you don’t hear a click sound or notice the washer spinning continuously, it is faulty.
4. In that case, you should replace or bypass Kenmore washer lid switch.
5. Yet, you can use a multimeter to check its continuity. If you can’t notice any continuity, replace it.

Reason 6: Door lock motor and switch of front load washer

If it is your Kenmore front load washer, it may not drain because of the defective door lock.

Because of the safety feature, the door lock prevents the washer from starting or completing a spin while it is open or not closed properly.

• Check to ensure that the door lock switch is malfunctioning.

• If it is defective, replace it.

Reason 7: Power supply issue

Ensure the washer is properly connected to a working power source. If there is no power, your washer may not drain completely. 

How to fix it?

Check if the circuit breaker or fuse box has no tripped breakers or blown fuses. If yes, replace these.

Reason 8: Pump Belt issue

In some cases, your Kenmore washer may not drain because the washer belt keeps breaking or loose the pump belt.

I read another blog post where you will come to know how to tell when your washing machine belt needs replacement.

• Access the pump belt by removing the back part of the washer.

• Check it for any signs of damage, such as fraying or stretching. 
• If the belt is worn out or broken, it should be replaced. 
  

You can read this: Kenmore washer belt replacement

Reason 9: Pump motor 

                                                                             

The water pump motor is crucial to pump out water from the Kenmore washer during the drain or spin cycle.

If the motor is not running or functioning correctly, the Kenmore washer not draining properly.

1. First, unplug the washer from the power source to test it.
2. Now remove the connected drain hose from the back of the washing machine.

3. You can test the continuity between the two terminals of the pump motor using a multimeter.

4. If it has no continuity, it is faulty. So replace it in that case.

Reason 10: Overloaded or unbalanced load

If your Kenmore washer is overloaded with clothes or the load is unbalanced, it will affect the draining process.

The washer can’t distribute the weight evenly, or the excess weight may strain the drain pump.

1. Take out some clothes from the washer.

1. Balance and distribute the load evenly.

Reason 11: Coin trap

The coin trap is a crucial feature of your Kenmore washer. It catches small objects like hair ties, keys, money, and coins and helps to unclog the drain pump.

If something is accommodated continuously into the coin trap, it will create a drainage problem.

1. Locate the coin trap from the front side of the washer at the lower right or left corner. 

2. Take out the coin trap and check for any objects.
3. Remove these objects that may be blocking the coin trap.

4. Replace the trap and secure it in place

Reason 12: Water level valve malfunctioning

The water level valve in your Kenmore washer regulates the amount of allowed water into the washer during each wash cycle.

If it is malfunctioning, the washer won’t drain all the way.

Troubleshooting for the defective water level valve is easy to perform. 

You can replace the valve to solve the issue, and the Water inlet valve replacement process is also easy to execute.

Reason 13: Issues with the control board and timer

Electrical problems, such as a malfunctioning control board or timer, may prevent the simple operation of the washer. 

The draining process may not complete or start at all because of the faulty timer or control board.

1. Check the timer and control board for any damaged, shorted-out components.
2. You can use a multimeter to test the continuity of the timer or control board. If they don’t have any continuity, replace them.
3. To change a timer or control board, you should get the help of a professional service.

Kenmore washer not draining or spinning

Your Kenmore washer may not drain or spin for several reasons. But don’t worry, here we will teach you the way you can try to solve this issue.

1. Check the drain hose from the back panel of the washer. If it is blocked with dirt or debris, clean it.

2. Check the drain pump for clogged or kinked. If it is clogged, check for any obstructions and clean them. 

Straighten the kinked pump. If required, replace the drain pump with a new fresh one.

3. Check for overloading the washer. If the washer is overloaded or unbalanced, it can’t distribute the weight evenly, and your washer won’t spin or drain. 

So, distribute the load or take some clothes out to keep it balanced.

4. If the drive belt is broken, loose, or worn out, it may cause the washer not to spin or drain. So check and replace it if necessary.

Kenmore washer stuck on drain cycle

If your Kenmore washer is stuck on the drain cycle and doesn’t proceed to the next cycle, try the below troubleshooting tips. 

• Press the Pause or Cancel button on the washer’s control panel to stop the drain cycle. Now, wait a few minutes to notice if the washer resets and allows it to start a new wash cycle.
• Check the drain hose or pump for any obstructions and clean them thoroughly. If they are defective, replace them.
• Check if the water pump belt is damaged or loose. If yes, replace the belt with a new one.

Kenmore washer keeps draining

Your Kenmore washer typically keeps draining because of the improper positioning of the drain hose from the base level. 

Even the drain pipe may be faulty, or the control board is faulty.

What can you do to fix this issue?

• Keep the drain hose about 30 inches(76.2 centimeters) from the base level. If it isn’t the issue, check for any obstructions. Clean them to fix this issue.
• Also, check the drain pipe if it is kinked or faulty. Replace it if necessary.
• Another reason to keep draining your washer is the malfunctioning of the control board. If it is faulty, replace it with the help of a professional.

Kenmore Front load washer not draining

If your front-load Kenmore washer won’t drain, follow our below troubleshooting steps.

We have described the reason and solution for your consideration:

Your front load Kenmore washing machine may mainly not drain because of the blocked drain pump. Other reasons are:

• Clogged drain hose
• Faulty drain pump motor
• Faulty drive belt

How to fix this issue?

1. Check the drain pump: First, unplug the washer and access the drain filter from the front side under the washer door.

Check for any obstructions, such as coins, hair, dirt, or small objects, and clean them.

If necessary, replace the pump with a new one.

2. Check the drain hose for kinked or clogged. If so, clean any obstructions or straighten the drain hose.
3. Inspect the drain pump motor if it is faulty. If yes, replace it to solve this issue.
4. Check the drive belt for any damages or losses. If so, replace the drive belt if required.

Kenmore Front load washer not draining or spinning

Your front-load Kenmore washer not draining or spinning is a common issue. You can resolve it through a series of troubleshooting steps.

First, ensure there is a proper power supply and that the door is securely locked.

Check for an excess load and remove items if necessary.

Inspect the drain hose for blockages or kinks, and clean the filter or pump trap if clogged.

Listen for a humming noise to detect drain pump failure, and inspect the drive belt and motor for issues if the washer is not spinning.

Error codes on the display can provide specific information. Verify the water supply and hoses are in good condition.

Kenmore washer not draining and making noise

Don’t bother if your Kenmore washer not draining and making buzzing noise while spinning.

Here we will give you a proven troubleshooting guide that you can perform to solve the issue.

Let’s see some probable reasons and their solution and try them to solve your issue:

1. Check the drain pump of the washer. Do you listen for a humming sound during the drain cycle? 

It indicates power is reaching the pump, but the drain pump may be clogged or faulty. So unplug the washer, remove the drain pump, and check for obstructions.

Clean it and replace the pump if it is damaged or not functioning suitably.

2. If the drain hose is blocked or kinked, it will cause the washer to make a noise and restrict water flow.

So check the hose for any blockages and clean them.

Replace the hose if it is damaged or defective.

3. Replace the drive belt if it is damaged or defective.

Kenmore washer stopped draining

Your Kenmore washer not draining or may have stopped draining mainly because of the clogged drain pump filter. 

• This pump filter is designed to catch foreign objects like coins, buttons, hair, etc.

You should clean the filter after every three months or when it’s blocked. Otherwise, it will cause the washer to stop during the draining cycle.

• Check the drain hose for any blockages and clean it. Replace it if necessary. Straighten it if it is twisted.

Kenmore Elite washer not draining: how to fix it?

Why and What can you do if your used Kenmore Elite washer won’t drain properly? 

Don’t worry. Just follow our below troubleshooting steps and try them out to resolve this issue:

• The first and main cause to consider is the drain pump. It pumps the water out from the washer. If it is clogged or damaged, the drainage process will be affected. 

So clean any obstructions or replace the drain pump if it fails to work correctly.

• Then inspect if the drain hose is twisted or blocked. If so, clean or straighten it to fix this problem.

Kenmore series 70 washer not draining: fix 

If you notice your Kenmore series 70 washer won’t drain completely, there could be some reason.

 Here are some probable causes and their solution that you can try to make your washer work again.

• First, keep an eye on the drain hose of the washer. A clogged or kinked drain hose will prevent water from flowing from your Kenmore washer. 

In that case, you should clean out any obstructions or straighten the twisted drain hose.

• Another reason not to drain the washer could be the clogged drain pump. So check it for obstructions and clean it to work the washer again.
• If none of this causes the issue or you can’t identify the exact reason, call a professional.

Kenmore 80 series washer not draining

If your Kenmore Series 80 washer is not draining, there are several steps you can try to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue. Here’s what you can do:

• Check the drain hose for obstructions and clean them. 
• If the drain hose is not issued, check the drain pump. 

If it is defective or clogged, the washer won’t drain. So, clean any obstruction by unplugging the washer and accessing the drain pump.

• If the drive belt is loose or worn out, change it. It may resolve this issue.
• Check and clean the blocked drain pump filter after every three months or when it will be blocked.

Kenmore washer not draining all the way

Try these below troubleshooting steps if your series 90 Kenmore washer not draining all the way:

• Check if the drain hose is twisted or blocked. If so, straighten or clean it to resolve this issue.
• Next thing you can try to clean the clogged drain pump. Or replace it if necessary.
• If none of the above is the issue, keep an eye on the drain pump filter. The filter may be blocked and prevent the washer from draining. So clean the clogged filter or replace it if it is damaged.
• You can also check the drain pump motor. If it is faulty and not working suitably, replace it quickly.

Kenmore series 90 washer won’t drain all the way

Try these below troubleshooting steps if your Kenmore series 90 washer won’t drain all the way:

• Check if the drain hose is twisted or blocked. If so, straighten or clean it to resolve this issue.
• Next thing you can try to clean the clogged drain pump. Or replace it if necessary.
• If none of the above is the issue, keep an eye on the drain pump filter. The filter may be blocked and prevent the washer from draining. So clean the clogged filter or replace it if it is damaged.
• You can also check the drain pump motor. If it is faulty and not working suitably, replace it quickly.

Kenmore 110 series washer won’t drain

A Kenmore series 110 washer contains a deep tub, powerful motors, and large laundry loads.

But, it could have drainage issues because of the clogged drain hose or pump.

• So check them for blockage and clean them.
• Even check the lid switch and faulty pump motor.

Kenmore 500 washer not draining

It is another popular model of Kenmore washer that is easy to use. Sometimes it may have drainage issues.

• It actually occurred due to the unbalanced load.

• You should also check the drain hose or filter.

In conclusion:

We hope this article has covered all the troubleshooting steps for draining issues with your Kenmore washer model.

Yet, the main thing is you can check the drain hose, filter, pump, or pump motor for any obstructions or faults. 

If none of the above tips fix the issue of your Kenmore washer not draining, contact a professional service for further assistance.