Common Reasons Your Washer Won't Drain or Spin

When your washer won’t drain or spin, understanding the potential culprits can help you troubleshoot and solve the problem efficiently. Here are some common issues that might be affecting your washer:

• Door is not closed. The lid or door switch ensures that the washer operates only when the lid is securely closed.  Review Latching a Front Load Washer Door for more troubleshooting. 
• Unbalanced load. An unbalanced load or overloaded washer can also prevent proper draining and spinning. If the load is too heavy or unevenly distributed, the washer may become unstable and stop spinning to avoid damage. To resolve this, redistribute the items in the drum or reduce the load size to ensure a balanced wash. 
• Spin speed selected. Gentle cycles, such as gentle, delicate, or handwash, use slow spins to keep fabrics from stretching and wrinkling. Slow spinning also leaves more water in the load. To remove more water, select a cycle that uses high spin speeds. A cycle or fabric selection such as heavy duty or super has higher spin speeds and will leave less water in loads. Always follow your clothing care label to determine what cycle is best for the garments being washed.
• Excessive suds. High amounts of detergent can create too many suds. Sometimes, the suds can stop the washer from pumping water and spinning. Always measure detergent and follow the manufacturer's directions for the amount to use. Check HE Detergent use in a Washer for more detergent guidelines. 

Checking the Drain

Your Maytag washer might not be draining because of an installation error. Let's review the components of the drain system. 

Check the drain hose for the following: 

• Kinks or clogs. Make sure that the drain hose is not kinked or clogged. Straighten the hose for adequate water flow. Remove any blockage from the drain hose, drainpipe, or utility sink. Use the U-shaped drain hose form on the drain hose, and secure the drain hose. See the Installation Instructions for further details.
• Drainpipe height: The drainpipe (standpipe) height requirements are: 96" (244 cm) maximum and 30" (76.2 cm) minimum. Your washer will not be able to adequately pump the water out of the washer if the drainpipe (standpipe) exceeds 96" (244 cm). In this case, the water may flow back into the washer. 

Cleaning the Pump Filter

On some front load models, the Drain Pump Filter is accessible and can be cleaned. Over time, the drain pump filter may be clogged with dirt, lint, or other items. This filter should be cleaned occasionally to keep the washer operating properly. Here's some additional information on Cleaning the Pump Filter.