The filter most people don't know exists
Most front-load washers hide a pump filter behind a small door at the bottom front. With towels down and the power off, that filter unscrews — and very often holds the coins, hair ties, and lint mat that stopped the drain.
Check the drain hose
A hose pushed too far down the standpipe, kinked behind the machine, or clogged with sediment will stop any washer from draining, no matter how healthy the pump is.
Listen to the pump
During a drain cycle you should hear the pump hum. Humming with no water movement means something is in the pump. Silence points to the pump or its power supply.
Top-load differences
Top-loaders usually lack a clean-out filter, so a no-drain there is more often the pump itself, a broken lid switch on older models, or a sock that escaped the tub.
When to call
If the filter is clean, the hose is clear, and the tub still holds water, the pump or control needs testing. Our washer repair page explains what that visit includes.