Draining your washing machine is a very important task that you should do at least once a month. Detergents can leave residues in your machine that trap germs.
This could not only be bad for your health and hygiene, but it could also ruin your clothes. If washing machines aren’t drained properly, it could leave behind residue that makes clothes smell bad.
So, if you want to wear clean and fresh clothes, you might have to ask yourself: “how do you manually drain a washing machine?”
Most people think that a washing machine can automatically drain itself. However, there is more to it than simply switching on the drain button.
In fact, draining a washing machine requires both a pump and a drain line to be drained properly.
To be sure you’re doing it correctly, here are some steps you can take.
How Do You Manually Drain a Washing Machine?
1. Turn off the water supply and the power.
Leaving the power on is not a good option when you’re draining your machine. More or less, the water will be moving out of the machine, and you want to avoid having the water meet any electricity.
This could only lead to further complications – or worse, dangerous accidents. You can turn off the power by switching off the power button then unplugging the appliance. According to our sister company NWAR Appliance Repair
You’ll also want to secure that plug somewhere on the top of the machine so that it won’t get wet.
Once that’s done, you can also turn off the water supply hoses. You won’t be needing those because you don’t want water in the machine.
Usually, the supply hose is color blue, and it will run from a pipe on the wall to the machine.
2. Clean the Drain Hose
Most drain hoses come with a clog that stops the washing machine from being drained. If you think your machine has a clog, then you need to disconnect it from the wall and check inside.
To do this, you need to wiggle the hose free and slide it out from the wall or drainage it leads to. Make sure to keep the house upright; otherwise, the water will start to spill.
With a bucket ready, you can slowly lower the drain hose into it. If the water drips gradually, then it has a clog inside of the drain hose.
Thankfully, it is easy to remove the clog. All you have to do is grab an unclogging solution or a plumber’s snake to break the obstruction.
3. Drain the Interior Manually
If water doesn’t move out of the hose even after you try to eliminate any clogs or blockage, you have to drain the washer manually. But, it will help you clean up your machine and get it ready for the next washing.
If you have a front-loader machine, then cleaning the drain hose will probably help with your problem.
However, if you’re using a top-loading washing machine, all you have to do is use any object for scooping up the water.
You can use a bucket, a dipper, or a siphon to get the water out. Once it’s too low to reach, then place towels inside so that the fabric can stack up the water.
Draining your washing machine manually is a good way to make sure that there is no leftover water. A drain hose and pump may not be enough to do a solid job, so it’s always best to double-check if the machine is completely empty.
However, if you had to manually drain your machine due to a mechanical problem, it’s always best to call for professional help. Doing the proper repairs can be difficult, not to mention dangerous if you don’t have a lot of knowledge about washing machines.
Problems like a broken drain pump or a broken belt won’t be remedied with some duct tape. If you feel like the issue is out of your comfort zone, then your local plumber should be able to help you out.
When it comes to the question of “how do you manually drain a washing machine,” the answer isn’t so difficult.
The process is very straightforward and easy. But, if you encounter any problems while draining the machine, then it’s best to call an expert.