How Do I Get Water out of My Washing Machine?

If there’s still water in your washer tub after a cycle has finished, there may be several reasons why your washing machine isn’t draining properly. It’s important to get to the root of the issue in order to stop it at the source. However, if your washer has broken down mid-cycle and the water level won’t budge, you may need to manually drain the water out of your machine. Here’s how to do it.

1. TURN OFF THE POWER

Unplug the washing machine from the power outlet.

2. REMOVE LAUNDRY

Take out any clothing that’s in the washer tub.

3. EMPTY THE TUB

Use a bucket to scoop the water out of the washer tub. Soak up any remaining water with towels.

4. MOVE WASHER AWAY FROM THE WALL

Carefully slide the washing machine away from the wall until you can safely access the back of the appliance. Be mindful not to move it out too far, as this might pull on the hoses.

5. DISCONNECT DRAIN HOSE

Place a bucket underneath the drain hose and lay down a few towels on the floor to catch any leaks. Disconnect the drain hose from the wall and allow the water to drain. You may need to have several buckets lined up to catch all the water. Once empty, reconnect the drain hose, move the washer back into place, and turn the power back on.

6. PINPOINT THE ISSUE

Now that you’ve drained your washing machine, you’ll need to identify how it got full of water in the first place. If you’ve already tried troubleshooting why your washing machine won’t drain properly without any luck, our factory-trained technicians are here to help. We know GE Appliances inside and out, often diagnosing and resolving the issue on the first visit.* Book an appointment online now and get laundry day back on track.

*GE Appliances technicians carry an extensive parts inventory on their service trucks. In the event a part is not available on the service truck, a follow-up service call may be required.