» GE Adora front loading washer does not drain

GE Adora front loading washer does not drain

Just over a year ago, we bought a new G.E. Adora front loading washer (WHDVH626FWW to be exact). For the most part, it’s been a great unit. Very quiet except during the fastest spin cycles.

Twice in the last year it has stopped in the middle of a load and failed to drain the water out of drum.

The problem is that the outlet drain has plugged. There’s a course “screen” that traps lint and clothing, preventing them from getting into the drain pump (and thus, causing much more serious problems). Both times this has happened, there was a small article of clothing that slipped past gap at the front of the washer drum, thus finding its way into the trap and, eventually, clogging it completely.

The fix is remarkably simple thanks to GE placing the screen in a very accessible location.

First, remove the 3 screws holding the lower front panel in place.
With the front panel off, locate the lint trap as shown below.
Place a large bowl underneath to catch the water that drains out. Note that the bowl pictured was barely large enough. I suggest getting a bigger one. If you don’t have the pedestal, you’ll have to be creative to find something to catch the water.
The drain simply threads out with normal threads (lefty loosey). It should be hand tight. Be prepared for a fairly disgusting mess of junk to come out with the screen — lint, toothpicks, 2 (!) baby socks, etc. in my case.
Clean up the screen and thread it back into place. Re-install the cover and you’re done.

I’ve found that leading up to the wash load stopping without draining, that the wash times get much longer than normal — like 3 hours. So, if you’ve determined that the cycle length is too long you probably have a partially plugged screen that the washer is struggling with.

Maintenance | john | April 2, 2007

Comments

By Jim Kelly, April 14, 2007 @ 4:26 pm

Thank you for this very well illustrated post. I had the same problem. Now, my washer is working, I’m about $3 richer from found change, and found the spare key to my car.
By Amy Triemstra, April 17, 2007 @ 4:59 pm

Thank you so much! I had the same problem and fixed it myself while my husband was at work. I only dared to do it because of the great explanation and the picture. I also found a spare key and some change, along with a key fob. I’m also a service call richer.
By Jeff, May 8, 2007 @ 3:04 pm

Thanks, you saved me rooting around for the clog. Without your help I would have started at the back and wasted my time looking for the clog.

Had everything from pens to tiny stars and batteries in the mess!
By Lisa, May 10, 2007 @ 6:47 pm

Thank You, THANK You, THANK YOU!!!!!!!
So easy! I was dreading the phone call to the repair man (and the bill). I decided to do a quick internet search first, and I found this! Your posting is extremely appreciatied!
By Peter Pirolli, May 11, 2007 @ 2:26 pm

I would have been perfectly happy with lousy illustrations and translated-from-korean instructions, but this is great. I have exactly the same washer and problem.

The Web has obviously become a peer-to-peer distribution systems for useful particles of knowledge that used to be uniquely held in human heads.
By John, May 11, 2007 @ 11:35 pm

Peter — I couldn’t agree more. It’s exactly the reason I started doing this.

To the rest: Glad to have helped
By Anthony DeRosa, May 28, 2007 @ 12:16 pm

Thank you so much for this information. You just saved me from making a phone call to the repair service and whatever bill was associated with that one!

Thank you again…
By Melissa, June 27, 2007 @ 3:19 pm

Thank you so much! My washer was only a little over a year old and I was getting really mad. I thought I had to buy a new washer. I will share this article with everyone I know!
By Jen, July 24, 2007 @ 8:29 am

I am so happy to have found your blog. My husband wanted me to call the “Maytag Man” because he thought it was going to be a tough job. But before I did, I tried a search…and low and behold..your blog was the first that popped up!!
Thank you for your clear directions and your insight into putting this in your blog!
I will be presenting my husband with the bill..LOL…I think a massage and facial would pay for my services!!
By john, July 24, 2007 @ 9:54 am

Jen — my wife & I got a good laugh out of that, but I’m affraid she just might take it a bit too seriously
By L Howell, August 5, 2007 @ 8:11 am

I just wanted to Thank You. My washer is less than a year old and I have already had one service call and am working on my second in a month. The first gentleman could not figure out what was wrong. My washer ran for hours on the same load and overflowed out on to our floor. Needless to say they are in the process of fixing the damaged floor as well. We are currently waiting on them to find another servicer to come and repair the washer as it only worked for 1 month after the previous one was out. You have saved me the trouble of locating a service provider as they can not find one in our area. The last guy must have canceled his contract. I have spend over $50 at laundry mats, been with out my washer for a cumlative 3 weeks and have damaged more than $100 in clothes at the laundry mat. You have no idea how much you have helped me. A family of 5 can go through a lot of laundry. Thank you again.
L. Howell
By Denise, February 5, 2008 @ 8:18 pm

Thank you very much for this posting, couldn’t figure out why the clothes were still soaking wet, short of a phone call, we looked it up on the internet and waahh lah - what a great deed you have done, by reading the posts I can see this has helped out so many. Found my daugther’s hair clips and about two bucks in change!!!
By Ken, May 9, 2008 @ 4:06 pm

add our family the list of people finding weird and wonderful things in that trap and putting the washer back into service using your blog page as a resource. We found $2.12 in change, two kid’s necklaces, a glass car fuse, some stones and a pile of crud. I’m very glad for the smart engineering on this product and a customer friendly decision to put the drain in an easily accessible place. And this over a year since you posted it! -Regards -Ken
By Jim, July 27, 2008 @ 5:47 pm

This was great. My washer smelled, wouldn’t drain, and kept shutting off during cycles. Now, after cleaning the trap, we appear to be like new. Thanks for the tips!
By Julia, July 28, 2008 @ 1:37 pm

Thank you for these awesome, easy to understand, yet detailed instructions! I just “repaired” my washer and probably saved myself a couple hundred bucks. This is the 2nd time our washer has become clogged, and that is with me being very careful about emptying pockets. I am so thankful that you posted these instructions and pictures, it made it so simple! Thanks again! Happy washing!
By Terry_Jim, July 31, 2008 @ 2:16 pm

Mine was only 3 months old, but the little bit of coinage( 4 pennies, 2 nickles, and a dime) and a rubber band that had snaked throuth the filter up to the pump impeller blades in the exhaust hose
were enough to stop the spin cycle.
Seems to work now!
Thank you for the tips and pix!

Regards, Terry
By opalwoodscat, August 13, 2008 @ 11:42 pm

thank you thank you thank you thank you….to infinity.
Perhaps you deserve some thank you cookies, since there are no words that seem to fit my gratitude!!
By cher, September 25, 2008 @ 3:37 pm

Thank you thank you!! It was so easy! It took 10 mins tops…and it solved all the issues. AND my husband thinks I’m a genius!
By Ronda, November 2, 2008 @ 3:04 pm

Thank you so much for this post. I was preparing to call the repair service and knew we would probably have to wait a couple of days. We found Mongolian coins (from my son’s summer internship), earrings, hair pins and assorted other stuff. This is a wonderful thing about the internet. Thanks again!