A washing machine, like any other household appliance, needs care and maintenance, if this is not done, then with active use of the household appliance it will quickly fail.
There is a part of the washing machine that needs constant care – it is the drain filter. It is he who needs high-quality and periodic cleaning of contaminants. This is necessary if you want the washing machine drain pump to function properly.
The drain filter is a so-called barrier that protects the drain pump from various foreign objects that can get into the washing machine tank with the laundry, debris, fabric residues, etc. When the filter is very dirty, it makes it difficult to pump out water and can soon lead to a breakdown of the drain pump.
Continuing the section of useful articles on the topic of household appliances, we have prepared another article with instructions on how to properly clean the drain filter of the washing machine. In this article, we will describe the main problems that you may encounter in the process of cleaning the filter.
DRAIN FILTERS IN DIFFERENT WASHING MACHINES
It is clear that each house has different washing machines, and it is clear that the location of the node we need in each machine is different. In this section, we will tell you where the drain filter is located in washing machines of different manufacturers. Although washing machines are different, all manufacturers install the drain filter at the bottom of the device near the drain pump. The filter is an internal part of the washing machine, so its manufacturers close it with a special hatch or removable panel.
In order to make it clearer to you, we have made a kind illustration, which clearly shows the location of the drain filter in different washing machines.
LG washing machine – the filter is located at the bottom on the right side, closed by a hatch.
Bosch washing machines – the filter is located on the right and can be closed with a hatch or panel.
Samsung washing machines – the filter is located near the bottom corner on the right side, covered with a plastic panel or hatch.
In washing machines that have a vertical loading, such as Whirlpool, the filter is located at the bottom of the machine on the left side.
Pay attention! There are compact washing machines, that have a load of laundry up to three and a half kilograms of laundry. In such models, the drain filter may be missing, but such models are very rare.
THE PROCESS OF CLEANING THE WASHING MACHINE FILTER
We will tell you how to clean the filter in stages, as experts do, and recommend similarly cleaning the filter at home. And so we will decompose everything into points:
- The first thing you have to do is disconnect the washing machine from the mains and turn off the water tap. You may have to move the appliance to do this. Do not ignore these tips so as not to flood the bathroom with water or even worse suffer from electric shock. And it is better to stock up on a rag, any dishes, or a basin
- Determine where the drain filter is located in your washing machine. If it is covered with a protective panel, it must be removed. If the filter is covered by a hatch, it must also be opened. Sometimes the cover of the hatch opens without any problems, and sometimes you need to use a flat screwdriver to pry the cover. But this must be done very carefully so as not to damage the hatch cover. When removing the panel, you also need to be careful and do it carefully. This panel is held on special latches or hooks, and it can be removed in two ways, depending on the model of the washing machine: – gently pull up the top of the panel with a screwdriver and pull it towards you; – move the panel to the side, usually from right to left.
- Prepare a cloth in advance so that you can wipe the remaining water in the washing machine. You should understand that the water is completely pumped out only from the tank, and it still remains in the drain system. And the filter is part of the drain system, and water remains in it, and when you take it out, it will spill on the floor. To avoid puddles under the machine, put a cloth under it immediately. Another option is to slightly raise the body of the equipment and put a flat basin under it. There are washing machines in which the hatch or panel itself is a groove through which water flows from the drain filter into the container that you will substitute. This is convenient because you do not need to lift the washing machine. Masters give useful advice! If you want to drain almost all the water from the tank, use an emergency hose for this. However, it is not available in all washing machines. If the model you use has it, you need to remove it from the mount and open the cork, drain the water into a prepared container, close the hose plug back and fasten it back.
- But even if you drained the water through the emergency hose, you will still have residual water in the machine when removing the filter. To drain it completely, carefully turn the drain filter plug no more than 60 degrees counterclockwise and the water will drain completely. It may be that the filter in the washing machine is fixed with a special screw, it needs to be slightly loosened using a screwdriver, and only then scroll the filter.
- Next, you should completely unscrew and remove the drain filter. This is not difficult to do. But, please note that there are washing machines in which the plug, which is used as a water stopper, is first unscrewed, and then the filter is removed.
- It is necessary to clean and rinse the filter. Before you start washing the filter, you must first clean it, that is, remove all foreign objects, hair, fiber residues, etc. Then you need to take an ordinary dish sponge and clean the filter from plaque with the abrasive side. Only then rinse the drain filter well under running water.
- Insert the filter back into the washing machine. Insert the filter without distortions, tightly, but very carefully. If the filter was fastened with a fixing bolt, then screw it back. In some washing machines, you first need to install the filter, and then screw the cover that fixes it.
- Check the washing machine after cleaning the filter. This is necessary so that there is no flood during washing. Therefore, we check the washing machine after installing the cleaned filter. To do this, you need to set the rinsing program and check if there are any leaks anywhere in the area of the drain filter. If everything is normal, then close the filter with a protective hatch or panel and you can safely use the washing machine.