Water left in the drum, soaking-wet clothes or an error code on the display? Most drain and spin problems start with the same few causes.
Quick answer: The most common cause is a blocked drain pump filter, usually from coins, hair clips or lint. Other causes are a kinked drain hose, a failed drain pump, a faulty door lock or worn motor carbon brushes. Most machines won't spin until the water has drained, so a drain problem often looks like a spin problem.
| Brand | Code | Usual meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | 5C / 5E / nd | Drain problem |
| Samsung | 4C / 4E | Not filling with water |
| Samsung | UE / Ub | Unbalanced load |
| LG | OE | Drain problem |
| LG | IE | Water inlet problem |
| LG | UE | Unbalanced load |
| Bosch / Siemens | E18 / F18 | Drain problem |
| Bosch / Siemens | E17 | Water supply problem |
Our technicians come to you anywhere in Gauteng. The call-out is a flat R350 to diagnose the fault (waived if you go ahead with the repair), you get a fixed price before any work starts, and every repair has a 6-month guarantee.
If the filter is clean and the machine still won't drain, the drain pump may have failed. If it drains but won't spin, the cause could be the door lock, carbon brushes, motor or control board. These need a technician.
Call or WhatsApp 072 686 0472. Every job starts with a flat R350 diagnostic call-out across Johannesburg, Pretoria and the East Rand.
By Absolute Repairs · Updated September 2026
Usually the drain pump filter or drain hose is blocked. Clean the filter at the bottom front first. If that doesn't help, the drain pump may have failed.
It's a drain error. The machine couldn't pump the water out, usually because of a blocked pump filter or drain hose.
It's a drain error. Clean the pump filter and check the drain hose. If it returns, the drain pump may need replacing.
Every repair starts with a flat R350 call-out fee, which covers travel, diagnosis and a written quote. You approve the quote before any work begins.
Tell us your suburb, the brand and model, and the fault. Standard R350 diagnostic call-out.
📞 Call 072 686 0472 💬 WhatsApp UsOr email info@absoluterepairs.co.za
This Candy Alisé washer-dryer in Steyn City kept stopping partway through the cycle and getting stuck when it should have moved on to the rinse. Before a washing machine can rinse, it has to pump out the wash water. If it can't drain, it waits, and the cycle never finishes. When we opened up the drain pump, we found toothpicks wedged in it, stopping the pump's impeller from turning, so the water couldn't get out. We removed them, cleaned the pump and filter, and ran the machine through a full wash, rinse and spin. It drained properly and finished the cycle. Tip: check pockets before washing. Toothpicks, coins, hair clips and tissues are the usual culprits for drain pump jams, and cleaning the pump filter every month or so catches them before they stop the machine.
This Samsung top-loader was failing to drain, leaving the clothes sitting in water at the end of the wash. We checked the drain hose and the outlet for blockages first, since a kinked hose or a blocked standpipe can look exactly like a pump fault. They were clear, so we tested the drain pump itself. It had failed and wasn't pumping the water out. We fitted a new drain pump, reconnected everything and ran the machine through a drain and spin to make sure it emptied properly. The customer's washing machine was back in service the same day. Tip: empty pockets before washing. Coins, hair clips and tissues are what usually damage or block a drain pump. If your machine hums at the end of the cycle but the water doesn't go down, switch it off and call us before the pump burns out completely.
Always check the simple things first: the pump filter, the drain hose and the standpipe. If those are clear and the machine still won't drain, the pump itself has probably failed.
Tell us what's broken and where you are. We'll call you back to confirm a time, usually the same day.
Absolute