If your clothes are still wet after your GE brand front-load washer completes the final spin, or if the door stays locked after completing the cycle, check the control panel. If it shows an “E30 – No Drain Pump” fault code, the pump is either bad, or the impeller is clogged. Try clearing the impeller before calling a technician. If there’s a small oblong panel on the lower front corner, your washer has an accessible pump filter. If not, you’ll have to remove the large lower inspection panel to access the pump.
To Clear an Accessible Filter
Use a coin to lever out the small access panel on the lower right of the machine. Remove the panel and flip the built-in drain spout down; this will reveal the circular filter cap. Lay a towel on the floor and place a shallow dish on top of the towel under the opening.
Unscrew the filter cap slowly in a counterclockwise direction to start draining. Close the cap and empty the dish after it fills up; you can expect about two pints of water to drain out under normal circumstances -- much more if there is still water in the tub.
Rotate the cap all the way and withdraw the semi-tubular filter from the pump. Remove any foreign objects and clean out any lint trapped in the filter tray.
Inspect the inside of the pump housing to ensure that there aren’t any foreign objects or packed lint obstructing the impeller. Next, screw the filter firmly back into place, flip the drain spout back up and reinstall the access panel.
Turn the washer back on and run a rinse/spin cycle to ensure that the pump is working properly.
Getting to that Non-Accessible Filter
Unplug the washer’s power cord before attempting repairs.
Use a nut driver fitted with a Torx head screwdriver attachment to remove the three screws securing the lower access panel to the washer. Slide the panel down and out, and set it aside; this will reveal the pump on the right side of the opening, with the filter cap protruding through the lower front panel mounting bracket.
Pack a towel on the floor against the front of the machine to catch any spilled water. Use pliers to compress the lugs on the two spring loaded hose clamps securing the inlet and outlet hoses to the pump. Slide the hose clamps up and disconnect both hoses from the pump.
Remove the two Torx head screws securing the back of the pump to the washer’s bottom panel. Disconnect the two wires on the right of the pump by depressing their locking tabs and pulling the plugs out of the pump housing.
Slide the pump toward the back of the machine and lift it out. Unscrew the filter cap, remove any foreign objects and clean out any lint trapped in the filter tray. Inspect the inside of the pump housing for any foreign objects or packed lint obstructing the impeller, and screw the filter back into place.
Reconnect the two wires to the pump housing, slide the pump back into place and secure it with the two Torx head screws removed earlier. Reconnect the inlet and outlet hoses to the pump, compress the tabs on the hose clamps, and slide them back down over the hoses.
Plug the power cord back into the wall socket and run a rinse/spin cycle to ensure that the pump is working properly and that there are no leaks. Next, remove the towel, replace the lower front panel and secure it with the three screws removed earlier.
Make sure your washing machine is operating at 100 percent with this little-known maintenance tip.
- What is a Washing Machine Filter?
- Where is the Filter on a Washing Machine?
- How to Clean Your Washing Machine Filter
- Popular Videos
What is a Washing Machine Filter?
Most people know about the lint trap on their dryer and make sure to regularly clean it out. But did you know that your washing machine has a similar filter that should also be cleaned just as often? Washing machine filters trap anything from lint to loose hairs and should be kept clean to keep your washing machine functioning properly.
Where is the Filter on a Washing Machine?
In order to clean your washing machine’s filter you first have to know where it is. The quickest way to locate the filter on your machine is by consulting its owner’s manual. If you no longer have access to the owner’s manual, here are a few places to look for the filter:
- In the front of the unit behind a small hatch
- At the end of the drainage hose.
- Under the cover of your center agitator.
- Along the top rim of the drum of your washing machine.
Still no luck? It’s possible your washing machine does not have a filter at all. Most newer, high-efficiency washers rely on a filter in the pump that self-cleans, meaning that there’s no need for maintenance on your end.
How to Clean Your Washing Machine Filter
A combination of detergent, dust, hair and lint can clog up a filter pretty quickly. A clogged filter limits the washing machine’s efficiency and can also lead to more lint deposits on clothes as well as poor drainage.
The quickest way to clean out your filter is to remove it from the unit and soak it in hot water, loosening any clog or trapped residue. If the filter cannot be removed, clean it out with brush. Some filters are disposable, so instead of cleaning them you can just throw them away and put a new one in place.
Running into a problem that requires more of a solution than just cleaning out the filter?
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