Probable causes
- Clogged pump filter or coin trap
- Kinked or blocked drain hose
- Drain hose inserted too deeply into the standpipe
- Failed drain pump or pump obstruction
- Lid or door-lock fault preventing the drain cycle
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Before calling a repair technician
Washing machine: Won’t drain
Start with safe, visible checks only. Your owner’s manual takes priority because access and procedures differ by model.
Safe things to check
- Unplug the washer and prepare towels before opening an owner-accessible filter
- Clean the pump filter exactly as the owner’s manual describes
- Inspect the full drain hose for kinks, crushing, or freezing
- Confirm the standpipe and nearby sink drain are flowing
- Run one drain/spin cycle and write down any error code
Stop and call a professional
- Water is near wiring or leaking under the cabinet
- The pump only hums after the filter and hose are clear
- The washer is full and you cannot safely drain it
- A burning smell, hot plug, or tripped breaker appears
Tell the technician
- Model and serial number
- Exact error code
- Whether you hear the pump humming
- Whether water drains by gravity through the hose
Important: Never bypass a safety switch, work on energized wiring, open a refrigerant system, or attempt gas repairs. For flooding, smoke, sparks, a hot cord, or a gas odor, stop using the appliance immediately.
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Featured homeowner guide · Last reviewed: September 28, 2026
Water heater leaking? Check the tank, fittings, and safety signs
Treat an active water-heater leak promptly. If you smell gas, hear hissing, see soot, or a carbon-monoxide alarm sounds, leave immediately and call 911 or the gas utility from outside. If water is near wiring, a plug, controls, or the electrical panel, do not touch the appliance or stand in the water. When the area is dry and safe, look—without removing covers—for water beginning at plumbing above the heater, a top fitting, the relief-valve discharge pipe, the drain valve, or the tank body and base. A licensed plumber should diagnose the source; a leaking tank normally requires replacement.
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Start with the symptom.
Refrigerator water dispenser not working or slow? Check the lock, filter, and supply
A locked dispenser, disabled mode, misseated or clogged filter, restricted household supply, or air after a filter change can stop or slow water flow. Internal valves, switches, frozen lines, and wiring need qualified service.
Open free guide →Dishwasher smells bad? Check the filter, door seal, and standing water
Food caught in a removable filter or along the door seal can smell between cycles. Dirty water returning to the tub, persistent sewer odors, or a burning smell calls for a different response.
Open free guide →Dryer taking too long to dry? Check the lint screen and vent
Restricted dryer airflow can lengthen cycles and allow heat and combustible lint to build up. Start with the lint screen and visible exhaust path.
Open free guide →Front-load washer door stuck locked? Check the cycle, water, and controls
A locked door can be a safety response, not proof of a broken latch. Start by checking what the washer is still doing before trying to retrieve your laundry.
Open free guide →Water heater has no hot water? Check power, settings, and warning signs
A depleted tank, changed operating mode, lost electrical power, or a model-specific alert can interrupt hot water. Leaks, gas odors, carbon-monoxide alarms, and repeated breaker trips require immediate professional help.
Open free guide →Smart TV apps not working? Check Wi-Fi, updates, and one app at a time
When streaming apps freeze, crash, or refuse to load, first determine whether the problem belongs to one app, the home network, or the TV itself.
Open free guide →AC running but blowing warm air? Check the thermostat, filter, and outdoor unit
The indoor fan can circulate room-temperature air even when cooling is not operating. Start with settings and airflow, then stop for ice, electrical trouble, or suspected refrigerant problems.
Open free guide →Furnace keeps turning on and off? Check the thermostat, filter, and airflow
Repeated short heating cycles can come from a thermostat problem or restricted airflow, but persistent cycling can also signal a safety-control, venting, sizing, or heat-exchanger fault that needs professional diagnosis.
Open free guide →Gas stove keeps clicking? Check the knobs, moisture, and burner caps
Clicking while a burner ignites—and several igniters clicking together—can be normal. Clicking with every knob off may follow a spill or cleaning, but persistent sparking needs service.
Open free guide →Electric cooktop stays hot or cycles on and off? Know what is normal—and what is not
Radiant elements normally cycle while cooking, and a glass surface can remain hot after OFF. An element that keeps glowing, reheats, or ignores its control after OFF is different: isolate power and arrange service.
Open free guide →Planning ahead? View the Appliance Lifespan Chart →
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