Washing Machine Pump Filter
The pump filter is usually found at the front bottom of the washing machine – look for a square or round access flap on the lower fascia, left or right side. Always drain any remaining water before opening it. The filter unscrews anti-clockwise. If the machine is stuck full of water, see our guide on how to drain a washing machine first.
Most modern washing machines have a pump filter designed to catch lint, coins, and small objects before they reach and jam the pump impeller. Cleaning it regularly – and knowing how to access it – is one of the most useful maintenance tasks an owner can carry out.
Where Is the Pump Filter?
On most machines the filter is behind an access flap at the front, positioned low down on the left or right side. It is usually obvious – a square or round panel that clips or screws open. Some machines have a small retractable drain hose alongside the filter, which allows water to be drained into a bowl before the filter is removed.
If there is no obvious access panel, check the instruction manual for your machine. If you do not have the manual, download a copy from our appliance instruction book resource. If the manual makes no mention of a pump filter, the machine may not have one – see the section at the bottom of this guide.
Filter Behind the Kick-Strip
On some machines the filter is hidden behind the kick-strip – the lower panel that runs across the front of the machine at floor level. If there is no obvious filter panel but the kick-strip appears to be built up rather than a thin cosmetic strip, the filter may be behind it.
Kick-strips are typically held in place by three or four clips along the top edge and can be brittle. To remove one, gently work a flat-bladed screwdriver between the top edge of the strip and the cabinet, levering forward carefully while pulling the strip towards you. Do not force it – check first whether it might be screwed in from the bottom rather than clipped at the top.
Plastic kick-strips become brittle with age and often crack if levered too aggressively. Work slowly and gently, feeling for any resistance that suggests a fixings point before applying more force.
Hidden Filters in the Sump Hose
Some older Hotpoint, Indesit, Candy, and Hoover models had the filter hidden inside the sump hose – the hose running from the base of the drum to the pump – rather than in an accessible front panel. When blocked, this type of filter is inaccessible without removing the sump hose, which on most machines requires an engineer. If you have an older machine from one of these brands and cannot locate any external filter, this may be the reason.
Draining Before Removing the Filter
If the machine has water in the drum, it must be drained before the filter is removed – otherwise water will flood out when the filter is opened. If the machine has a small drain hose next to the filter, pull this out and empty it into a bowl or towel before unscrewing the filter itself.
If there is no drain hose and the machine is full of water, see the draining section in our guide on washing machine won’t drain water before proceeding.
Do not lay the machine on its side to access anything while it still has water inside. Water can seep onto electrical components. If access from underneath is needed, have a second person tip the machine back and hold it at an angle while remaining upright.
How to Remove and Clean the Filter
- Place a large towel or shallow tray under the filter access area to catch any residual water.
- If a small drain hose is present, pull it out and drain it into a bowl. Replace it in its clip before unscrewing the filter.
- Turn the filter anti-clockwise. Some filters unscrew completely; others only turn a quarter turn before pulling straight out.
- Remove any debris – lint, coins, buttons, or other objects – and rinse the filter under running water.
- Shine a torch into the pump housing and check for any object that may have passed through the filter and jammed the impeller. Try turning the impeller gently with a finger or screwdriver – it should rotate relatively freely, though some have a slight magnetic resistance that causes them to jump in steps rather than rotating smoothly.
- Refit the filter securely, turning clockwise until it is firmly seated. Run a short cycle and check around the filter for any leaks.
If the filter area leaks after refitting, the filter seal may be damaged or not seated correctly. See our guide on cleaned pump filter now it leaks.
Pump Filter Stuck and Won’t Unscrew
If the filter is jammed and will not turn, the most likely cause is a bra underwire or other obstruction that has become tangled around it, locking it in place. Forcing the filter in this situation risks breaking it.
The best approach is to remove the main sump hose – the large black hose that leads into the pump from the drum – and retrieve the obstruction from there. Once the obstruction is removed, the filter can usually be unscrewed normally.
Testing the Impeller Without the Filter
With the filter removed, the machine can be put onto a drain or spin programme to check whether the impeller is turning. Shine a torch into the filter housing while the machine is running to observe whether the impeller is revolving. Note that with the filter removed, any water added to the machine will run straight out onto the floor – only run a dry drum check or use the drain programme only, not a wash cycle.
Machine With No Pump Filter
Some machines – particularly older models – have no accessible pump filter. If yours has no filter, any blockage will be located in the sump hose, inside the pump body itself, or in the drain hose. Common causes are coins, screws, rubber bands, and bra wire reaching the impeller directly. See our guide on pump running but not draining for diagnostic steps in this situation.
If cleaning the filter does not resolve the drain fault, the pump itself may need replacing.
Related Guides
Washing Machine Won’t Drain Water
The main drain fault guide covering all common causes – including how to drain a machine stuck full of water.
Cleaned Pump Filter – Now It Leaks
What to do if the filter area develops a leak after cleaning and refitting.
Pump Running But Still Not Draining
Less obvious causes when the pump is running and the filter is clear but the machine still won’t drain.
Washing Machine Pump Guide
How the drain pump works, how to tell if it has failed, and what replacing one involves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the pump filter on a washing machine?
Most machines have the filter behind an access flap at the front, positioned low down on the left or right side. If there is no obvious flap, check behind the kick-strip at the base of the machine – it may be hidden there. The instruction manual will confirm whether your machine has a filter and where it is located.
How do I remove the pump filter without flooding the floor?
Place a large towel or shallow tray under the filter area before opening it. If the machine has a small drain hose next to the filter, pull it out and empty it into a bowl first. If the drum still has a significant amount of water, drain it via the drain hose or by putting the machine on a spin programme before removing the filter.
Which way does the pump filter unscrew?
Anti-clockwise. Some filters unscrew until they pull free; others only rotate a quarter turn and then pull straight out. Do not force it – if it will not turn, there may be an obstruction such as a bra underwire tangled around it that is preventing rotation.
What if the pump filter is stuck and won’t move?
The most likely cause is a bra underwire or similar object tangled around the filter, locking it in place. Remove the main sump hose that leads into the pump and retrieve the obstruction from there. Once the obstruction is cleared, the filter should unscrew normally.
How often should the pump filter be cleaned?
Most manufacturers recommend cleaning the pump filter every one to three months, or whenever the machine develops a drain fault or takes longer than usual to empty. Households that wash pet bedding, heavily soiled items, or items that shed a lot of fibre should clean it more frequently.
This seems to be a very common problem. It’s not possible to know if anything was damaged so all I can advise is to take it out again and thoroughly clean the rubber seal and around where the rubber seal will sit when it’s back in place and refit it carefully.
Hi I’ve got a John Lewis 1201 machine and recently took out the filter to clean it. I found a few coins and a bra wire in there which made it difficult to get the filter out but it did eventually pull out. However since replacing the filter the machine leaks all over the floor. Can you advise if there is anything I can do. It wasn’t leaking before I cleaned the filter but as it was difficult to get out I wonder if I’ve broken something. Please help
Brilliant website! Washer stopped working cleaned filter out still wouldn’t work. Came on here, checked the pump filter thingymabob and lo and behold there was a rubber band! As someone that usually calls her dad to fix stuff, I actually did it myself! Yay me! Thankyou!!!