How to Replace the Pump on a Regular Household Washing Machine
You know the pump on your washing machine is going bad when the water doesn't drain out after a washing or rinse cycle has completed. The pump sucks in the water and forces it out into the drain. When it fails, the water will just stay in the tub. You need to replace the pump to get the washer to drain out again. This is a job a home handy-person can do in about a half an hour. If the water isn't draining out of your household washing machine, here is how you can replace the pump on it.
Unplug Machine
You need to unplug the washing machine to make sure it doesn't turn on while you are working on it. A washing machine has many moving parts, and you could get hurt if it starts up while you have your hands in the wrong place.
Tilt Back Control Panel
You need to unscrew and tilt back the control panel at the top of the washing machine so you can take the housing off over the tub area. There are two Phillips head screws you will have to remove. On some machines, the screws are exposed at the bottom of the front of the control panel, but on other machines, you'll have to take the end caps off of the control panel to expose the screws, or else you'll have to look behind the control panel to find them. Yet, on still other machines, you'll have to slide a putty knife under the panel at both ends to disengage clips that hold the panel down. Remove the screws or clips and tilt the control panel backward.
Remove Housing
Detach the clip for the wires coming from the control panel to the top of the housing for the washer. You also have to remove the two brass spring clips at both ends of the top of the housing. Remove the spring clips by inserting a flat-head screwdriver into the front end of them and prying them up.
Tilt and pull the housing toward you and set it aside.
Remove Pump
The drain pump is located at the bottom of the front of the machine. You can tell because it has two large hoses attached to it. There are two plastic clips holding the pump to the machine. Pry the clips off with the flat-head screwdriver and pull the pump off of the machine.
Remove Hoses from Pump
You can get wet while removing the hoses from the pump. Take some dry towels and put them under the pump. Now take a pair of pliers and squeeze the wings on the hose clamps together to loosen them. Slide the clamps down the hoses until the clamps are away from the nipples on the pump, and pull the hose off of the pump.
Replacement Pump
Take the broken pump with you to the hardware store to make sure you get the right replacement pump. Connect the pump to the hoses and put the clamps back on the hoses and nipples. Put everything else back together in the reverse order in which you took them apart.