How to Clean an LG Washer Drain Pump Filter
Clear trapped debris, lint, and standing water from an LG front-load washer drain pump filter to eliminate drainage error codes and foul odors.
- Read the tools, materials, safety notes, and steps below for free.
- Tap Start Camera Coach when you want hands-free voice help.
- Allow camera and microphone. Point your phone at the work; the coach watches your progress and tells you the next step.
🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Shallow collection pan or rimmed baking tray
- ✓ Soft-bristle nylon brush or old toothbrush
- ✓ Flashlight or task light
- ✓ Flat-head screwdriver
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ 2-3 thick old bath towels
- ✓ Warm tap water
- ✓ Mild dish soap
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Ensure the washing machine is completely powered off and unplugged from the wall receptacle before opening the pump compartment.
- • Verify the water inside the machine is completely cold; if a hot cycle just ran, wait 30 minutes to prevent scald burns.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (6 Steps)
Prepare Workspace and Cut Power
Disconnect the washer power cord from the wall outlet to eliminate electrical shock hazards. Lay a thick bath towel flat on the floor directly beneath the lower-left access door, and set a shallow pan on top of the towel.
- • Washer power cord visibly unplugged and resting clear of the floor.
- • Towel and shallow collection pan positioned snug against the bottom-left corner of the washer base.
- • Skipping the towel placement and expecting the shallow tray to catch all splashing water.
Open Access Panel Door
Locate the small square access panel on the bottom-left front of the machine. Press the latch tab firmly with your thumb or gently pry the top edge outward using a flat-head screwdriver until the hinged door flips down.
- • Access door flipped fully open horizontally or removed, exposing the black drain hose and round filter cap.
- • Prying the door plastic aggressively from the side hinge instead of the top latch notch.
Drain Residual Water via Auxiliary Hose
Unclip the small black drain hose from its retaining slot and pull it forward over your shallow pan. Firmly grasp the hose tip, twist and pull the white stopper plug out, and allow all trapped water to stream completely into the tray.
- • Black hose extended into the pan with water flowing out freely.
- • Water flow slows to an absolute stop before the plug is replaced.
- • Unscrewing the main large filter knob before emptying the small drain hose, causing a massive floor spill.
Re-cap Hose and Remove Main Filter Cap
Push the stopper plug tightly back into the auxiliary hose and snap the hose back into its retaining bracket. Turn the large circular drain pump filter cap counterclockwise approximately 2 to 3 full turns, then slide the cylindrical filter assembly straight out.
- • Auxiliary hose securely plugged and clipped into its side holster.
- • Cylindrical plastic filter assembly fully removed from the housing chamber.
- • Yanking the filter sideways instead of pulling straight outward once the threads release.
Clean Filter Cylinder and Pump Chamber
Pick out solid debris such as coins, lint clumps, and hair from the filter mesh. Scrub the plastic cylinder thoroughly under warm running tap water using a soft brush and mild soap, then shine a flashlight into the washer's open pump cavity to pull out any remaining obstruction or gunk.
- • Filter mesh clean and translucent with all perforations clear of slime and lint.
- • Pump housing interior free of foreign objects, with the pump impeller blades cleanly visible in back.
- • Only rinsing the filter while leaving coins, buttons, or hair tangles inside the dark pump cavity.
Reinstall Filter and Close Panel
Align the guide rails on the filter with the grooves inside the pump housing and slide it straight in. Rotate the filter cap clockwise firmly until it stops completely and the handle aligns horizontally, then snap the outer access door shut.
- • Filter knob turned fully clockwise until snug and seated flush against the rim.
- • Outer access door securely latched flush with the washer body.
- • Cross-threading the filter cap or failing to tighten it all the way to the stop point, which causes leaks during the next cycle.
Credit: inspired by an original tutorial by LG USA — watch the original on YouTube.
Don’t have everything?
- No Shallow collection pan or rimmed baking tray? Cut-down side of a plastic 1-gallon milk jug or take-out container
- No Soft-bristle nylon brush or old toothbrush? Non-scratch kitchen dish sponge or small rag