Cleaning the filter in a Whirlpool washing machine

Any household appliance must be looked after so that it works well and does not break down before its intended service life. Regular thorough maintenance is especially necessary for washing equipment, because otherwise the user will receive dirty clothes after the working cycle. It is extremely important to clean the filter in your Whirlpool washing machine to avoid facing a clogged drain pump. We'll tell you in detail how to do it yourself without calling a specialist.

Getting ready for the part cleaning process

First of all, you should take care of safety precautions, which will help restore the normal functioning of your “home assistant” without incident. To do this, disconnect the machine from all communications before starting work. For added convenience, you can move the device away from the wall so that nothing interferes with cleaning the filter.

Next you need to find the filter itself, hidden behind the decorative panel at the bottom of the front wall of the SM. To do this, you must first remove the bottom panel, either by carefully detaching it by hand, or by prying it up with a flat-head screwdriver or other similar tool if for some reason it was not possible to remove it by hand.

Due to the fact that there is always some liquid in the system that is pumped out of the tank, you need to carefully open the filter, slowly draining the water into the prepared container.

To preserve the floor covering, you can place dry rags or towels under the washing machine in advance, which will prevent waste liquid from flooding the floors in the event of an emergency.

Lift the household appliance slightly to drain all the water into a container installed under the body of the machine. Some models do not even need to be moved before cleaning the filter, because they have a special trap or hatch configuration, which makes it possible to safely drain all waste liquid into a pre-installed container.

Removing the part from dirt

Typically, cleaning the drain pump filter takes place in several stages. The first step is to drain the water using a quality rag or a large container, such as a basin or bucket. You need to carefully remove the filter on the Whirlpool washing machine by slowly turning the plug counterclockwise about 45-60 degrees. After turning, the element can be unscrewed completely and removed. How to clean the catcher further?

• First remove all large contaminants, such as foreign objects, pieces of fabric, etc.
• Then get rid of the plaque, which can be done with any sponge with an abrasive layer.
• The final step is to rinse the part with a powerful stream of warm tap water.

Never use boiling water for cleaning, as it can deform the plastic and also deprive the rubber seal of its elasticity.

It is also necessary to carefully check the drainage filter seat, which also often becomes clogged. It is worth removing not only all foreign objects, but also any dirt, plaque, mold and other contaminants. This must be done using a sponge with an abrasive side covered with soapy water. Immediately after cleaning, you need to carefully install the filter in the groove, tightly closing it with a stopper.

Experts recommend cleaning this unit approximately once a quarter, with a possible offset of one month.If you use your “home assistant” very often, then you need to clean the filter once every two months, devoting more time to this process. This is true, for example, for families with several children. If the machine is used rarely, not even every week, then you can clean it approximately once every four months.

When using the device daily, the filter should be cleaned monthly.

Whirlpool representatives indicate that the frequency of preventive procedures is also affected by the type of fabric processed in the washing machine. So, if the user often washes wool and flannel, products from which are usually worn and cleaned in winter, then the machine will clog faster due to the fabric substrate. In this case, the fluff will quickly clog the filter and complicate drainage, so the garbage element will have to be cleaned more often than usual.

Even more attention should be paid to the drainage trap when cleaning pillows, down jackets and other products made from natural down and feathers. In this situation, you need to clean the element not even once a month, but after each working cycle.

We won't clean the filter for a whole year.

Ignoring banal rules for operating household appliances will not lead to anything good. In this case, problems can arise not only due to damage to the Whirlpool washing machine, but also due to the formation of chronic diseases in family members. The appearance of serious diseases is possible due to the fact that harmful microorganisms form in the dirt, which is why it is so important not to neglect the situation with the drainage filter. What else can appear if you don't clean it on time?

• Unpleasant smell. Due to the accumulation of dirt and the results of the vital activity of harmful microbes, a terrible stench will begin to emanate from the “home help”.And the worst thing is that this smell can spread to clothes that the user washes in the machine and then wears.
• Mold. The next step after the appearance of harmful bacteria is the formation of mold on the internal components of the automatic control system. Because of this, the stench will become even more unpleasant, also poisoning the air in the room where household appliances are installed.
• Drainage failure. Due to a serious blockage, the entire drain system will cease to function normally. In this case, the machine will not be able to efficiently dispose of waste liquid, which will directly affect its efficiency.
• Damage to the pump. Finally, the pump itself may fail, which will either partially or completely stop pumping water from the washing machine into the sewer. What’s even worse is that a foreign object can get into the pump through the drain filter, which can damage the fragile blades of the pump impeller or the element housing.

Any of the points is fraught with serious danger, both for the device and for the user. In order not to spend money on replacing a damaged pump, cleaning the room from the stench or taking medicine to combat an acquired disease, it is better not to forget about cleaning, arranging it once a quarter or even more often.

Leakage near the filter element

None of the users of washing machines are immune from leakage in the area of ​​the garbage filter - a fairly common problem that occurs after cleaning the trap. In this case, a leak may not appear immediately, but after several operating cycles, so immediately after completing preventive procedures, the unit should be checked for leaks. Why might there be a leak at all?

• The user installed the filter unevenly or did not close it tightly.The drain filter should be installed evenly in the groove to prevent movement along the thread. It is necessary to fix it on the seat securely, but carefully, so as not to break the thread of the plastic part, which is very easy to do if you press intensely on the lid. If the problem is in the installation of the filter, then fixing it is very simple - just remove the element and install it correctly, avoiding distortion.
• The rubber seal has failed. The catcher is installed so tightly in the groove because of the high-quality rubber gasket, which can crack during long-term use. It can also become deformed simply due to inaccurate actions of the user, for example, if he forcibly removed the filter, or used brute force or sharp objects during cleaning. In this case, the problem can be resolved only after purchasing a new rubber seal.

If you cannot find a replacement rubber band on sale, you will have to replace the entire drainage element, so you should be prepared for this.

• The thread or the filter itself was damaged. Finally, if the owner of an automatic SM carelessly removed or placed the catcher in the groove, he could damage the thread or assembly. This situation also requires replacing the drain filter, either alone or in combination with the volute. In the second case, you will have to invite a repairman to make a replacement.

That is why additional precautions should be taken during cleaning procedures - they will keep the equipment intact and thus avoid additional costs.

What to do with a stuck filter plug?

Lastly, let’s look at the unpleasant situation when the garbage filter cannot be removed for cleaning. This usually happens due to a prolonged lack of preventive measures. If this happens to your device, then either the handle will not turn, or the filter itself will get stuck in the groove, not yielding to the efforts of the housewife.

If the drain catcher cannot be removed, then most likely a foreign object has entered it and is blocking the part. The problem may also arise due to scale formed between the threads and the rubber band. In any case, this can be fixed.

• Carefully unscrew the blocked catcher using pliers or a similar tool.
• If you still cannot remove the filter, then you should not use more effort, because this way you risk damaging the part. Instead you should remove the pump, and then clean the drainage element through the vacated hole.
• Depending on the model of your “home assistant”, you will first need to remove the front or back panel of the SM case.
• Then you need to disconnect the wires from the pump. Be sure to take a photo of the wiring so that you can connect the element correctly during reassembly.
• Next, unfasten all the clamps that connect the volute to the pipe, as well as to the flexible drain tube.
• Then remove the pump and volute.
• Finally, start cleaning the debris filter using the hole from the pump or drain pipe.

Such cleaning using partial disassembly of household appliances should be performed by a professional, so if you are not confident in your abilities, then in order not to damage the equipment even more, it is better to call a service center specialist.

If you yourself repeated our instructions point by point, but you still were unable to dismantle the drain trap, then either you made a mistake somewhere, or your Whirlpool washing machine has an unusual feature that prevents repairs. In this case, there is no need to panic or use brute force - just call a specialist to quickly fix everything.

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