Finally found a trick for stubborn Maytag washer drain pumps

Been fighting a bunch of Maytag Bravos washers lately where the drain pump would lock up with socks and debris. Pulling the pump off every time was taking me 45 minutes for each job. I tried using a wet/dry vac on the drain hose first to pull out anything loose, and it cut my time down to maybe 15 minutes. Still have to pull the pump sometimes but about 60% of the time the vac gets the clog. Has anyone else used this approach or found a better way to clear those pumps without full disassembly?

3 comments

3 Comments

fiona_hunt715d ago

Oh man, the vac trick is a lifesaver until the day it isn't. I tried that once and ended up just pulling a bunch of lint and a half a penny out, but the sock was still wedged in there like it paid rent. Maybe it's just me, but about half the time I think it'll work, and then I'm still on my back with a screwdriver anyway. My record is pulling a whole kids training bra out of one, which I guess counts as debris but felt personal. Idk, maybe I'm just not patient enough to let the vac sit there long enough.

smith.elliot5d ago

Read somewhere that some guys are using pipe snakes with a sock over the end to fish stuff out without full disassembly. Haven't tried it myself because I don't trust a snake not to ding up the pump housing, but the vac method at least grabs the loose stuff first and saves my back for real. I let the vac run for a good minute with the hose shoved as far into the drain hose as it'll go, and most of the time I'll hear that telltale thump when it finally pulls the sock loose.

shane_bell5d ago

Have you tried running a cycle with just hot water and a cup of vinegar before you go at it with the vac? Thaws out some of the goop and makes the sock slide easier once that suction hits.