Maytag Centennial washers top the list of the most sold-out Maytag washers for their cost-effectiveness and spotless cleaning. However, they also face malfunctions, and one is when they fail to drain. But why is your Maytag Centennial washer not draining?
Your Maytag Centennial washer fails to drain due to an open door, wrong setting selection, or loading issues. It could also be due to a drain pump fault, obstructed drain hose, clogged drain filter, incorrect standpipe height, or excess suds.
While this can be frustrating, I understand your worry and was in your shoes recently. Fortunately, I could fix my washer alone, and I believe you can too.
I will discuss the top eight issues that could make your Centennial washer not drain and why it fails. As a caution, remember to unplug your washer before attempting any fix to avoid cases of electrocution.
Here we go!
Are you in a rush? Below is a table summary of the seven issues causing your Maytag Centennial washer not to drain.
Quick Fixes for a Maytag Centennial Washer Not Draining Properly
| – | Likely Cause | Quick Fix |
| 1. | Open Door | Try to latch the door firmly, and if it won’t shut, test the lid switch continuity with a multimeter and replace it if it lacks continuity. |
| 2. | Wrong Setting | Ensure you choose the correct setting and spin speed that matches your load size and weight |
| 3. | Loading Issues | Ensure the load isn’t excess (above 75% capacity) or uneven. |
| 4. | Drain Pump Fault | Unclog and thoroughly clean a clogged drain pump, but replace it if it’s defective. |
| 5. | Obstructed Drain Hose | Unkink a bent hose by straightening it by hand. If the hose is clogged, disconnect it and use a snake drain to unclog it |
| 6. | Clogged Drain Filter | Remove any foreign objects stuck on the filter. If the filter is clogged, remove it and wash it with a mild detergent in running tap water |
| 7. | Incorrect Standpipe Height | If the drain pipe is above 96 inches tall, remove it and connect it properly (39-96 inches above the floor) |
| 8. | Excess Suds | Only use the suitable detergent (high efficiency) and in the right amount |
Why is My Maytag Centennial Washer Not Draining?
Below are the reasons why your Maytag Centennial washer won’t drain:
1. Open Door
Maytag Centennial washers have a door lock mechanism that keeps the door shut when the washer is on. This lock ensures the door doesn’t open when it’s full of water, which can flood your laundry area.
If your washer doesn’t drain, check if the lid is latched firmly. If it’s not, that’s why your washer isn’t draining. There could be obstructions on the door, like hanging loose clothing, making the door not latch properly.
Also, in the door lock assembly, a micro switch communicates to the washer to start the cycle when the door is latched. If the door is partially open or opens up for whatever reason when the washer is on, the switch breaks the circuit, stopping the washing machine from draining.
It could also be that the switch is defective or lacks continuity; if it is, your Maytag Centennial washer won’t spin or drain.
Quick Fix
Start by checking if the door is unlatching. Remove any obstruction, like hanging clothing, and ensure you latch the door firmly. If that’s not it, test the switch for continuity using a multimeter, and if it shows no continuity, replace the switch.
2. Wrong Cycle Setting
To error is to humans. Sometimes, we forget to select the right setting to match our laundry size, which could be the case with your Centennial washer. Some of those settings that may be stopping your Centennial washer from draining include:
- Gentle cycle settings – Some Gentle settings include Hand Wash, Delicate, and Gentle settings. Though they are best when washing delicate clothes, they are not ideal for bulky and soiled clothes since they are slow and thus hinder adequate drainage.
- Slow spin speed setting – Another setting that doesn’t remove all the water from your washer is the slow spin setting. Though this setting protects your clothes from getting wrinkles or stretches, it leads to poor drainage and is not a good selection when washing heavy and bulky items.
Quick Fix
The rule of thumb suggests that you choose a high spin speed while washing heavy and bulky clothing to improve on spinning and draining.
3. Loading Issues
Spinning and draining goes hand in hand. If your washer doesn’t spin, it won’t drain, either. You should check your load size and balance. If you have overloaded your washer (over ¾ full), it becomes hard to spin the laundry; thus, it won’t drain either.
However, if the washer is at the correct capacity, then check the load balance. If it’s out of balance, again, your washer will struggle to spin; if it doesn’t, it won’t drain.
Quick Fix
Remove some clothes and ensure your washer is at 3/4 full in case of an overload. Also, ensure you redistribute your laundry evenly before starting your washer.
4. Drain Pump Fault
The drain pump is the bottom section of your washer and is designed to eliminate all the water from the drum. Inside is an impeller that spins continuously whenever the pump is functioning. When the impeller rotates, it effectively drives water from the drum to the drain hose.
However, the drain pump can fail mechanically. This is the case when the impeller breaks down. When this happens, the pump’s ability to drain all the water is hindered. Also, if foreign objects get stuck on the pump, water won’t drain either.
Quick Fix
Check if any foreign object is stuck on the inside of the pump. If any, remove it by hand. Check the pump for any electrical or mechanical damage if that’s not it. If there’s positive damage, you need to replace the entire pump by following the easy steps below:
- Access your washer bottom part by removing the existing pump
- Unclamp the hoses by removing the electrical connector
- Install the new pump and ensure you connect it as the old one was
5. Clogged Drain Hose
The drain hose connects to the drain pump and forces wastewater into your drainage system. Since it’s flexible, it can get kinked so quickly.
When this happens, dirt can stick inside around the corners, which can cause a severe blockage, thus preventing your washer from draining.
If a physical examination shows that the hose is straight with no kinks or bends, the chance of clogging could be high.
This is often the case, primarily if you use hard water to wash your clothes. It’s also common for the hose to clog over prolonged washer usage.
Quick Fix
If your drain hose has kinks, bends, or elbows, straighten it with your hands. Also, detach it entirely in case of a blockage and use a drain snake to unclog it. However, if a visual examination shows any damage, replace the hose.
6. Clogged Drain Filter
It’s common to forget to check out small objects from our pockets during laundry time. Though these small objects may seem harmless, they can jeopardize your washer’s functionality, especially if they reach the pump or hose.
Fortunately, all standard washers have a coin trap or filter that traps all foreign objects. This ensures that they don’t drain in the pump, thus preventing it from damage.
When your washer fails to drain properly, the issue could be that the filter is heavily clogged with foreign objects like keys, coins, zips, or pins. It could also clog with dirt or debris if that’s not it. This disallows the washer from draining.
Quick Fix
Open the filter, check for any stuck items, and remove them by hand. If the filter is heavily clogged, remove it, clean it with a mild detergent in tap running water, and place it back.
7. Long Standpipe Height
Maybe you don’t know this, but your washer standpipe, or what most refer to as a drain pipe, should be 39 – 96 inches long. If the drain pipe is longer than this (more than 96 inches), your Maytag Centennial washer won’t pump out wastewater correctly.
The likelihood of backflow is much higher and could be why your washer isn’t draining.
Quick Fix
Check out the standpipe height and ensure it’s 39 – 96 inches long. If it’s above 96 inches tall, manually drain all the wastewater in the washer and fix the pipe height appropriately.
8. Excess Detergent
Using the wrong detergent (non-HE) or the suitable detergent in excess amounts causes excess suds formation. Suds, in turn, send false information about an overloaded washer. This makes your washer fail to spin, preventing it from draining.
Quick Fix
Maytag recommends only using high-efficiency (HE) detergents (View on Amazon) in the right proportions to avoid suds formation. So, drop the use of non-HE detergent.
Maytag Centennial Washer Not Draining or Spinning
Draining and spinning are always intertwined. If your washer doesn’t spin or drain, it could be due to one of the following issues:
- Washer overload
- Load imbalance
- Washer imbalance
- Wrong setting selection
- Blocked drainage system
Maytag Centennial Washer Not Fully Draining
It calls for concern when your washer fails to drain thoroughly. When this happens, it could be due to one of the following:
- Load imbalance
- Washer overload
- Defective lid switch
- Wrong setting selection
- Clogging in the filter, pump, or hose
People Also Ask
1. Why is My Maytag Washer Not Draining?
Your Maytag washer fails to drain due to clogging in the drain filter, hose, or pump. It could also be incorrect standpipe height, defective lid switch, wrong setting, unlatched door, washer overload, or load imbalance.
2. How Do I Reset My Maytag Centennial Washer?
Since there is no reset button on Maytag Centennial washers, you can reset it using the following easy steps:
- Unplug your washer cable from the power
- Wait for 15 – 20 seconds
- Plug it back
If your washer doesn’t reset after this, unplug it for a minute.
Concluding Thought On Maytag Centennial Washer Not Draining
Above is a guide you can use when your Maytag Centennial washer fails to drain. It could be due to an unfastened door, incorrect setting, washer overload or load imbalance, drain pump failure, blocked drain hose, clogged filter, or extended standpipe height. Your job is to figure out which of the eight issues relate to your Centennial washer and use the shared quick fixes to troubleshoot it.