Unblock washing machine drain when it's not the filter or hose
Is water overflowing at the standpipe or staying in the machine? Call 070 783 0224 or send a photo of the drain via WhatsApp.
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When a washing machine won't drain, the first question is: is it the machine or the drain? You can often check the pump filter and hose yourself; how to do that is explained in our article on a blocked washing machine drain. If that doesn't work, or if water overflows at the standpipe, the blockage is further down the line. That's when we come in.
Short answer
If your washing machine drain overflows at the standpipe or bubbles up in a nearby drain, the blockage is usually in the trap or the waste pipe behind the machine, not in the machine itself. We clear that pipe mechanically, check that the standpipe drains properly and investigate what caused the blockage, such as lint, detergent residue or a pipe that's too shallow.
- First try yourself: clean the pump filter and check the hose (see our article).
- Does it overflow at the standpipe? Then it's in the drain: that's our job.
- Keeps blocking? Often the drain is too shallow or too narrow.
Call me back
Leave your name and number and we'll call you. Prefer immediate contact? Call 070 783 0224 or message us.
Machine or drain?
- Water remains in the drum and the pump hums: often the pump filter or a kink in the hose. That's usually the machine.
- Water overflows at the standpipe (the pipe where the hose hangs) or comes up in a nearby drain: the drain is blocked.
- The shower or washbasin also drains slowly when the washing machine pumps: the blockage is further along, where the drains meet, or in the vertical stack.
- It gurgles or smells at the drain: water is standing in the pipe and air has to pass it. Also read drain smells.
A washing machine pumps away a large volume of water in a short time. A drain that's just adequate for a washbasin can't cope with that. That's why you often notice a developing blockage first with the washing machine.
Why a washing machine drain gets blocked
- Lint and fibres from clothing, especially from fleece, towels and blankets, which build up in the trap and bends.
- Detergent and fabric softener residue that doesn't dissolve properly in cold washes and forms a layer in the pipe.
- Hair and dirt from pets from blankets and cushions.
- A drain that's too narrow or too shallow, often with a machine in the loft or storage room that was added later.
- A shared drain with the kitchen, where grease from the kitchen sink combines with detergent residue to form a blockage.
- A blocked soil stack in a flat or upstairs apartment, where multiple drains connect.
How we clear the drain
- Finding where it is. We pull the machine forward if necessary and inspect the standpipe, the trap and the connection to the pipe.
- Clean trap and pipe. The trap is removed and cleaned. Then the drain snake goes through the pipe to the stack.
- Check the main drain. If the main drain is running slowly, we'll clear that too. In a flat we'll consult with you or the owners' association (VvE) if it's a shared pipe.
- Testing with a full pump cycle. We run the machine through a drain programme to see that the drain keeps up.
- Advice. If the blockage keeps coming back, we look at the gradient and the diameter. Sometimes a new drain or a better trap is the real solution.
What does unblocking a washing machine drain cost?
Which rate applies depends on where the blockage is located. You will be told in advance.
| Item | Excl. VAT | Incl. 21% VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Call-out charge (first 30 minutes + diagnosis) | € 100 – € 165 | € 121 – € 199,65 |
| Kitchen drain blockage (comparable drain from trap to riser) | € 123,97 – € 150 | € 150 – € 181,50 |
| Unblocking soil stack | € 185 | € 223,85 |
| Mechanically clean sewer | € 130 | € 157,30 |
| Install drain (for example a new or higher standpipe) | € 75 | € 90,75 |
| Adjust dishwasher drain (if the dishwasher is on the same drain) | € 129 | € 156,09 |
Guide prices from the PandFix price list (October 2026). Call-out charge is additional: €35 excl. VAT (€42.35 incl.), emergency €65 excl. VAT (€78.65 incl.). Evening or weekend: surcharge €80 excl. VAT (€96.80 incl.). Materials and extra hours only by agreement. You will always hear the price before we start.
How to keep the drain clear
- Clean the machine's pump filter every few months.
- Don't use more detergent than necessary and run a wash at 60 degrees or higher now and then.
- A drain strainer or lint filter on the hose catches a lot of fibres.
- Don't pour frying fat or oil down the kitchen sink if it's on the same drain.
- If you notice the standpipe is about to overflow, don't wait until it actually does.
Would you like to have a go yourself first? Our article washing machine or dishwasher drain blocked explains step by step what you can safely do yourself.
Questions about a blocked washing machine drain
My washing machine won't drain. Is the drain blocked?
Not always. If the water remains in the drum, first check the pump filter and the hose. If the water overflows at the standpipe or comes up in a drain, then the blockage is in the drain.
Can I use drain unblocker in the washing machine drain?
Preferably not. Aggressive chemicals work poorly against lint and detergent residue and can damage rubber seals and older pipes. Cleaning a trap or using a drain snake works better.
Why does the drain keep blocking again?
Often the pipe is too flat, too narrow for the amount of water a washing machine pumps out in one go, or it shares the drain with the kitchen. Then unblocking only helps temporarily; an adapted drain solves it.
What does it cost to have the washing machine drain unblocked?
That depends on where the blockage is. According to our price list, a blocked kitchen sink drain, which is comparable, costs € 123.97 – € 150 excl. VAT (€ 150 – € 181.50 incl.), and unblocking a stack pipe costs € 185 excl. VAT (€ 223.85 incl.). Call-out charges are added. You will be told the cost in advance.
My washing machine is in the loft and the drain overflows. What now?
Switch off the machine and turn off the tap. A loft drain is often installed later and sometimes too narrow or too shallow. We will clear it and check whether the drain itself needs to be modified.
I rent. Who pays?
A blockage from normal use is often for the tenant; a drain that's too narrow or a shared standpipe is usually for the landlord. Check with the landlord first if in doubt.
