Bosch Washer Not Draining -Troubleshooting Guide

Bosch washing machines can suffer drain problems like any other brand on the market. But, as stressful as that might be, the silver lining here is that you can troubleshoot the problem yourself. So, before you call a technician, check out what this guide has to offer you.

Your Bosch washer fails to drain because of blockages in the drain hose, drain filter, or sump hose. These blockages consist of lint, dirt, and foreign objects left in clothes pockets. Besides those, a failed drain pump can also prevent water from draining correctly. Troubleshoot these parts, and you’ll likely get your washer up and running again quickly.

Before troubleshooting your Bosch washer, you must understand what each component does and how it forms a clog. You’ll discover all of that and more as you continue through this guide.

Why Is My Bosch Washing Machine Not Draining?

With some troubleshooting, you can get your Bosch washer draining normally again. Here are the parts you’ll want to check:

Blocked Drain Hose

What this part does: The drain hose is responsible for carrying wastewater out of your Bosch washing machine and into your household drain. The pump is made of a flexible material that allows you to insert it neatly into the standpipe in your laundry room.

The drain hose is the final part of the washing machine that water passes through after the drain pump and drain filter.

What’s likely happening: The most likely reason your Bosch washer fails to drain is that the drain hose is blocked. Over an extended period, lint and other particles can build up inside the hose and restrict water flow.

When that goes on for long enough, the restriction will become so severe that no water can pass through at all. 

As a result, water will back up into the washer and prevent the machine from draining as it should.

How to troubleshoot and fix: You can troubleshoot this issue by detaching the drain hose and flushing it clear. The hose leads from the back of the washer towards the front, connecting to the drain filter (sometimes called a ‘coin trap’).

Detaching the drain hose allows you to take it outside, where you can check it for blockages. You can also use a standard garden hose to flush it with water from both ends.

Read: Bosch Washer Code E04 – Troubleshooting Guide

Clogged Drain Filter

What this part does: Another common part where blockages happen is the drain filter. Its purpose is very straightforward: it captures foreign objects that fall out of your clothes pockets and enter the washer’s drain system.

Since coins are some of the most common items in laundry pockets, the filter is often known as the ‘coin trap’.

What’s likely happening: Manufacturers design the coin trap to remove solid objects like coins, pens, and the like. Unfortunately, when those objects get stuck in the trap, they’ll also catch lint and dust that flows through.

A total blockage can also form in the drain filter and prevent the machine from draining with enough time.

How to troubleshoot and fix: There’s some good news here: Bosch makes the drain filter incredibly easy to remove, clean, and reinstall.

Firstly, locate the filter on your Bosch washer. It’s typically hidden behind a small door on the front of the washer, close to the bottom.

Once you find it, follow these steps:

• Firstly, twist the filter counter-clockwise to remove it.
• Then, remove any items in the filter and wash them clean.
• Lastly, slide the filter back in and turn it clockwise. That will lock it back in place.

The drain filter will be clear at this point, allowing water to flow through normally.

Read: Bosch Washer Code E13 – Troubleshooting Guide

Object Stuck Inside Sump Hose

What this part does: The sump hose is the first part that dirty laundry water flows through when it exits the drum. It has one specific purpose: to carry water from the drum into the drain pump. 

Manufacturers like Bosch use flexible materials for the sump hose to ensure that water can drain out even if the machine moves a lot.

Accessing that sump hose will be challenging, as it’s hidden inside the machine underneath the drum. So, you’ll have to remove the washer’s front or rear panels to reach it.

What’s likely happening: Another possible reason your Bosch washer isn’t draining is that there’s something stuck inside the sump hose.

As you might imagine, any objects that fall out from your clothes pockets will pass through the sump hose. Smaller things like coins won’t have a problem passing through, but more oversized items like pens will likely get stuck in there.

But remember: the sump hose is flexible. That means any small bends could make it easier for things to get stuck in there.

How to troubleshoot and fix: Fixing this problem is very straightforward and won’t take much time. All you have to do is detach the sump hose and pull out anything stuck in there.

Unfortunately, the time-consuming part of the process is gaining access to the sump hose in the first place. To do that, you’ll have to remove the washer’s back panel or the front toe panel.

That will depend on which Bosch washer model you have, as the sump hose placement will differ slightly between models.

Read: Bosch Washer Code E17 – Troubleshooting Guide

Failed Drain Pump

What this part does: Think of the drain pump as the heart of your washer’s drain system. A pump uses an impeller to drive water out of the washer. The water flow starts from the drum and leads out through the drain hose.

You’ll also find the drain pump underneath the sump at the bottom of the washer.

What’s likely happening: The drain pump can fail your Bosch washer in two ways.

Firstly, it can fail electrically. That means the pump suffers an electrical fault like a short circuit and stops working correctly.

Secondly, your drain pump can fail mechanically. That means something is preventing the impeller inside from turning, like a foreign object or perhaps damage to the impeller itself.

In either case, the pump won’t be able to drive water out of your Bosch washer. That will prevent the machine from draining the water it has inside.

How to troubleshoot and fix: The solution to this problem will depend on the kind of failure the pump experiences.

For example, you might still be able to save a pump that fails mechanically by removing any objects stuck inside.

However, you cannot save a short-circuited drain pump. Instead, you’ll have to replace it with a new one.

You must first remove the pump from your Bosch washer in both cases. You can do that by removing the rear or front panels to reach the pump. Then, you’ll have to remove its electrical wiring and unthread any screws holding it in place.

Read: Bosch Washer Code E12 – Troubleshooting Guide

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some other frequently asked questions that you’ll find helpful when troubleshooting your Bosch washing machine:

Why Is My Washer Washing But Not Draining?

When your Bosch washing machine successfully washes but won’t drain, you likely have a blockage somewhere in the machine. Most clogs from inside the sump hose, drain filter or drain hose. However, some objects can also form a clog inside the drain pump itself.

How Do I Clear A Bosch Washing Machine Blockage?

To clear a blockage in your Bosch washer, start by removing the affected part. That could be the drain filter, drain hose, or sump hose inside the machine. Then, remove any large objects by hand before flushing out any buildups you find inside the part. 

When cleaning a clogged hose, remember to flush it from both sides for the best results.

How Do You Force A Bosch Washing Machine To Drain?

You can force a Bosch washing machine to drain manually using the auxiliary drain hose. It’s a small hose that you’ll find next to the drain filter. Both are located behind a small door on the front panel, close to the bottom.

When you open that auxiliary hose, water from the machine will flow out. So, prepare a bucket, tray, or something else to collect that water.

How Does A Washing Machine Get Clogged?

A washing machine will most likely form clogs because of lint and foreign objects. Lint buildups form when fibres wash off your clothes and drain along with the washer’s wastewater. Foreign objects, however, come from inside clothes pockets that you forget to empty.

Lint and objects will get stuck in filters and hoses, eventually restricting any water from passing through.

Read: Bosch Washer Code E02 – Troubleshooting Guide

Can Vinegar Damage Your Washing Machine?

Yes, vinegar is damaging to your Bosch washing machine. A lot of people recommend using vinegar to clean clogs in washing machines. However, vinegar is a strong acid that damages rubber parts like seals and gaskets.

So, even if the vinegar helps clear the clog, it will indirectly cause other leaks in worn-out rubber seals and gaskets.