Standing water in a washing machine is one free filter check away from being no repair at all, which is why the order of the checks matters more than the price list. Clogged drain-pump filter or trap is the free end of this fault — no part needed, about 5 minutes [S1] — and 3 of the 6 causes on this page cost nothing to rule out. The complaint is a tub full of standing water at the end of the cycle, described as standing water in the drum after the cycle, washer won't drain, tub full of water at the end or hums but doesn't drain. What is left after those checks runs $80–$130 [S2], with 3 causes that need a part.
hums but doesn't drain washer won't drain
Time basis: not published as a duration. S2 bills labour at $110-175 per hour against a $180-360 job with a $45-130 part, which puts shop time at roughly one to two and a half hours.
the sources publish the pump as an installed job ($150-350 per S1, $180-360 with the part at $45-130 per S2), not as a bare part price for this symptom; no part-only figure is claimed here
washer won't drain hums but doesn't drain
Many machines will not start the drain step until the lid or door is confirmed shut. Time basis: no published duration, book estimate for opening the cabinet and swapping the switch or interlock.
priced by the source as an installed job (top-load lid switch $140-220, front-load door interlock $200-320), so no part-only figure is claimed
tub full of water at the end standing water in the drum after the cycle
If the pump runs and water backs up, the blockage is in the building drain and no washer part will fix it. Time basis: no published duration, book estimate.
priced by the source as a drain-clearing service call ($150-300), not as a part
Decline a repair that costs more than half the price of a comparable new machine, especially past year eight. On a three-year-old machine almost any single-part repair is still worth doing; past eight to ten years, a pump plus a second part is the point where replacement wins. [S2]
the source puts the life of a replacement machine at 10-13 years; the decision below uses the low end of that range
Run your own quote through the calculator — the same half-of-new-price rule with your numbers.
standing water in the drum after the cycle tub full of water at the end
The source calls this the number-one reason a front-loader stops draining and puts the filter clean at a five-minute job: open the front access panel, unthread the cap over a shallow pan, clear the coins and lint, reseat it.
washer won't drain standing water in the drum after the cycle
Straighten the hose behind the machine and check it is not shoved too far down the standpipe, which can siphon. Time basis: no duration is published for this step; the 20 minutes is a book estimate for pulling the machine out and checking the hose.
hums but doesn't drain standing water in the drum after the cycle
A bra wire or a coin that got past the filter stops the impeller; clearing it is free, while the same call handed to a technician runs about $150. Time basis: no published duration, book estimate.
| Cause | Cost | Time | DIY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| clogged drain-pump filter or trap | no part needed | 5 min | easy |
| kinked or clogged drain hose | $0–$20 part | 20 min | easy |
| object jammed in the pump impeller | no part needed | 30 min | easy |
| broken lid switch or door lock | $140–$320 installed | 60 min | advanced |
| failed drain pump | $150–$360 installed | 90 min | advanced |
| clogged house standpipe or building drain | $150–$300 installed | 60 min | advanced |
A technician visit starts with a diagnostic fee of $80–$130 [S2]. Completed repairs run $140–$360 [S2].
Last verified: 2026-09-17. Prices are US market figures from the sources above; your quote may differ.