GE Washer Code 18: Drain Pump Clearing Failed, How to Fix It

What to try first

Safety: Unplug the washer before you pull it out or handle the drain hose, and keep towels down: the hose holds water that will spill when you lift it out of the drain.

1. 1

   Read the fault list yourself

   On models like the GTW750, start with the washer idle and every light off. Hold Start for about 10 seconds until all the lights come on, then let go. The newest code blinks in the display; each press of Start shows the next one, and two dashes mark the end. Any other button or a turn of a knob exits. GE built this mode for owners: it shows the codes but cannot erase them.

2. 2

   Free up the drain hose

   Pull the washer forward a few inches and follow the drain hose from the back of the cabinet to the drain. Straighten any sharp bend or flattened stretch, and make sure no foot is standing on it.

3. 3

   Pour a quart into the standpipe

   Lift the hose out of the standpipe and pour in about a quart of water. If it sits there or rises, the clog is in the house drain, and GE suggests calling a plumber.

4. 4

   Check how high the water has to climb

   GE says its full-size washers pump to a maximum of 8 feet above the floor (5 feet for compact models). If your drain point is higher, it needs to come down; the installation instructions for your model give the exact limits.

5. 5

   Run Drain & Spin

   Close the lid, select Drain & Spin and press Start. If the tub empties, the blockage has most likely cleared and the next load should run normally.

Most likely causes of 18

1. 1. A kinked, crushed or blocked drain hose (most common)

   The washer was moved or pushed back lately, or the hose behind it is pressed flat against the wall or trapped under a foot.

2. 2. A clogged house standpipe or drain line (common)

   The standpipe overflows onto the floor during the drain, or the laundry sink next to it empties slowly as well.

3. 3. Debris jammed in the drain pump (common)

   A sock, coin or hair tie slipped past the basket. The pump may hum or rattle while very little water leaves.

4. 4. A drain outlet set too high (less common)

   The hose climbs to a sink or pipe more than 8 feet above the floor, such as an overhead connection in a basement. GE full-size washers do not pump higher than that.

5. 5. A pinched or water-logged pressure tube (less common)

   The tub is really empty, yet 18 keeps getting logged. A false level reading makes the washer think water is still there.

6. 6. A failed drain pump or its wiring (less common)

   The hose and standpipe are clear, but the tub stays full and the washer only hums, or makes no pump sound at all, at drain time.

When to call a pro

• Water is still in the tub after Drain & Spin, and the hose and standpipe are clear.
• The tub is full of water and the washer just hums. GE says to schedule service.
• 18 keeps showing up in the fault list even though loads seem to drain.
• The standpipe backs up when you pour water into it: that is a plumber's job, not a washer repair.

What a 18 repair costs