Front-loaders have something top-loaders do not: a drain pump filter, sitting behind a small access panel at the bottom front of the cabinet. Its job is to catch coins, buttons, hair grips, tissue and lint before they reach the pump impeller. It works — which is exactly the problem, because most owners have never opened it and it fills up. A blocked filter produces standing water in the drum, a cycle that halts partway, a drain-related error code, and often the musty smell that gets blamed on the door seal. Put a shallow tray and towels down first; there will be more water than you expect. Unscrew the filter slowly, let it drain, clear the debris, check the impeller behind it turns freely, and refit it firmly.
Then the fault is further along. The drain hose may be kinked behind the machine, pushed too far into the standpipe, or blocked with lint further down. The pump itself may have failed electrically, or its impeller may be broken rather than jammed. On some machines a failed pressure sensor tells the control board the drum is already empty, so the pump never runs. And a door lock that will not confirm can stall a cycle in a way that looks like a drain fault. These are the points at which a technician earns their fee, because the symptoms overlap and guessing means replacing parts that were never broken.
Drain pump and filter work typically runs $100 to $250 including parts. A diagnostic call-out is generally $75 to $130 and is often credited against the repair if you proceed. If the diagnosis turns out to be a blocked filter you could have cleared yourself, a good technician will say so and show you how — that is the kind of answer this network exists to produce.
Most front-loaders have a small drain hose tucked beside the filter for exactly this. Pull it out, hold it below the level of the drum over a shallow tray, and remove its cap. It will drain slowly and you will need to empty the tray several times. Once the water is out, the door lock will usually release. Never force a front-loader's door while the drum still holds water.
Clean the filter roughly once a month. Check pockets before washing. Use a laundry bag for small items and underwired bras. Use HE detergent at the correct dose, because excess suds contribute to residue that collects in the pump and the hose.
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