If the Amana NTW4516 does not drain or spin, loads stay wet, or the Spin light stays on (meaning it could not pump the water out within 10 minutes), the guide gives five causes: small items caught in the pump or between the basket and tub; a low-spin cycle that removes less water; a tightly packed or unbalanced load; a drain hose that extends into the standpipe more than 4.5 in (114 mm), is higher than 96 in (2.4 m) above the floor, or is clogged; and too much detergent whose suds slow or stop draining. Amana's code for a drain problem is drn.
Differential
Likely causes of “Amana NTW4516 top-load washer will not drain or stops with water inside”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Small items in the pump
What separates it The drain is slow with clicking and the Spin light on because small items are in the pump
How to confirm Empty pockets in future; call service to remove trapped items
- 2
A drain hose that is too deep, too high, taped or clogged
What separates it The water stays in the tub because the drain hose is too deep, too high, taped or kinked
How to confirm Use the hose form, keep the end under 96 in, do not tape it, clear clogs
- 3
Too much detergent
What separates it Suds slow or stop the draining and spinning because too much detergent was used
How to confirm Select Rinse & Spin and do not add more detergent
- 4
A tightly packed or unbalanced load
What separates it The clothes are wetter than normal at the end because the load is tightly packed or unbalanced
How to confirm Rearrange the wet load and use Drain & Spin
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the Spin light is on and for how long
- The position and the height of the drain hose
- Whether HE detergent was used and how much
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedCheck the drain hose
ReversibleUse the drain hose form, no more than 4.5 in into the standpipe, end no higher than 96 in, no tape.
Clear clogs
ReversibleClear clogs, by removing any clogs from the drain hose and the standpipe, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Cut the suds
ReversibleCut the suds, by selecting Rinse and Spin, and do not add detergent, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Rebalance
ReversibleRebalance the load, by arranging the wet load evenly, and selecting Drain and Spin, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Use a higher spin
ReversibleUse a higher spin, since cycles with low spin speeds remove less water, so choose the recommended speed.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Where trapped items collect
- Amana says small items caught in the pump or between the basket and tub can slow draining, and that loose change and other small objects can fall between the basket and tub or block the pump, sometimes needing a service call to remove. Emptying pockets and using garment bags for small items prevents most of it.
- What the drn code and the balance ring mean
- Amana's code table lists drn for a washer that is not draining properly, and says this can sometimes be an installation problem, so the hose end, height and tape are worth checking before a pump is suspected. Amana's Product Help also says water heard in the tub but not seen is normally the fluid-filled balance ring at the top of the tub shifting as the load moves, and that you may hear it when the washer is moved. That sound is not trapped water.
- Parts for this problem on the NTW4516 (RepairClinic, 2026-09-21)
- washing machine drain pump assembly, part number WPW10661045, at $53.20; drain hose extension kit *4 foot, part number DRNEXT4, at $48.56.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the NFW5800 front-load washer.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the washer will not pump out after the hose and suds checks, call Amana service
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Amana's own table of top-load washer codes and resolutions.
Amana's own symptom articles for top-load washers, each.
A dealer listing giving the NTW4516FW's capacity, cabinet size and feature list.
Parts and list prices as shown on RepairClinic's parts search for this model number on 2026-09-21.
Exact questions
Common questions
What does drn mean?+
The washer is not draining properly, which Amana says can sometimes be an installation problem.
How deep may the drain hose go?+
No more than 4.5 in (114 mm) into the standpipe.
Can suds stop draining?+
Yes; too much detergent causes suds that slow or stop draining and spinning.
What should I do with a wet load?+
Use Drain & Spin after rearranging the load.
Can small items block the pump?+
Yes; coins and small items between the basket and tub can slow draining.