If water stays in the Frigidaire FFFW5000 or drains slowly, the guide's checks are the drain hose (kinked or clogged: straighten and clean it), the standpipe (no taller than 8 ft or 2.4 m), and clogged house drain pipes. On the FFTW4120 top-loader a drain that takes more than 10 minutes triggers a drain error, whose checklist adds the fuse or breaker, the standpipe height, the lid closed and any kink or clog in the hose. An out-of-balance or overloaded load may not spin, leaving it wet, and a lid lock malfunction can leave water in the tub because the drain and spin never occurred.
Differential
Likely causes of “Frigidaire FFFW5000 front-load washer will not drain or stops with water inside”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A kinked or clogged drain hose
What separates it The draining is slow and there is water in the drum because the drain hose is kinked or clogged
How to confirm Clean and straighten the drain hose, and then run a drain and spin
- 2
A standpipe that is too tall
What separates it The water does not drain fully because the standpipe is too tall
How to confirm Reduce the standpipe height to under 8 ft (2.4 m)
- 3
Clogged house drain pipes
What separates it The water backs up because the house drain pipes are clogged
How to confirm Unclog the pipes; call a plumber if necessary
- 4
A lid lock or door problem
What separates it Water remains and the drain and spin never occurred
How to confirm Do not bypass the lock; call an authorized servicer
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- How long water stays in the drum
- How the drain hose and standpipe are set
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedCheck the hose
ReversibleCheck the hose, by looking for a kink or a clog, and straightening and cleaning the hose.
Check the standpipe
ReversibleCheck the standpipe, which should be no taller than eight feet, or 2.4 meters, on the FFFW5000.
Check the house drain
ReversibleCheck the house drain, and clear clogged pipes, or call a plumber if they are blocked.
Rearrange the load
ReversibleAn overloaded or unbalanced load may not spin; add 1 or 2 similar items to a small load.
Restart and watch
ReversibleRestart and watch, by running a drain and spin, and watching the water leave the drum.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Top-load drain-time error
- On the FFTW4120 the guide lists a drain-time error when the washer takes too long to drain (10 minutes). Its checklist is: check the fuse or breaker, check the standpipe height, close the lid because the washer will not drain or spin with an open lid, straighten a kinked drain hose, clear a clogged drain hose and, if it continues, call service on 1-800-944-9044.
- Parts for this problem on the FFFW5000 (RepairClinic, 2026-09-20)
- drain pump, part number 137311900, at $165.95; coin trap tub to pump hose, part number 134639920, at $88.55; drain hose, part number 137628100, at $82.46.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the FFTW4120 top-load washer, FLCE7522 laundry-center washer, FLXE52 laundry-center washer.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the hose and house drain are clear and water remains, call Frigidaire service; the drain pump may be blocked
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
The published manual page that ties the FFTW4120SW top-loader to Frigidaire's use and care guide A07504301.
Frigidaire's own owner-support article titles for these three codes.
Parts and list prices as shown on RepairClinic's parts search for this model number on 2026-09-20.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why is my Frigidaire washer not draining?+
A kinked or clogged drain hose, a standpipe that is too tall, or clogged house drain pipes.
What does a drain-time error mean on the top-loader?+
The washer takes too long to drain: 10 minutes; check fuse, standpipe height, lid, and hose.
Can a lid lock problem leave water in the tub?+
Yes; if the drain and spin cycles did not occur the guide points to a lid lock malfunction; do not bypass it.
Does the FFFW5000 have a drain pump filter?+
The guide describes a high-velocity drain pump; foreign objects in it need an authorized servicer.
What if the load is too wet after the spin?+
The washer may be overloaded or the load too small or unbalanced; rearrange it.