If a Maytag MVW7232 leaves clothes wet or water in the tub, Maytag's Product Help starts at the drain hose. The hose should extend no more than 5 in (20.3 cm) into the standpipe or laundry tub, the U-shaped hose form sets that length, the hose cannot go higher than 96 in from the floor, and it must not be taped into the drain. Then check that it is not kinked or clogged. Detergent is the second cause: non-HE or too much detergent makes suds that slow the spin and leave the load wet. A tightly packed or unbalanced load is the third.
Differential
Likely causes of “Maytag MVW7232 top-load washer will not drain or stops with water inside”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A drain hose installed wrongly
What separates it Water stays in the tub and the drain is slow
How to confirm Check the hose length, height and that it is not taped or kinked
- 2
A blocked drain pipe or utility sink
What separates it Water backs up at the standpipe because of a blocked drain pipe or utility sink
How to confirm Remove the blockage from the drain pipe or the utility sink, and try again
- 3
Excess suds from detergent
What separates it The load is very wet and the spin is slow
How to confirm Use measured HE detergent, since excess suds stop the water from draining well
- 4
A tightly packed or unbalanced load
What separates it The clothes are wet at the end because the load is tightly packed or unbalanced
How to confirm Rearrange the load and run Rinse & Spin
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- How much water stays in the tub
- The detergent used and the load size
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedCheck the drain hose
ReversibleNo more than 5 in should be in the standpipe; do not tape it; maximum height is 96 in.
Straighten and clear
ReversibleStraighten and clear the hose, and remove any blockage from the drainpipe or the utility sink.
Use HE detergent
ReversibleUse HE detergent, and measure it, since excess suds cause a reduced spin and very wet loads.
Rebalance
ReversibleRebalance the load, by arranging the wet load evenly, and selecting Rinse and Spin, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Note the balance ring sound
ReversibleWater heard but not seen in the tub is the balance ring fluid, which is normal.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Reading the drn code
- The drn message on a Maytag top-load washer means the washer is not draining properly, and Maytag's table says this can sometimes be an installation problem, so the drain hose length, height and kinks are the first things to check before assuming a pump fault. Maytag also describes a fluid-filled balance ring at the top of the tub that sloshes when the washer is moved or the load shifts; that sound is not water left in the tub.
- Parts for this problem on the MVW7232 (RepairClinic, 2026-09-20)
- drain pump, part number W11396717, at $139.60; drain hose extension kit *4 foot, part number DRNEXT4, at $48.56.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models MHW8630, MHW6630, MHW5630H, MHW5100, MVW8230, MVW7230, MVW6500, MVW6200, MVW5430, MVW4505.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the hose and drain are clear and water stays in the tub, call Maytag service; the drain pump may need attention
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Maytag's own article on why the Bulky cycle fills in stages while agitating and how long the fill can take.
Maytag's own table of top-load washer codes and resolutions.
Maytag's own symptom articles for top-load washers, each.
Maytag's model page and manual listing for the MVW7232HW.
A dealer listing giving the MVW7232HW's capacity, width and feature list.
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 water still in my Maytag MVW7232 tub?+
Look first at the drain hose installation, then at detergent suds and the load balance.
What is the sloshing I hear with no water in the tub?+
Maytag says it is the balance ring, a fluid-filled ring at the top of the tub, and is normal.
Should I tape the drain hose to the standpipe?+
No, do not tape the drain hose to the standpipe, since the air gap is needed to stop siphoning.
Does Rinse & Spin help?+
Yes, to remove excess water from a tightly packed load.