On the covered Kenmore compact top-load washer, Normal, Perm Press and Hand-Wash means Kenmore's service table lists this code as: long drain. First, check the drain hose for a clog. Then: check for excessive suds because the pump can't drain sudsy water. Allow time for the suds to dissipate and then resume the cycle by pressing the Start/Off button. The control will drain the washer and resume the cycle. Unplug the washer and replace the drain pump if it won't drain water when activated. Parts named: drain pump.
Differential
Likely causes of “Kenmore compact top-load washer showing Normal, Perm Press and Hand-Wash”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The washer drained for too long (the Normal and Perm Press lights)
What separates it The lights show and the washer stops draining slowly
How to confirm Check the drain hose for a clog
- 2
Excessive suds that the pump cannot drain
What separates it Foam fills the tub
How to confirm Allow the suds to dissipate and resume the cycle
- 3
A clogged drain hose or standpipe
What separates it Water drains slowly
How to confirm Clear the clog
- 4
A drain pump that does not run
What separates it You hear no pump
How to confirm Replace the drain pump
- 5
A kinked hose
What separates it The hose is bent
How to confirm Straighten it
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which lights show
- Whether suds are visible
- Whether the drain hose is kinked
- The full model number
Try in this order
0 of 8 completedWhat to do first
ReversibleCheck the drain hose for a clog.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleCheck for excessive suds because the pump can't drain sudsy water. Allow time for the suds to dissipate and then resume the cycle by pressing the Start/Off button. The control will drain the washer and resume the cycle. Unplug the washer and replace the drain pump if it won't drain water when activated. Parts named: drain pump.
Check the drain hose for a clog
ReversiblePull the washer out a little, look at the drain hose for a kink or a clog, and straighten or clear it.
Look for excessive suds
ReversibleThe table says the pump cannot drain sudsy water, so if the tub is full of foam, allow time for the suds to dissipate.
Resume the cycle
ReversibleOnce the suds have settled, press the Start/Off button, and the control will drain the washer and resume the cycle.
Check the standpipe and the house drain
ReversibleMake sure the standpipe is not blocked and the hose is not pushed too far in, since a restricted drain slows the pump.
Unplug the washer and test the pump
ReversibleIf the washer will not drain water when the control tells it to, the drain pump may have failed, and you can check it with the washer unplugged.
Replace the drain pump if it will not run
ReversibleThe only part the table names is the drain pump, so replace it if it does not drain when activated.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The lights on this page
- Normal and Perm Press together, for a long drain.
- Parts involved
- The drain hose, the suds and the drain pump.
- Source
- Sears PartsDirect's table for Kenmore compact washers.
- Why suds stop a pump
- A drain pump moves liquid, and foam is mostly air, so a tub full of suds gives the pump little to grip. The washer waits, times out and reports a long drain, which is why a small amount of detergent is better than a large one.
- Compact washers and small drains
- A compact washer often drains into a laundry sink or a small standpipe. A hose that is pushed too far in, or a standpipe that is partly blocked, slows the drain enough to cause the same message even with no suds.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the washer will not drain when activated, replace the drain pump
- !Unplug the washer before checking the pump
- !Mop up spills promptly
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does Normal, Perm Press and Hand-Wash mean on a Kenmore compact top-load washer?+
Kenmore's service table lists this code as: long drain.
Can too much detergent cause it?+
Yes, excess suds make the pump struggle, and the washer reports a long drain.
How do I resume the cycle after the suds settle?+
Press the Start/Off button and the control drains the washer and carries on.
When do I replace the pump?+
Only if the washer will not drain water when the control activates the pump.
How can I prevent it?+
Use high-efficiency detergent in the amount the label gives, and avoid overloading.