Calcified Stones In Pump
Well I've never had kidney stones but I think my washing machine might have. These stones were as big as gravel and were blocking the pump. Were they formed by detergent or hard water, or a combination? They were whitish blue in colour.
Anybody come across these before, if so what were they?
Solution Summary
AI-generated from this discussion
This thread was marked as solved. Here's a summary of the problem and the fix, generated from the discussion below.
Washing machine pump blocked by whitish-blue stone-like deposits
- The problem
- The washing machine pump area was found blocked by gravel-sized whitish-blue stones. The original poster suspected a link to detergent and/or hard water. The pump impeller was in a separate compartment, so the motor was not reported as damaged.
- Likely cause
- The strongest supported explanation in the discussion is limescale build-up, possibly mixed with detergent residue. A combination of hard water and detergent use was suggested, but the exact composition of the stones was not confirmed.
- What fixed it
- The accepted advice was to carry out regular maintenance washes and ensure the correct amount of detergent is used for the local water hardness. This was presented as prevention and likely diagnosis; the exact make-up of the deposits was not confirmed.
- Checks to try
- Pump area found blocked by gravel-sized whitish-blue stones
- Poster noted blue colouring similar to the detergent used
- Forum advice suggested considering limescale issues
- Forum advice recommended checking detergent quantity against water hardness
3 Answers
Try these articles, which may help - Causes of grease and slime inside washing machines - particularly try doing the maintenance washes suggested there. Also, limescale issues sound like a possible explanation, limescale in washing machines
Need Professional Help or Spare Parts?
I read the article but no mention of those small stones. I always use Daz which as a blue compound in it and this same colour was mixed in the stones. Fortunately my AEG pump's impeller is in a separate compartment to where the stones were otherwise the pump's motor would probably have burnt out.
Anyway I shall be doing regular maintenance washes from now on.
There's no mention of the stones but they are likely to be made of limescale or at least prevented by carrying out maintenance washes and making sure you use the right amount of detergent for your level of water hardness.
Need Professional Help or Spare Parts?
Your Answer
Sign in to share your expertise and post an answer.
Related Questions
How does one remove front panel to gain access to the drain pump of a Bosch VarioPerfect Serie | 4 model WAN24001GB/19 ?
1 answer • 15 replies
Is this a failing drain pump motor?
1 answer • 2 replies
Heatpump
1 answer • 1 reply
Will this just be a drain pump replacement?
1 answer • 6 replies
Self Clean drain pumps on Washing machines
1 answer • 5 replies
LG direct drive 7kg, all lights flash and pump drains the water.
1 answer • 1 reply
W2104 Check Drain. New pumps and still not fixed.
1 answer • 8 replies
Samsung Eco-Bubble combi, needs a new drain pump, but there's 2!
1 answer • 3 replies
Washing machine drain pump safe to bodge?
1 answer • 6 replies
Beko WTG721M1B washing machine drain pump
1 answer • 13 replies