Direct answer
A washer that fills and drains at the same time is often siphoning because the drain hose is too low, pushed too far into the standpipe, or sealed without an air gap.
What this covers
- Washing machines · drain installation
- The exact symptom in the title before component-level repair
- Consumer-accessible controls, connections and maintenance areas
What it does not cover
- ×Smoke, burning odor, swelling, liquid on powered parts or damaged wiring
- ×Opening sealed panels, bypassing interlocks or live-electrical testing
- ×Account ownership, billing or warranty disputes
Observe before changing anything
ReversibleWatch whether the water level rises at all and inspect the drain hose without pulling it out during operation.
Isolate the failing boundary
ReversibleCompare hose height, insertion depth and air-gap requirements with the installation manual; a failed drain pump usually does not cause silent continuous siphoning.
Apply the narrow correction
ReversibleReinstall the hose at the documented height and depth using its guide and secure it without sealing the standpipe.
Verify the result and stop at the boundary
ReversibleStop for overflow, leaking plumbing or an installation that cannot meet the manual’s drain requirements.
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Visible sources support the visible claims. Home Product Support records the publisher, the fact used and the review date; community reports can suggest an issue but do not become a published fact on their own.
Official meanings and customer-safe checks for Samsung washer codes and blinking-light patterns.
Official Whirlpool meanings, installation limits and customer checks for front-load washer codes.
Exact questions
Common follow-ups
What should I check first for “Why does a washing machine drain continuously while filling?”?+
Watch whether the water level rises at all and inspect the drain hose without pulling it out during operation.
How do I know whether the problem is external or inside the device?+
Compare hose height, insertion depth and air-gap requirements with the installation manual; a failed drain pump usually does not cause silent continuous siphoning.
When should I stop and request repair?+
Stop for overflow, leaking plumbing or an installation that cannot meet the manual’s drain requirements.
Answer for the exact device and software version shown above.