If you hear a loud noise when you turn on your washing machine or dryer, this may indicate whether the drain pump is bad or not. You should check the appliance before calling an expert plumber. To test the drain pump: 1. To turn on the washer, press POWER. 2. Select HIGH by pressing the SPIN SPEED key. 3. Start the SPIN ONLY cycle by pressing START/PAUSE. 4. A humming sound indicates that the drain pump motor has begun to run.