Portable washers with a drain pump vs gravity drain

You need a portable washer with a drain pump if the only place to empty it is higher than the machine’s drain outlet, which in most apartments means a kitchen sink on a counter. A pump pushes water up and over the sink rim. Gravity drain only works when the water can run downhill the whole way, such as into a bathtub, shower or floor drain. Most automatic portables have a pump; most twin-tubs drain by gravity. Pumps cost more and add a part that can fail, so if you can drain downhill, gravity is the cheaper and simpler choice.

The one measurement that decides it

Before you shop, measure two heights:

1. The machine’s drain outlet, usually low on the back or side of the cabinet. Check the product photos or manual for where it sits.
2. The rim of wherever the water goes: sink edge, tub edge, or floor drain.

If the drain point is below the outlet, gravity works. If it’s above, you need a pump, and the pump has to be rated to lift that high. Manufacturers state a maximum drain height on the label or in the manual, and it varies by model. Check it against your sink rim, with some margin for the hose’s loop.

Pump drain: what you get and what it costs

What you get:

• You can drain into a counter-height kitchen sink, the most common setup in a no-hookup apartment.
• The machine drains at the end of each cycle without you holding a hose low.
• Automatic portables with pumps usually run the whole cycle with the lid closed: fill, wash, rinse, spin, drain.

What it costs you:

• Price. Pump automatics sit higher than twin-tubs. See twin-tub vs automatic for the tradeoff, and check current prices on the listings.
• A part that can clog. Lint, coins and hair ties end up at the pump. Empty pockets.
• A hose that can jump. A pump pushes water hard enough to kick a loose hose out of a sink. Clip it, and stay for the drain.

Our pick: Giantex Portable Washing Machine, 1.5 cu.ft (GX10849WH-FP). 1.5 cu.ft / 11 lb, one drum, drain pump. It’s the larger single drum in this class, so you aren’t moving wet clothes between tubs, and the pump lifts water over a kitchen sink rim. It costs more than a twin-tub and still needs you nearby while it drains.

Gravity drain: what you get and what it costs

What you get:

• Lower prices.
• Nothing to clog or burn out on the drain side.
• You control exactly when it drains.

What it costs you:

• The drain must be lower than the outlet, every time. A loop of hose that rises above the outlet stops the flow.
• At a kitchen sink, that usually means lifting the machine onto a sturdy stand, or draining into a bucket.
• Most gravity machines are twin-tubs, so you move wet clothes from the wash tub to the spin tub by hand.

Our picks:

• SUPER DEAL Compact Mini Twin Tub, 13 lb: 13 lb printed across wash and spin tubs, gravity drain. Best next to a bathtub.
• COSTWAY Mini Portable Washing Machine, 5.5 lb: 5.5 lb wash, separate spin basket, 14” drain hose. The short hose means the drain needs to be close and low.

Match the drain to your apartment

For the step-by-step tub setup, see how to drain a twin tub into a bathtub. Comparing two small pump automatics? See COMFEE’ vs BLACK+DECKER.

• Kitchen sink is the only option: pump. See the sink setup guide for hooking the drain hose safely.
• Bathtub nearby: gravity is fine and cheaper. The bathroom sink washer guide covers tub-side setups.
• Pull-down faucet in the kitchen: your fill point may move to the bathroom anyway, which often makes gravity drain the easier pick. See pull-down faucets and portable washers.
• Upstairs unit: whichever you choose, the drain hose is the leak risk, not the motor. Read the upstairs guide.

Pump drain mistakes to avoid

• Draining into a sink full of dishes. The pump will outrun a half-blocked drain.
• Resting the hose in the bowl. Use the U-hook, and clip it to the faucet or sink edge.
• Running a longer hose than needed. Extra length means more lift for the pump to push and more water left in the line.
• Leaving during the drain. The first few cycles especially. That’s when you find out if the hose stays put.

Gravity drain mistakes to avoid

• A hose that rises in the middle. It all has to run downhill.
• A machine on the floor next to a counter sink. That’s a pump job.
• Draining a full twin-tub into a small bucket. Know how much water the tub holds before you start.

The short version

If the water has to go up, buy a pump and check its maximum drain height against your sink. If it can go down, save the money and go gravity. For most people draining into a kitchen sink, that means a pump automatic like the Giantex. For anyone with a bathtub next to the machine, a gravity twin-tub does the job for less.