is there a ball in the drainage to let water out

ROSE MC CLOSKEY, May 2010

yes there is, I just had to fix mine, a sock had found its way in there. The machine ran half a cycle then all the lights on the panel flashed (standard warning)

I eventually found the sock after a couple of hours head scratching

Mark Snare, August 2010

the ball is there for the following reason
the filter pot under the outer drum contains the plastic ball, when the drain pump starts the action of the pump draws the ball downwards allowing water out of the drum. when the pump stops the ball floats up to the top of the water in the pot and seals the hole
this was devised to try prevent the dirty water from the sink filling the washer if connected this way., another method tried was the flap valve mounted on the pump output

wirecutterman, May 2010