My Washing Machine Won’t Spin!!!

Your washing basket’s overflowing, you’ve put on the first wash and then everything comes to a stand still as the machine won’t spin – sure this sounds all too familiar to lots of people. There’s nothing more frustrating when you’re up against it for time and one of your most important labour-saving device goes on the blink!

There are, of course, many reasons why the washing machine refuses to spin or, even worse, won’t drain either.

Before ringing a qualified washing machine engineer, the first place to check is the filter, usually found low down on the front of the washing machine. If you do find the filter is blocked, it is fairly easy to clear and, once the filter is replaced, the washing machine should start to operate correctly again. Of course, you may have to investigate further, as coins and small toys can get stuck in the hose behind the filter, so you may have to dig a little deeper.

If the washing machine has managed to drain the water even if it won’t spin, you should only get a small amount of water on the floor when you remove the filter, however, if it hasn’t drained you will obviously get much more water and it’s a good idea to prepare for this before removing the filter, by laying newspapers, old towels etc around the base of the machine. Basically anything that will help soak up the water.

Most manufacturers recommend the filters are cleaned between each wash, which seems a little excessive, but it is necessary to carry out this operation on a fairly regular basis. This should help tokeep your washing machine operating to a high standard.

There could be other reasons why the machine stops working. Modern washing machines are controlled by electronics, which can be very sensitive. They have been programmed to stop the machine from working when they detect something is not quite right.
This could be the cause if you have overloaded the machine, as it could impact on the way the drum rotates. In extreme cases, causing the machine to actually start walking forward, possibly causing damage to your floor. If this is the case, you best option would be to select the drain function on the control panel – with your fingers crossed! You can then unload the clothes and redistribute in the drum, or perhaps take some out for a later wash. This should resolve the situation.

If, of course, your’re unlucky and the drain function does not work, your only option would be to manually drain the machine by removing the filter as detailed above, and be prepared for lots of water to pour out!
As an aside, the electronic controls on modern washing machines are very sensitive and may not like trying to spin one item at the speed you have selected.

If, after trying all of the above options, your machine may still stubbornly refuse to spin/drain. If your machine has a timer operated option, it is very unlikely this would be the cause but it is something to put on your list to be checked if you are still left scratching your head for a solution.

Although often accused of being the culprit of a washing machine malfunction, the belts generally do not stretch and, in fact, are probably still in good working order when your machine comes to the end of its natural service. Not generally something that needs to be investigated.

Carbon brushes do wear down after a lot of use, especially with an older machine, and this could impact on the spinning operation. If you are lucky to be able to carry out this sort of job yourself,or ‘know a man who can’, this is fine but if not, you can contact a qualified engineer to carry out this repair for you.

Basically, any of the separate parts of a washing machine may need replacing at some time, but it is always a good idea to work through any or all of the solutions above before you seek out an engineer,as we all know call out charges can be very expensive, and it could be that you are able to solve the problem yourself. Not only saving you money, but also getting the machine up and running quickly.

To recap:

  • Check the filter for blockages, clear, clean and replace. Be prepared for water to leak out ofthe machine once the filter is removed. If the machine has also stopped draining, much more water will flood out of the machine so have something ready to soak up the water. Replace the filter and restart the machine.
  • If, once you have replaced the filter, the machine still does not spin, the electronics may have detected an uneven load, check the amount of washing in the machine, redistribute theweight and perhaps reduce the load.
  • Bear in mind the electronic detector is very sensitive on washing machines and may limit the speed of the spin for lighter loads.

If this still does not resolve the problem, you should review some of the other options contained in the article above. Bear in mind this may need the assistance of a qualified engineer.

 


Disclaimer: The information provided has been prepared as a guide only and the steps taken are likely to vary for different appliance models. We strongly recommend using a qualified engineer to undertake major repairs and fault finding.

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