How to Troubleshoot Common Issues with Your Washing Machine

Washing machines have become an indispensable part of modern households. With just the press of a button, they automate the tedious task of washing piles of dirty laundry. However, as with any frequently used appliance, washing machines can and do develop technical issues from time to time.

Common washing machine problems like the washer not draining, not spinning, leaking, making too much noise, or simply stopping mid-wash can be extremely frustrating to deal with. Before calling a repair technician though, it’s a good idea to try troubleshooting and fixing the problem on your own. You’ll not only save money on repair bills but also gain the satisfaction of having fixed something with your own hands.

This article will take you through a step-by-step process to diagnose and address five of the most common washing machine issues DIY-style. So read on to find out how to troubleshoot problems like your washer not draining or spinning, leaking water, making strange noises, or stopping mid-cycle. The guide details various parts you need to inspect and tips to not just fix your washing machine, but prevent issues in the long run too.

Washing Machine Basics

Before learning how to troubleshoot common laundry washer issues, let us briefly understand how these ingenious cleaning appliances work in the first place.

All standard washing machines have the same basic parts:

• The outer tub: Holds all the water needed for the washing process
• The inner rotating drum: Holds the clothes that need cleaning
• Central agitator: Rotates during the wash cycle to move clothes around in soapy water
• Motor: Drives the drum and agitator
• Pump: Draws in and drains out water
• Hoses and valves: Fill the machine with water and drain it out
• Control panel: Houses buttons/knobs to control settings

When you load clothes and laundry detergent into the washing machine and turn it on, here is what happens:

The detergent dispenser adds detergent to water being pumped in through fill hoses while valves control the flow amount. The central agitator moves clothes around in soapy water. The motor then spins the drum for optimal cleaning action and water circulation. Finally, a drain pump removes dirty water. Fresh water enters for rinsing and the final spin dries clothes by extracting excess moisture so they are ready for the dryer.

Now let us look at five common issues that tend to come up with washing machines.

Most Common Washing Machine Problems

Much like with any other mechanical appliance in your home, there are a few problems that crop up frequently with laundry washers owing to extensive usage and wear and tear of parts. The top 5 most frequently reported washing machine issues are:

1. Won’t drain properly
2. Won’t spin adequately
3. Leaking water
4. Making unusual noises
5. Cycle stopping midway

We will now dive into detail on how these 5 common washer problems manifest, followed by their likely causes and step-by-step self-troubleshooting instructions.

Troubleshooting Issue #1: Won’t Drain

One of the most annoying washer problems you are likely to encounter is when your washing machine fails to adequately drain the water out after finishing its wash and rinse cycle.

“A washer not draining properly can leave soggy wet piles of laundry that are impossible to dry. It also prevents your machine from being able to fill with clean water for the next load.”

You know your washer refuses to drain when:

• The wash cycle completes but water stays stagnant in the drum
• The spin cycle fails since the machine cannot spin wet clothes properly
• Fresh laundry smells musty from sitting wet for too long
• Error code related to drainage issue appears on the control panel

There can be a couple of reasons why your washer won’t drain. Common causes include:

• Drain hose is clogged or kinked
• Drain pump is clogged by coins, pins and other debris
• Pump filter needs cleaning
• Water outlet where hose connects is clogged

Table 1 below outlines possible drainage problem causes and solutions in more detail:

Table 1: Common Causes and Solutions for Washer Drain Problems

We will now look at how to fix a washing machine that is not draining in more detail:

Step 1: Check The Drain Hose

Drain hoses are flexible ribbed pipes that run from your washer’s drain outlet to a suitable ground outlet or standpipe. Start troubleshooting by inspecting them first.

• Locate the drain hose running out the back of your washing machine
• Check the full length of hose for kinks, clogs or tight bends
• Make sure it is correctly secured and routed without any leaks
• Straighten any kinks and clear out collected debris
• Replace damaged drain hose if in poor condition

Keeping your drain hose kink-free prevents back flow of drained water back into machine.

Step 2: Clean The Drain Pump Filter

If correctly routed and kink-free drain hoses are not the issue, chances are your drainage problem lies with the pump filter. This fine mesh filter collects lint, stray socks, coins, buttons and other debris that can impede proper drainage.

To clean it:

• Locate the small round drain pump filter cover at bottom corner of your washer
• Place towels underneath to catch water spill then loosen cover by turning counter clockwise
• Drain out collected water and debris into bucket
• Thoroughly rinse out any detergent residue
• Secure cover back in place by rotating clockwise

Be sure to clean the drain pump filter every 3-4 months to facilitate smooth drainage.

Step 3: Ensure Drain Outlet Is Clear

Washing machine drainage hoses connect via a plastic adapter to a standpipe outlet or ground pipe. Make sure debris collected around this outlet is not blocking general drainage flow:

• Wipe away any mud, sludge or mold around your washer outlet
• Use a wire coat hanger to carefully dislodge any debris clogging the drainage cavity
• Pour hot water around cavity to clear residual buildup
• Consider re-routing outlet if sagging hoses allow back flow into outlet

With drainage path cleared, your washer should now be able to pump out water without issues.

Troubleshooting Issue #2: Won’t Spin

The next most common complaint after washers failing to drain properly is that they quit mid cycle when they should be spinning clothes to extract moisture. Since the final fast spin is important to removing enough water so drying cycles can do their job, this breakdown can seriously hamper laundry functionality.

“A washer that won’t proceed to its high speed spin leaves clothes sitting saturated in stagnant water.”

Possible reasons your washing machine refuses to budge from rinse and into spin are:

• Broken or loose drive belt
• Defective motor coupler
• Broken motor
• Lid switch issue from loose lid or latch
• Stuck suspension components
• Heavy load imbalance

Heavy laundry loads that clump to one side of the drum can also prevent proper spinning from taking place.

Let us look at the step-by-step process to get your washer spinning again:

Step 1: Ensure A Balanced Load

We will first tackle the simplest issue to rule out – an imbalanced laundry load:

• Confirm laundry is evenly distributed around drum and not overloaded on one side
• Try restarting spin cycle after redistributing weight
• If small load, add additional items to balance out rotation
• For very heavy items like comforters, run spin separately

If redistributing laundry does not work, drive train components likely need inspection.

Step 2: Check The Drive Belt

The drive belt or coupling belt connects the motor to transmission. This allows it to smoothly spin the drum. If this belt is either broken or loose, the drum will fail to turn.

• Take off rear panel to access belt – refer your appliance guide for model-specific instructions
• Check if belt is snapped or has significant cracks/wear. Replace if needed.
• Examine if belt has enough tension. Adjust as needed if loose.
• Ensure pulleys and shafts belt wraps around rotate without obstruction

Replacing worn drive belts and adjusting belt tension is quite straightforward. It instantly gets washers spinning again.

Step 3: Examine Lid Switch

All washing machine lids have a safety switch that prevents the washer from running if the lid is open. If lid fails to properly engage switch, washer may fail to proceed from wash to spin cycle.

• Make sure lid closes properly leaving no gap
• Listen for audible lid switch click sound when lid closes
• Use continuity testing multimeter to check if switch works electrically
• Replace lid switch if found defective after testing

With the lid sensor and switch working again, your washing machine should be able to spin smoothly once more.

Troubleshooting Issue #3: Leaking Water

Nothing can make laundry day more miserable than dealing with huge puddles of water on the floor from a leaky washing machine. Let us look what causes these pesky washer leaks and how to fix them.

“Small leaks easily develop into major flooding issues if left unaddressed.”

Potential sources and troubleshooting for washing machine water leaks include:

Table 2: Causes and Solutions for Water Leaks

As we can see in Table 2, there are a few places from where washing machines tend to leak the vast amounts of water they use. Let’s examine the common leak points further:

Door Seal And Gasket

The rubber seal wrapped around washer door opening ensures water stays within drum instead of escaping. With regular use, this seal gets eroded and develops small tears or holes. Sharp objects in laundry loads can also sometimes puncture the door seal.

• Visually inspect gray/black door gasket for gaps, cracks or holes
• Run a cycle and check if water seeps past the seal
• Order replacement gasket for your model and switch it out

Inlet Fill Hoses

The inlet hoses that connect washer to faucet and water supply lines also tend to crack and leak over time. The constant pressure of water flowing in weakens connections.

• Check where hoses meet fill valve for drips during fill cycle
• Tighten fitting if loose but replace hoses if cracks are visible
• Consider upgrading to stainless steel hoses for longer life

By examining the door seal, hoses and fittings, you can catch and rectify most washer leaks before major spills or floods occur.

Troubleshooting Issue #4: Makes Noise

Another rather annoying washing machine problem is when the washer starts making strange noises during the wash cycles. While they churn and spin clothes in water, some noise is expected. But new screeching, grinding or loud banging noises usually signify an underlying repair issue.

“Funny new noises almost always indicate worn or loose washer components that need fixing.”

Common causes for new washing machine noises include:

• Loose mounting bolts causing appliance vibrations
• Broken shock absorber resulting in banging during spins
• Screeching or grinding noises from a bad transmission pulley, clutch or belt
• Objects stuck in drum like coins, buttons causing rattling

Here is how to track down what is causing the disturbing new noises in your washer:

Step 1: Tighten Mounting Bolts

Over time vibrations during wash cycles loosen the bolts securing the washer cabinet to ground. This causes the entire unit to shake and rattle excessively.

• Unplug washing machine before inspection
• Examine base for loosened mounting bolts or washers
• Tighten any loosened nuts/bolts using your tools
• Use extra washers if re-tightening alone doesn’t reduce rattling

Checking mounting bolts should be step one since loose bolts alone cause a variety of funky noises during wash cycles.

Step 2: Check Shock Absorbers

Shock absorbers minimize vibrations during high speed spins. If one breaks, you will hear loud thumping or banging noises as the drum loses balance and hits sides.

• Gain access to underside by tipping washer backwards (exercise caution)
• Visually check four shocks around the middle for detached top mounts
• Order replacement absorber for your model and swap it out
• Test with high speed spin cycle

Replacing broken shocks resolves the loud banging issues restoring quiet operation.

Step 3: Inspect Drive Pulleys And Belts

Finally, grinding or high pitched squealing noises signal problems with drive components. Belt pulleys, couplings or the drive belt itself might be faulty.

• Remove rear panel to inspect belt and pulleys
• Check belt tension and tracks along pulleys
• Test spin both pulleys for any wobble or stiff rotation
• Replace damaged belts, pulleys or motor coupler if needed

Fixing defective drive parts is the solution for any kind of strange grinding or squealing noises coming from your washer during runs.

Troubleshooting Issue #5: Stops Mid-Cycle

Modern computerized washers are meant to automatically go through preset wash, rinse and spin cycles spanning 30 to 40 minutes once started. But when your washer suddenly stops right in the middle of a running cycle, that is very likely an electrical control board issue.

“A washing machine that powers down mid cycle fails to finish cleaning or rinsing the laundry inside.”

The reasons why washers stop mid cycle could include:

• Electrical surge leading to control board failure
• Loose wiring connections interrupting power
• Defective water level sensor providing incorrect readings
• Stalled motor unable to turn drum

Let us look at troubleshooting steps to get washing cycles running fully again:

Step 1: Reset Electrical Controller

Washing machines have mini onboard computers to regulate timing and progress of different cycles. Power spikes often cause them to malfunction and pause cycles abruptly.

• Unplug the washer from power completely
• Wait for 60 seconds to allow controller to reset
• Plug machine in again and restart cycle

See if resetting the computer brain this way allows affected cycle to resume.

Step 2: Check Wiring Connections

Shaky wiring with loose or damaged terminal connections can cause temporary power loss to the control unit.

• Unplug washing machine to safely inspect connections
• Check junctions on timer, sensors, thermostats for any loose wires
• Tighten wires securely or replace damaged wires if needed
• Plug back in washer try running interrupted cycle again

If simple reset and wire inspections fail, the electronic control board likely needs replacement – an advanced fix best left to service technicians if you are uncomfortable tackling complex electronics.

Conclusion

We have explored step-by-step DIY troubleshooting guides to address five of the most commonly faced washing machine breakdowns – failing to drain or spin properly, leaks, noise issues and abrupt mid cycle stoppages.

Remember prevention is always better than dealing with expensive washer repairs down the line. Follow care and maintenance tips outlined in the article like:

• Regularly cleaning drainage pumps and inlet hose filters
• Replacing old hoses and seals with new high quality ones
• Tightening mounting bolts and components before they loosen excessively
• Leaving washing machine lid open between uses for air circulation

With a mix of preventative maintenance and following troubleshooting steps above, you can save yourselves from problem washers that leave you soaked in despair instead of suds!