Do it yourself washing machine repair

The washing machine is no longer a luxury item for modern housewives. Today this “workhorse” is installed in almost every, even the most poor home. But no matter how modern and wonderful household appliances may seem, they still tend to break down. The easiest thing to do in such a situation is, of course, to call in a Brooklyn washing machine repair technician from this website, who will quickly fix the problem.

But you can do it in another way. To repair the washing machine itself is not so difficult. For this you do not need to have any special skills. You just need to carefully understand the structure of the washing machine and understand the principle of its operation. Therefore, if you have a broken washing machine, then, after carefully reading this article, you will be able to repair at least half of the unpleasant situations with your own hands. So, let’s proceed.

The principle of the washing machine

All household washing machines not only have a similar device, but also work on the same principle.

After turning the machine on, loading the laundry and selecting a program, the door lock mechanism is triggered and the machine begins operation.
Through the inlet valve, water enters the drum of the washing machine, the level of which is regulated by a special sensor.
Once the desired amount of liquid has entered the drum, the valve closes.
Now the water is heated to the desired temperature, the heating element is activated. Heating is also controlled by a special sensor, and if there is no sensor, the timer is triggered.
Simultaneously with the electric heater, the motor turns on and the drum begins to slowly rotate in different directions with unequal time intervals. This is to ensure that the laundry is evenly soaked.
When the water is heated to the required temperature, the heating element is switched off and the washing process begins. The drum rotates alternately in different directions with the same time interval. This mode is necessary to prevent the laundry from becoming lumpy.
At the end of the process, the dirty water is pumped out with a pump and a new one is taken for rinsing.
The drum starts rotating again at low speed, and the laundry is rinsed. Depending on the selected mode, the rinsing process may be repeated several times.
At the end of the last rinse the pump starts working again. It pumps out the water, after which the drum starts rotating again, but at higher speed.
This is the spinning process. The pump remains on all the time until the end of washing.

That’s it. As you can see, there is nothing complicated about it. To understand why the washing machine broke down, you need first of all to know exactly when it happened, that is, to correctly identify the unit that is working at the moment. Since the principle of operation of all units is the same, then the main faults of washing machines of any brand are also very similar. In this article we will try to disassemble them all, well, maybe except for some very small ones.

The washing machine does not turn on

If the washing machine shows no signs of life at all, the reason may be ridiculously trivial – it simply forgot to be plugged in.

Also, the machine will not work if the door is open or closed loosely. This is usually signaled by the electronics and the corresponding icon on the scoreboard. Wrong washing program is also one of the common causes.

If all of the above causes are excluded, and the washing machine still does not work, it may be that the electrical part is out of order. First of all, check the circuit breakers on the switchboard, they probably blew out from overloading.

Is everything okay? Check the outlet, maybe it’s burned out. Now inspect the plug, unscrew it and make sure the contacts are not oxidized and are in working order.

And everything works here? Let’s move on to the wire. To check the terminal connections and test the power cord, you’ll have to remove the outer panels. Just don’t forget to remove the plug from the socket before doing so.

If your automatic machine has a mechanical timer, it may be the cause of the breakdown. Turn the knob until you hear the drum spinning. If it worked, the assembly is probably burned out and will have to be replaced.

Another reason the washing machine won’t turn on could be a closed inlet valve. Make sure it is in the open position and water is flowing into the drum.

The machine is getting water, but the washing process does not start

There may also be several reasons for this:

The heating element is burned out. If this happens, the sequence of processes is broken and the washing does not start. The unit must be replaced.
The belt drive is torn. You will have to completely disassemble the machine to see this.
Failed level or water temperature sensors.
The processor has burned out. The washer does not receive any commands and does not understand what it needs to do.
The inlet valve is faulty. It may not be opening or closing properly as a result of a clog. It is necessary to remove the clog, and not to repeat the situation, install an additional filter on the inlet.
The most unpleasant and expensive to repair is a burned out electric motor. It is impossible to fix such a failure on your own, of course, if you do not know how to rewind electric motors.

It is not getting water or it is getting water slowly

Closed inlet valve;
Inlet hose is clogged or deformed; straighten it out and clear the blockage;
The inlet filter is clogged; to clean it, turn off the water, disconnect the hose from the machine, remove the filter and rinse it under a strong stream of water, then do everything in the reverse order;
The inlet valve is clogged and out of order; the water must be shut off and replaced;
The water level regulator has failed; when the water level in the drum rises, the displaced air presses on the pressure regulator and triggers the switch; if the system is clogged or damaged, water will not be drawn.

Another reason why the water in the washing machine is very slow or does not come at all, may be due to low pressure in the system. This is not a breakdown and you will not be able to fix it with your own hands. As soon as the pressure in the system comes back to normal, everything will correct itself. If this situation happens regularly, you need to raise the pressure in the system to fix it. For example, equip a pressure tank in the attic of a private house or under the ceiling of an apartment.

Stops just in the middle of the washing process

If the washing machine stops during a wash and does not finish it, there may be several reasons:

A clog in the system. Forcibly drain the water and clean the inlet and outlet hoses and all possible filters.
Power outage. Check the plugs and fuses on the switchboard, smell the outlet, check for light in another part of the house, and test all contacts.
Incorrect mode selection. There may be a pause in the program you selected and you just need to wait.
Pump is broken, water is not pumped out at the right time and the washing process is disrupted.
The water pressure in the system has dropped. Check the pressure of the water flowing from any faucet in your house. If the pressure is low, pause the wash, wait until the flow is good again and continue.
The thermostat or heating element is broken, the water is not heated to the correct temperature, the program is malfunctioning.
The discharge hose is poisoned, the water constantly goes down the drain. At the same time the system is pumping water into the drum up to the required level, the processor all the time “thinks” that the water has not yet accumulated. To eliminate the problem, you need to check the reliability of the connection between the discharge hose and the drainage riser.
The control timer has burned out. The machine “does not understand” when it is necessary to finish one process and start another and therefore stops at all. It is quite a complicated device. To perform its repair with your own hands will not work, it is easier to buy and install a new one.
The electric motor burned out. This breakdown is also very difficult to fix on your own, you will have to call a master.

Turns off in spin mode or does not spin the laundry well

Most often the washing machine does not spin the laundry because the drain system is clogged. To fix the situation, you need to clean the filter and remove hair, threads and various small objects caught in the system.

If that doesn’t work, the pump may have burned out and the water is not being pumped out of the tank.

When the water drains normally, but the spinning does not work, then the drive belt is worn or stretched. To fix the problem, it must be tightened or replaced with a new one.

The drum doesn’t spin

To find the reason why the washing machine does not spin the drum you need:

Check the selected mode, perhaps the washing program provides a pause.
Inspect the drive belt. It is likely to have come off or stretched. Press on the belt to check the tension level. Its displacement should be about 12 mm. If the automatic washer-dryer is equipped with a tensioner, loosen or tighten the belt to the correct level. If such a construction is not provided, the only way out is to replace the belt.
Jiggle the boot hatch door. If the latch is broken or jammed and the door does not close tightly, the drum will not work. Open the door and close it sharply again, pressing it firmly. If nothing happens, the lock is broken and needs to be replaced.
Check the electric motor. It is likely that it is burned out.

The washing machine hatch is jammed

This malfunction can also be caused by several reasons.

Delayed opening. Perhaps the door of the washing machine does not open because the drum has not yet finished rotating and the washing program is not completed. One or two minutes after the end of the process, the lock will unlock by itself.
There is water left in the tank. Many washing machines are programmed so that until the water is completely drained from the tank, the lock will not open. To get the door to open, you have to force the water out and check to see if the drain filter is clogged. After that, everything should be fine.
The lock switch is broken and needs to be replaced.

Noise and rattling during operation

Such malfunction can be determined by the nature of the sound the machine makes. If you hear an irregular metallic ringing, knocking or rattling that stops when the drum stops, it is likely that small metal objects got into the machine. These could be coins, nuts, keys that have fallen out of your pockets.

A buzzing sound that gets quieter when the door is pressed hard is indicative of a broken latch. If not repaired in time, the door can jam at the most inopportune moment.

A squealing noise when the drum rotates indicates that the drive belt is slipping. Try to tension it, everything should get better.

Cracking and knocking while the drum is running indicates that the bearing is worn. You will have to replace the bearing in the washing machine. If this is not done, you can break the shaft and repair the machine will cost much more.

Water is leaking from the washing machine

In order to determine exactly where and how much it is leaking, you need to do a simple operation. Wipe the floor dry and put a dry cloth under the machine. Run a short wash cycle without laundry or powder. Carefully inspect the rag, you will see exactly which side you need to look for a leak.

The main causes of washing machine leaks can be due to: cracks in the hoses, loose clamps, skewed or broken gasket on the door and so on. If all parts of the machine are intact, the reason may be that the sewage system is clogged and the water simply has nowhere to go.

The water doesn’t warm up

First of all, you need to disassemble the machine and inspect the heating element. It is likely that there is too much scale on it or it is burned out. In the first case, it is enough to clean the heater from lime scale, in the second case the unit will have to be replaced.

If the automatic machine does not heat water, the reason may lie in the water level regulator. When the device is broken, the unit simply “does not understand” that there is enough water and it’s time to turn on the heating element.

Another possible cause could be a broken thermostat. It shuts off the heating element before the water reaches the desired temperature.

The water doesn’t drain at all

The most innocuous reason could be the wrong washing mode. Look to see if the switch is in delayed rinse mode. It is also likely that the washing program has stopped due to a lack of electricity – check the plugs.

Another quick fix cause of the washer not letting water out can be a clogged filter or drain pipe, or a bend in it. Check and clean these items and reconnect the machine.

A clogged or broken pump is another cause of malfunction. Forcibly drain the water, disconnect the pump, clean it or replace it with a new one.

The next reason for which the washing machine does not drain the water may lie in the electrical part: oxidized any contacts, failed timer or water level switch. All these areas must be “tested” and if necessary replace the damaged part.

The washing machine jumps and vibrates a lot

The first reason that the washing machine suddenly starts to walk around the apartment is a strong overload. Remove some things from the drum, and in the future follow the instructions. If there are not very many things, perhaps they are tangled and bunched up in a clump. Untangle the knot and load the machine more evenly.

If the washing machine bounces or vibrates when spinning even with a small amount of stuff, the cause may be a broken spring that holds the drum. When replacing the spring, carefully inspect the counterweights attached to the tank with bolts. It is possible that the mounts are loose and the weights are sagging. Have the situation corrected.

Also, if the machine is not level, it will “dance”. Adjust the position of the washer with the feet. They have adjustment screws on them. If they are not enough – just put a few pieces of heavy cardboard in the right places.

How to prevent breakdowns

As you can see, washing machine repair is not that difficult. But is it possible to make the washing machine break down as little as possible? It turns out you can. The most frequent breakdowns of washing machines are associated with improper operation. In order for the unit to serve you as long as possible, it is necessary to follow these simple rules:

Carefully study the instructions and strictly follow all its items;
Do not overload the machine;
Use special detergents which contain water softeners;
Every three months, run the longest wash cycle without items, but with an anti scale agent, this will help keep the heating element in order;
Carefully check all pockets for small items and debris;
Clean the inlet and outlet filters regularly;
Install an extra cleaning filter, this will protect the system from dirt and debris;
After each wash, leave the door ajar and wipe the rubber seal dry;
Purchase and install a stabilizer, it will help protect the electrical part of the machine from surges in the mains.