refrigerator temperature issues

Posted on: 23 September 2015

Having a working washing machine is important, especially when you have a large family. If you notice that your washing machine will turn on and fill with water, but does not spin, the malfunction could be something serious or something minor. Most issues that cause a washing machine to not spin can be easily diagnosed with a little bit of knowhow. The following guide walks you through the process of identifying what could be causing your top loading washing machine to stop spinning.

Door Latch Damage

In order for the washing machine to spin, the door on top of the washing machine must latch and lock. If the latch does not latch properly, the tub inside of the machine will not spin at all. Examine the latch to make sure that nothing is bent or broken. There will be a small prong sticking out of the lid to the washing machine. If you start to close the door, you should see a small opening in the washing machine where the prong goes into the machine. Use a pen to press down on the small door in the opening to see if the washing machine starts to spin. If the machine does spin, that means that the prong is no longer aligned properly with the hole and the latch is not catching. Home improvement stores sell the small prongs that you will need to replace on the door of the washing machine in order to get the machine to operate properly again.

Defective Tub Bearing

There is a bearing that goes around the inner side of the outer drum of the washing machine. The bearing helps the inner drum be able to spin smoothly within the outer drum. Turn the washing machine off, unplug it and then attempt to turn the drum within the machine by hand. If the inner drum will not spin in either direction, the tub bearing may need to be replaced. You will need to hire a professional to handle the replacement of a tub bearing because it requires in-depth knowledge of the inner workings of a washing machine.

Worn Drive Pulley

The drive pulley is the part of the washing machine that causes the inner drum to spin within the outer drum. The spin starts off slowly and quickly increases in speed when the drive pulley is working properly. A damaged or worn drive pulley will not be able to keep a grip of the inner drum and the drum will continually slip and not spin properly. If you notice that the washing machine spins for a few seconds and then stops, there is a good chance that the drive pulley needs to be replaced and a professional needs to be called to handle the detailed repair.

If you have tried all of the tips listed above and still are not able to determine what the issue is keeping your washing machine from spinning, you need to call a repair person, such as Affordable Appliance Repair, to come and inspect the machine for you. He or she will be able to identify what the issue is within a few minutes and let you know what it would take to repair the malfunction. Take the time to find out how much the repair would cost to see if it is an investment worth making or if the repair is not worth the cost and replacing the machine is a better option.