Why Won’t My Washing Machine Spin?

May 7, 2018 Published by Leave your thoughts

When your washing machine runs, it usually goes through a final spin cycle, in which the drum rotates quickly, helping to wick away excess water from your clothes, leaving them more dry and ready to be hung or put in the dryer. One of the most common problems homeowners tend to have with their washing machines is that the machine suddenly won’t spin, leaving clothes sopping wet after the wash cycle.

It can be extremely frustrating to deal with a broken washing machine—doing laundry outside of your home can be a major inconvenience, and the machines aren’t always easy to fix, forcing you to call for appliance repair in St. Peters, MO. However, there are a few things you can do to help identify the problem with your machine and get it back to spinning in no time.

Go through the basics

Before you pick up the phone and call for appliance repair in St. Peters, MO right away, do a quick check that the lid on your washing machine is firmly closed. Most machines won’t enter a spin cycle until it registers the lid is closed completely for safety, and even the slightest jam can prevent it from spinning.

While investigating the lid, check the plastic tab that presses on the switch to indicate the lid is closed. If the tab is broken, you’ll need to replace it. Next, find the switch and press it. If it doesn’t click or indicate a closed lid while you hold it down, you’ll need to have it replaced.

Next, check your settings. Sometimes laundry loads get set to soak cycles instead of normal cycles with spin by accident. Finally, check the drum to make sure the clothes aren’t clumped together on one side. An unbalanced load sometimes prevents the machine from spinning and will cause it to shudder.

If your lid is closed, the drum is balanced and the cycle is correct, the problem may lie with an internal part.

Check the belts and drives

Drive belts, drive motors and motor couplings all work together to make the drum of your washing machine spin. If one or more of these parts fails due to wear over time, the drum won’t spin like it should, or may not spin at all.

The drive belt can come loose, wear down or snap entirely, preventing the motor from turning the drum. If you can turn the drum very easily with your hand without much resistance, the belt may have snapped. Call for appliance repair in St. Peters, MO to have it replaced.

There is also something called a drive motor coupling made of plastic and rubber, which is mounted to the motor and transmission. The coupling can wear out and fail, requiring replacement. Similarly, the drive motor itself can wear down, break and need to be replaced. If the motor is the issue, you may hear a sputtering sound from your washing machine while it runs.

If you can’t determine the source of the problem or don’t feel comfortable repairing your appliance on your own, Crews Appliance Repair is here to help! We’ve served happy clients for over 35 years with our wide selection of appliance repair services, from washers and dryers, to refrigerators and freezers, to stovetops. We even offer free estimates, free service calls with select repairs and warranties on all repairs for 100 days! Call today to schedule an appointment.

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