The 10 Most Common Washing Machine Problems

Ryan Womeldorf
by Ryan Womeldorf

Washing machines have come a long way. It was not so long ago that they were barely better than washing everything in a tub by hand. Now, they are programmable, have different cycle options, and can wash clothing of almost any fabric.

But there are more than a few common issues as well. Some of the most common issues with washing machines include little or no drainage, a failing spin cycle, a lot of noise, a bad smell, and even damaged clothing. Each of these problems requires specific troubleshooting to find. From there, you (or a professional) can implement a fix that will get it back in working order.

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The 10 Most Common Washing Machine Problems

While washing machines make keeping your clothes fresh and clean more convenient than ever, they are not without issue. There are common problems that can arise, especially with frequent use. Being able to recognize them, even if you can’t implement a fix yourself, can help expedite a solution.

There are 10 common issues, in particular, that bear watching. When they arise, you will be able to properly identify them and work on a solution yourself where possible. Without further ado, here are the 10 most common washing machine problems.

1. It’s Loud

Let’s get this straight right now: there is no such thing as a quiet washing machine. They are going to make a requisite amount of noise and there’s nothing to do about it. But if you notice that there are louder than normal noises, it should sound alarms in your head.

Coin and debris can often times bounce around during a cycle. Removing that is a simple enough fix. But if something gets caught in the drum, you might have to clear space to check around the drum. When debris is stuck in the drum, that sound will persist until you get it all out.

Should you hear a loud screeching or grinding noise, it means that the suspension is off balance. Don’t run your machine again until you get it balanced again.

2. It Bounces

Seeing a washing machine vibrate is no big deal. With that kind of force, a little vibration is going to happen. Even wobbling is not necessarily a cause for concern. After all, it could just be that one of the legs is at a different length from the others. That can be tightened up and remedied in short order.

But if your washing machine is full-on bouncing, that is a cause for concern. It could be that your shock absorbers are disconnected entirely, which means that any amount of force can make your washing machine start jumping all around.

Imbalanced loads can also lead to that bouncing, especially if the floor is not level. You can check the levelness of your washing machine before you run it. Even if your machine doesn’t bounce, it will wobble annoyingly.

3. Clothes are Getting Damaged or Ripped

Aside from a washing machine that doesn’t drain at all, there is no worse feeling than taking your clothes out of the washer only to find them damaged or ripped. Your clothes were supposed to get clean, not ruined.

The most common reason that your clothing is getting ripped is due to random debris in the washing machine. Foreign objects can become trapped in the drum, shredding through your clothing when the spin cycle starts going.

As a matter of fact, debris is one of the leading causes of a lot of different issues. Make sure that there is no loose debris in your clothing before you perform the next wash cycle. It will save you a lot of trouble in the end.

4. No Water

It can be alarming if you go to start your washing machine and water does not start to fill the drum. Like the drainage issues later on, the most common reason why your washing machine is not filling up with water is due to a kink or block in the hose.

Pull the machine out and give the hose a once over. If it is damaged, replace it immediately. Otherwise, return it back into position and give it another try. It also may seem simple but make sure that the water is turned on as well.

5. No Spin Cycle

The spin cycle is necessary before you can move your clothing to the dryer. When your clothes are fully saturated with water, they get to be quite heavy. The spin cycle uses high-velocity cycles to wring the water out of your clothing.

Most of the time, it is simply due to the load being too small or big. A simple readjustment will do the trick. If you frequently overload the washing machine it is possible that the suspension may be thrown out of alignment or damaged.

If it is not a simple imbalance issue, implementing a repair can be difficult. The more damage done, the more work it will require. Should simply balancing out the load doesn’t solve the issue, then you may need a service technician to come out and troubleshoot the issue.

6. Slow Drainage

In order to complete a full cycle, your washing machine needs to be able to properly drain. If it can’t or does so slowly, it will make your cycles longer, which puts more wear and tear on the various components within.

The first place to check is the filter. You should be changing out your filter on a regular basis. When it gets clogged up, it may not prevent drainage from happening but it can definitely slow the entire process down.

Check out the hose, too. Minor clogs and damage to the hose can impact its ability to drain as well. Also, make sure to clear any loose debris from any of the components as they will no doubt come into play at some time.

7. No Drainage

This is probably the one problem that no one wants to see. Your washing machine can hold a lot of water and having to dispose of it yourself is a nightmare. Most of the time, the reason for no drainage is a blockage somewhere in the drain hose.

There is no easy way to go about it. You will have to pull the machine away from the wall and manually drain the water away. If you have a wet/dry vac, that could work in a pinch, especially if access to a drain is not readily available.

It is messy and there’s kind of nothing that can be done about that. When the water is clear, you can check that your filter is clean and look for any blockages in the hose. If the hose is worn down, you may want to consider getting a new one entirely.

8. Weird Smells

Odors are just a part of life. A little smell never hurt anyone, right? Well, your washing machine really shouldn’t have a funky smell to it. Especially given the fact that your washer is supposed to be cleaning your clothes in the first place. For the most part, the funky smell is due to a build-up of grime and bacteria from frequent washing using liquid detergents and cold wash cycles.

The good news is that you can resolve the issue most of the time. For the most part, a hot wash can help with the smell. You probably should be running the occasional maintenance wash to help as well. In some extreme cases, you may need to get a specific cleaner to get rid of those odors and any mold if it comes to that.

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9. Won’t Turn On

Perhaps your washing machine has either suddenly stopped working or won’t respond the next time you go to use it. It is enough to make your heart leap. The causes can be simple or complex. In some cases, the breaker trips and shuts off power to the appliance. The best place to start is ensuring that the machine is getting power.

In the more extreme cases, there may be an issue with one of the electrical components within the machine. If that is the case, a DIY fix is going to be a lot harder if it is possible at all. At that point, you are likely better off calling a service technician to assess the issue and make the necessary repairs.

10. Door Won’t Open

Remember that a washing machine is meant to be airtight. It has to be to keep water from leaking out during any of the cycles. When the door won’t open, it can feel like a hundred men would not be able to pry it open.

If there is water in the machine, try setting it to the drain cycle to drain the water out. If water is detected in the machine and still won’t open, it could be that there is something blocking up the drainage. The most common reason why a washing machine door would not open is that it can’t drain out all of the water properly.

Ryan Womeldorf
Ryan Womeldorf

Ryan Womeldorf has more than a decade of experience writing. He loves to blog about construction, plumbing, and other home topics. Ryan also loves hockey and a lifelong Buffalo sports fan.

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