How to Fix a Washer That is Not Spinning?
When a washing machine stops spinning abruptly, it can derail your entire laundry schedule. Dealing with a heap of sodden clothes and a buzzing machine that will not budge is annoying—but before you grab the phone to call a technician, take a deep breath and read on.
The problem is often insignificant and valid to repaired with a few simple troubleshooting tips. This article will guide you through common reasons your washer’s spinning function cannot operate, including how-to tips to fix the problem, meanwhile saving you time, money, and headaches.
Causes of Washer Not Spinning: How to Fix?
You place your clothes in your washer, add the detergent, push the button, and expect it to work. When you return, your clothes are still soaking wet, or the drum hasn’t even moved. This can be frustrating, especially if you depend on that one clean outfit or are in a hurry to get your items to dry.
The good news is that – in most cases – a washer that doesn’t want to spin is not broken beyond repair, just responding to some little thing that you can fix.
Here are a few of the more common reasons that this occurs and how to resolve the problem without calling a repair technician right away.
1. Washer Capacity Exceeded or Clothes Loaded Unevenly
One of the most common mistakes with washing machines is overloading. When you pack too many clothes — particularly heavy ones like blankets or towels — the washer drum becomes unbalanced, which will cause the washer to automatically stop spinning to prevent damage.
Think of it as if you throw several towels on one side of the washer — it’s like trying to run with a backpack hanging on just one shoulder. The machine cannot keep its balance and simply won’t spin.
How to Fix?
To begin, pause the washer and lift the lid. If the clothes are bunched to one side, redistribute them evenly in the drum. If the load seems too large or heavy, remove several items. If you do this, try the spin cycle again.
In the future, when washing clothes, leave space at the top of the drum (about the width of your hand). This will allow your clothes to move freely for a better spin.
2. Lid or Door Not Closing Properly
Each washing machine has a safety feature that stops the washer from spinning if the lid or door is not closed. This feature exists to stop the drum from spinning when someone may put their hands inside. But the lid switch (top-load washers) or door lock (front-load washers) can wear out over time or become misaligned.
You may close the lid, but the washer does not “know” it is closed. It may be as simple as a latch that is broken or detergent that has built up, which makes the lid not seal tightly.
How to Fix?
Make sure the lid or door is securely opened and closed, and you should hear a click — that is a good indication that the switch is engaging properly. If you don’t hear the click, check around the latch for dirt or detergent residue, or see if there is something broken.
You can clean the area with a soft cloth and try again. If your washer still does not spin, you may need to replace the lid switch or lock. These are relatively inexpensive and generally simple to replace.
3. Frayed or Broken Drive Belt
If your washer sounds like it is agitating, but the drum is not spinning, the drive belt may have come off or broken. The belt connects the motor drive to the drum to enable the spin. Belts may stretch, slip off, or snap, typically on older machines or machines with heavy loads that exceed their capabilities.
How to Fix?
First, unplug the washer for safety reasons. Next, remove the back panel or bottom panel (depending on your washer type) and check the belt. If cracked, frayed, or loose, replace it, which can be purchased online or at an appliance parts store.
Replacing it is typically a straightforward DIY project by looping the new belt over the pulleys the same way the old one came off. Run a quick spin test to ensure everything is back to working smoothly after replacing the drive belt.
4. Clogged Drain Hose or Pump Filter
If the washer isn’t draining water well, it probably will not spin either. Most machines are designed not to spin until all the water is pumped out before they begin to spin.
If the drain hose or pump filter is clogged with a buildup of lint, coins, or small articles of clothing (such as socks), the washer would drain very slowly or not at all. You may see standing water in the drum, hear gurgling noises, or the washer will stop mid-cycle.
How to Fix?
Gently pull out the washer slightly and examine the drain hose at the back, and make sure that it’s not bent or kinked. If you find that the drain hose is bent or kinked in any way, disconnect it and dump out the water, then run water through the hose to clear any blockage.
Then, locate the pump filter — this is normally behind a small access door at the bottom front of the washer. Place a towel below the filter (a little water may drip out) and twist open the filter and remove debris and lint, rinse it out, then reattach. Finally, restart the washer to check if that resolved your problem by putting the washer on a spin cycle.
5. Motor or Motor Coupling Issue
If your washer fills up and drains — but doesn’t spin — and you can hear a humming sound, your issue may be with the motor or motor coupling. The motor coupling connects your washer’s motor to the transmission, so if it breaks, the drum won’t turn. Motors can also go out from wear and tear or a power surge, especially if you have been using them for many years.
How to Fix?
Disconnect the washer from the power source and inspect the area around the motor for any signs of damage or burning odors. A motor coupling is a moderate-level repair. If you’re handy, you can do it. If you have doubts, you may want to call an appliance technician.
If it’s the motor itself that is malfunctioning, you should probably have a technician test it. Technicians require special tools and must understand how to properly test the motor for faults.
6. Defective Control Board or Timer
Most modern washers rely on electronic control boards to manage all of their cycles. If the board malfunctions, it can skip steps – for example, it might not spin – or it could freeze in the middle of a cycle.
In old washers, a worn mechanical timer can contribute to the same functionality issues. If you notice that the washer fills and agitates, but it does not advance to the spin cycle, and everything else works as expected, then your timer or control board might be defective.
How to Fix?
Begin with a simple reset. Unplug the washer for five to ten minutes, plug it back in, and start the cycle again. Sometimes that’s all that’s needed. If it doesn’t, and the other parts, like the belt and switch, are functioning, the cause may be the control board or timer.
In that case, if you’re in a home, you’ll most likely need a technician to take a look. These parts can be expensive, so it would be cost-prohibitive to replace them without testing. You may just want to wait to get a new washer.
7. Worn Clutch or Transmission (Top Load Washers)
In top-loading machines, the clutch and transmission allow the drum to spin at the appropriate rate. These parts can wear out over time, particularly if they have been asked to function normally over many years under difficult conditions.
You may notice that the drum starts to spin, but it does not reach proper speed, or it may make a grinding noise before stopping.
How to Fix?
This is a more involved repair, as this requires you to open the bottom of the machine. If you are comfortable with mechanical repairs, you can look at the clutch for burn marks or worn pads.
If these parts show wear, it may be a good idea to replace the clutch, as it will restore speed to the drum. However, if the transmission itself is bad, you need to contact a professional for repair or replacement — this can be complicated and/or expensive.
8. Power or Sensor Problems
Occasionally, it won’t even be a mechanical issue. Present-day washing machines (especially the front-load models) have sensors and electronic signals that control various functions of the machine, like water amounts and spin speeds.
If there’s a voltage drop, a loose wire, or an issue with a sensor, your washing machine may stop spinning while the load is washing.
How to Fix?
To troubleshoot, you can start by unplugging the washer for a few minutes to reset it. After a few minutes, plug the washer back in and run a spin-only cycle. If the machine displays an error code or light, reference the manual or the manufacturer’s website page to find out what that code means.
If the washing machine continues to have issues, then it would be an electronic issue involving a sensor or control, and in this situation, an appliance repair service calls for assistance.
Still Facing Issues? Call Appliance Medic
In the event that your washing machine is still not spinning after trying the above solutions, it may be time to call in the professionals. Some issues may involve potential motor problems, faulty wiring, or damaged control boards that may require tools and expertise to repair.
At Appliance Medic, we have an experienced team of technicians who specialize in washing machine repair for all brands and models. Whether your washing machine is making a loud noise, not spinning at all, or there is an electrical problem, we can have the appliance running like new again quickly.
Why bother with unnecessary time and effort figuring out what is wrong? Call Appliance Medic today for quick, dependable, and affordable washing machine repair service to get you back to your regularly scheduled clean, dry laundry without the hassle.
