Fault Finding on Washing Machines

Fault Finding On Washing Machines

Common Washing Machine Problems

Almost every home in the US has a washer, inevitably, they will start presenting problems at some period of their life, the only question is on how long they will run before breaking down and how much it will cost to repair. When that time comes, Mr Rogers is ready to offer you a top quality appliance repair service. Our washer repair technicians can help you fix your washing machine at an affordable price with warranty on every appliance repair.

Mr Rogers wrote a list for you so you can identify some common problems with your washer machine.

Washer Problem #1 - Washing machine won'tstart, no power

There is lots of things that can cause this to happen but as with any fault diagnosis, start at the beginning and work through the problem methodically. So begin at the plug, make sure that there is power to the socket and that the fuse is okay before looking any further. Check the following:

·         Mains filter

·         Door lock

·         Mains cable & terminal block

·         Main power switch

·         Control PCB

If you need an expert to fix your washer machine that is not starting just call Mr Rogers Appliances.

Washer Problem #2 - Washing machine won'tdrain or is noisy on drain

Generally this will be some sort of drain pump failure or blockage. So check the following:

·         Drain pump blocked

·         Drain pump faulty

·         Waste outlet hose blocked

·         Sump hose blocked

·         Object in pump

·         Poor flooring or installation

If you need a technician to check your washing machine that’s not draining correctly or is noisy when doing so, call Mr Rogers Appliance RepairService.

Washer Problem #3 - Washing machine noisy

See the above, drain pump faulty, as this can cause horrendous noise from the washer, especially something trapped in the pump.

Objects trapped in between the outer tub and drum can also be a cause of noise, things like bra wires are extremely common to be retrieved and they can cause damage to the washing machine and any clothing in it. If you can, remove the wires before washing.

The use of a wash bag for small items can greatly reduce the chances of items getting between the drum and tub.

If the washer machine is a few years old then it is very possible that the bearings are either faulty, collapsed or just starting to go. With bearings the sooner that they are replaced the better as there is liable to be less damage and, if you know that they are faulty, not using or minimising the use will help to avoid further damage.

Stability can also cause excessive noise, especially where the machine is on a wooden or floating floor. Obviously a fault with the suspension system can also produce the same result. To solve this problem check the following:

·         Noisy pump

·         Object in the drain pump

·         Object trapped in the tub

·         Bearings faulty

·         Washing machine not levelled correctly

·         Faulty dampers or suspension

·         Poor flooring or installation

If you couldn’t fix the your noisy washer you can call Mr Rogers and a certifiedtechnician will be there to help you repair your appliance.

Washer Problem #4 - Washing machine drum not turning

Normally when this happens people often assume that the belt is faulty and, while this can be a cause, on most modern machines the belt will more often than not outlive the actual machine. It is not the common problem that it was many years ago and hasn't been for many years.

The problem these days is more liable to be the likes of a speed control PCB or module or even what is referred to as the "tacho generator" on the washing machine's motor.

Notably on older Hotpoint machines, pre-2003 especially, with a GEC motor fitted the carbon brushes being worn can cause this.

Assuming everything else works these should be checked:

·         Belt

·         Speed control PCB or module

·         Motor capacitor (where fitted)

·         Main control module

·         Motor faulty

·         Faulty carbon brushes

Mr Rogers can help you fix your washer. Call us now and schedule an appointment to repair your appliance in the Tampa Bay Area.

Washer Problem #5 - Washing machine timer not advancing

This is a tricky one and it's not really possible to be entirely polite as so many people make the error of thinking immediately that the timer or controller is not working when, in fact, it's often got nothing whatsoever to do with the timer. So if you're reading this and thinking that the timer is faulty, you're probably wrong.

Normally the timer will advance to a certain stage before stopping and that gives us a huge lead on diagnosis of the actual problems as, what happens is that the machine will almost certainly halt where the actual faulty component is called into use.

What this means is that almost any component can cause this fault and, if you are unsure we would strongly advise that you seek professional help because, if you spend $100 or more on a timer or module and you're wrong then the chances are that it will be non-returnable.

Better call MrRogers and ask for a technician to visit your house and tell you what the real problem with your washer is. Remember we offer a Free Service Call with the repair, so don’t hesitate and call Mr Rogers now and get your appliances fixed.

Washer Problem #6 - Washing machine not heating

Pretty easy one usually, in most cases there will be a faulty heater, thermostat, thermistor or pressure switch but there can be other causes. Check if the following are working fine:

·         Heater

·         Thermostat

·         Thermistor

·         Pressure switch/level sensor

·         Timer or control PCB/module

If you couldn’t identify the problem by yourself you can call a certified washer technician to help you on that, or just ask Mr Rogers to send you a specialist to your home to get your washer working again.

Washer Problem #7 - Washing machine is vibrating badly

If you've just installed the machine then the chances are that you have not removed the transit packing properly, go back and read the manual again to see how it is done as.

Assuming the machine has been in a while then the problem can still be flooring or installation related, but more commonly it will be a suspension problem. Of course there are other faults that can manifest themselves in this manner, but it is rare. So check the following to identify the problem:

·         Suspension

·         Bearing failure (See previous "Washing machine noisy")

If you couldn’t repair your washer you can Call Mr Rogers and ask a certified technician to assist you.

Washer Problem #8 - Washing machine not spinning

Again often blamed on the belt but in 20 years I can almost count on one hand how many washers I've seen a faulty belt causing no spin on, it is very rare.

See the previous "Washer Problem #4 - Washing machine drum won't turn" as many of the problems described there can be mirrored to this problem.

Remember very carefully, if the machine cannot drain or drain correctly then the spin will often abort rather than actually not spin so bear this in mind when looking for a problem.

·         Speed control PCB/module

·         Faulty or worn carbon brushes

·         Faulty contacts on fast cam within the timer

·         Faulty capacitor (where fitted)

·         Faulty motor

·         Faulty motor tacho

·         Blocked pump or drain

·         Overloaded or out of balance, can be made worse by poor installation or flooring

·         Faulty bearings

·         Faulty door lock mechanism

·         Faulty pressure switch

If you feel that is better for a specialist to check your washer you can call Mr Rogers Appliance Repair service anytime. Remember we are part of the Better Business Bureau.

Washer Problem #9 - Washing machine not filling

First, check if the water supply is okay!

Assuming it is then the first port of call will be the water valve. Pressure switch and electronic components can also cause this problem and it is often mistakenly reported as a fill problem when really, it is actually just that the machine won't start in the first place.

·         Water supply

·         Water fill valve

·         Pressure switch

·         Control PCB/module

Call a technician to help you fix your washer.

Washer Problem #10 - Poor washing results from washing machine

On Internet you can find a great amount of manuals to help you learn how to use your washer.

Look for manuals such as:

How to use detergent correctly

Washing machine maintenance wash

Overloading and the problems it causes as well as how it hampers performance.

If you can’t find any useful manual, you can simply call Mr Rogers and a certified technician will show you how to use correctly your washer.

Washer Problem # 11 Bad smell from washing machine

All about smelly washing machines and the from links will lead you to many associated problems, such as mould problems. Also covered here is the likes of mould or black marks (which are really mould) on the door seal and dirty soap drawers.

If you think you problem is affecting your daily living, call Mr Rogers to fix your appliance.

Washer Problem #12 - Washing machine lightsflash and won't work

This is most likely a new electronically controlled machine and the flashing lights will almost certainly be giving you a fault code of some sort. Until you know what that fault code is in some cases you won't be able to go much further.

If you need help with your faulty washer giving a fault code call Mr Rogers and an appliance repair technician will be at your door.

Washer Problem #13 - Washing machine leaksfrom the front

Check that the soap box isn't blocked first of all as that is the prime suspect here. Bear in mind that it is clean water and you may not see the water run down the front to the door surround, where it gathers and drips from the bottom of the door so the fault can often be reported as, "door leaking".

Of course the door can leak and, generally, it will need a new door or the door glass may simply need cleaned. Scum can build up on the glass causing the small part that actually seals to not meet the door glass correctly and so it leaks. Check the following:

·         Soap box

·         Soap box to tub hose

·         Door Seal

·         Door glass

If you couldn’t identify the cause of your washer leaking you can call Mr Rogers and ask for some help.

Washer Problem #14 - Washing machine leakingfrom underneath

Okay this is another one of those "could be anything" ones. Water follows Newton's Law, i.e. it flows downwards with gravity so any component at all leaking can cause this, but the common ones to be looking for are listed here.

·         Drain pump leaking

·         Filter leaking

·         Tub gasket leaking

·         Hose split

·         Hose leaking (any of them)

·         Water pressure too high

·         Heater gasket perished

·         Door seal

·         Pressure switch or sensor fault (overfilling)

·         Physical tub damage

·         Soap drawer damage

If you want to stop your washer leak call Mr Rogers now.

Washer Problem #15 -Washer  Dryer  Problems

Washer dryers are, frankly, a nightmare in a white box. In general the technicians hate them as they are more problematic, harder to work on and have a tendency not to live up to the promises and people's expectations. So, if it's a performance issue that you're having with the dryer there's probably nothing wrong with it, they're pretty much all bad.

Remember that, in addition to the following, washer dryers share every fault listed for washing machines as well!

Actual condenser dryers are okay these days although the cheaper ones do tend to give more trouble than the better built machines. They are more complex though so if you're not sure, just get in a pro to look at it.

Heat pump dryers are specialist only affairs, we would strongly recommend that if you have a fault on one to not touch it yourself.

Washer Problem #16 - Washer dryer not drying

Very common fault and also one that can be caused by many things, it's simply a case of eliminating the suspects.

·         Faulty water valve

·         Blocked condensate chamber

·         Faulty heater

·         Faulty thermostat or thermistor

·         Faulty pressure switch

·         Faulty pump

·         Spin faulty so the clothes are too wet to be dried

Washer Problem #17 - Washer dryer leaks on dry

This can be a tricky one, but normally one of these:

·         Condensate chamber or seal faulty

·         Trickle hose faulty

·         Drain pump leaking

Washer Problem #18 - Washer dryer noisy on dry

This one's usually just a bundle of laughs to put right, especially on some of the more "unusual" dryer designs we see. But look at the dryer fan motor for the usual culprit, quite often this will be caused by the fan breaking up or the motor bearings failing.

 Source: Mr Rogers Appliance Repair Service