Why is my Washing Machine Not Spinning?

Are your clothes still dripping wet or still dirty after going through a full washing cycle? If your answer is “yes” and are unfortunately experiencing something far too similar, it is a safe bet to say that your washing machine is probably not spinning correctly. This is not an uncommon issue and can be put down to a various number of things. There is no need to worry either as they can be easily diagnosed and fixed if you know what you are looking for. Throughout this blog, I will detail some of the most common reasons why your washing machine is not spinning correctly and some helpful tips on how to avoid and fix these issues from occurring. 

We Know Money is Tight at the Moment

We know money is tight at the moment and saving your hard-earned cash at every opportunity is a must for most people, therefore this blog will guide you through some simple troubleshooting issues you can recognise yourself even if you have never used a washing machine before! All you need to do is grab your washing machine manual as some parts of the washing machine as the pressure switch will be hard to look for if you have never repaired a washing machine before. Please remember to always turn off your washing machine and unplug it from the socket when conducting any repairs to the machine and remember to always consult your manual before performing any of these fixes because some washing machines can be different.

Imbalanced Drum

An imbalance drum is one of the most common reasons why a washing machine is not spinning as it is supposed to during a wash cycle. The reason a drum can become imbalanced is by washing too heavy a load or single heavy items such as towels or bed sheets. The weight imbalance caused by these things can affect the washing machine sensors causing an imbalance. Furthermore, the weight puts too much pressure on the drum itself causing it to become damaged on break entirely. 

In order to avoid these issues try not to overload your washing machine and in this case if you do need to wash a single large piece such as a towel add other smaller pieces of clothing in the same wash to balance out the load. 

Outlet Pipes Blocked 

If your spin cycle won’t start, the most common issue is due to the outlet pipes becoming blocked and not letting water drain from the washing machine. This often happens to something blocking up the outlet pipes preventing the flow of water in and out of your washing machine. The pipes often get blocked with buttons, coins or parts of clothing which fall out during the wash. All you have to do to resolve this issue is unblock the outlet pipe and your washing machine should be able to drain and spin once again. 

Motor Brushes Worn Out

Motor brushes can become worn out after a period of time and long use of the washing machine. These brushes are used to connect the drum to the machine and when they become worn out the machine will still fill up with water and drain as normal. However, the drum will not spin and will leave your clothes still dirty.

The motor brushes are very easy and inexpensive to fix. All you need to buy is some carbon brushes and attach them to the motor using a connecting wire. It is always best practice to get a professional to install these to help minimise damage to the rest of the washing machine and will usually take them less than an hour to install. 

Conclusion

Hopefully, this guide has provided you with some clarity and helped you identify and potentially resolve the issue of your washing machine not spinning. We know fixing washing machine problems can not always be this easy and if you are unsure of what to do it is always best to contact a professional who will help assist you on the best next steps on repairing your appliance or buying a completely new one. 

If a repair is not adequate enough and you need a new laundry appliance in Stoke on Trent do not fear. Here at Howards Electrical, you can shop laundry appliances online today from washing machines, tumble dryers and washer dryers.