There’s nothing more frustrating than experiencing problems with household appliances, especially when the last time they were used, they worked just fine.
Washing machines are no different to any other household appliances. If you have experienced a problem with your washing machine at home, this article is for you. Here are five of the most commonly experienced washing machine problems, and a few handy remedies that may, or may not, resolve them in a flash!
- Washing machine doesn’t switch on
One of the most frustrating of all the most common washing machine problems.
- Make sure it is switched on and plugged in properly
- Check the fuse box and circuit breaker
Be sure to exercise caution when checking electrical related problems with your washing machine. Never touch the power switch or plug it in with wet hands, and if you’re unfamiliar with the fuse box and circuit breaker at home, wait for someone who is to arrive, or ask a friend or neighbour to help you.
- Washing machine leaks water
Washing machine leaks can be frustrating to resolve, more often than not because it always seems impossible to find the source of the leak. If your washing machine only leaks during the spin cycle, chances are it is caused by a leaky drain hose, which is cheap and easy to replace.
- Leaks around the door seal are often caused by a dirt and/or soap build-up
- Plastic bleach dispensers often crack or break causing a leak
There are many other possible causes of washing machine leaks, so also make sure that the hoses are fitted properly in place. Using too much detergent can cause the suds to overflow and give the impression of a leak. As with all common washing machine problems, if you can’t identify the source of the leak and it is leaking badly, it would be best to call a specialist.
- Washing machine doesn’t drain
This is probably caused by a blockage of some kind.
- Check the drain hose for kinks and the drain for blockages
- Make sure the drain hose is higher than the level of water in the tub
Another cause of this common problem is a jammed pump. This is a job for an experienced repair person. Don’t try to fix it yourself.
- Washing machine doesn’t finish cycle
This is often caused by clothes tightly wrapping around each other and when the spin cycle kicks in, it causes the machine to rock and it automatically switches off. You may notice that this happens more frequently when washing towels and bed linen. Pull the clothes out of the machine, give them a shake and try again.
If you still experience problems with your washing machine it’s probably time to call a specialist. When sourcing a household appliance repair specialist in your local area, make sure they provide a free repair quote before starting work, and make sure they provide guarantees on parts and labour. If they don’t, keep looking for one that does.