Why my washing machine is not spinning: Common issues and fixes

It’s quite frustrating when you’ve put a wash and come back hours later only to discover that the washing machine hasn’t drained or perhaps not even started its spin cycle. You can’t even put off the washing for later as the clothes are now soaking in soapy water.

Thankfully, fixing the issue is usually quite easy. Barring a catastrophic failure of some kind, most cases where the washing machine refuses to drain or spin are a result of a minor oversight or perhaps a blocked drain.

Why is my washing machine not spinning?

Here are some quick fixes you can try when your washing machine stops responding:

1. Overloaded machine: If the machine is overloaded, it won’t spin. A modern washing machine will usually warn the user when it’s overloaded, but some older machines do not. Try removing some clothes from the machine (empty wet ones into a bucket for a later wash) and checking if the machine resumes normal operations.

A less prominent issue is imbalance, where items that are too heavy can cause excess wobble in the drum, forcing the machine to shut down for safety reasons.

2. Blocked drain: Another common issue is a blocked drain. When the drain is blocked and water can’t drain, you’ll find the machine would have finished part of a wash cycle and stopped just before the spin cycle.

ALSO READ: What is the difference between semi and fully automatic washing machines?

In such a case, check that water is indeed draining by removing the drain pipe from the machine, or by placing the end of the pipe at a lower level than the washing machine drum. If the water starts draining, look into raising the machine with a stand so wastewater can flow out more easily.

You might also want to check the lint filter and the drain pipe for any blockages.

3. Faulty switches: As a safety feature, washing machines will not start when the lid isn’t closed. There’s a switch or mechanism to detect when the lid is shut and it might be faulty or blocked. In this case you can either consult the owner’s manual or call support and ask them to send over a technician.

ALSO READ: What is the difference between semi and fully automatic washing machines?

4. Broken components and circuits: In some cases, there might be physical damage. Perhaps some mechanism broke or maybe an electronic circuit got fried during a power surge. There’s not much to do here but call a technician and have them assess the damage. Such issues are usually easy to resolve and don’t cost much to repair.

While frustrating, repairing a broken washing machine is relatively easy. Most of the fixes you can attempt yourself and unless there’s some major issue, most manufacturers will get your machine serviced within a couple of days.