Is Your Washer’s Spin Cycle Broken?

When they work properly, washing machines are one of the most useful household appliances. But when your washing machine isn’t working it can be pretty inconvenient. One of the most common problems with washing machines is the spin cycle. And if the washer can’t spin, the clothes stay wet. 

Is your washer’s spin cycle broken? Here’s what you need to know, including when to call for washing machine repair. 

How Washing Machines Work 

To understand what’s wrong with your washing machine, it can help to know how they work. There are a series of cycles your washer will go through in the process of washing a load of laundry. 

• Filling with water. The first step in a wash cycle involves filling the wash basin with water. Some machines have a sensor that detects the amount of laundry and fills the water level accordingly. Other machines you have to choose the size of the load to determine how much water will be needed. 

• Wash cycle. Once the machine is full of water, the agitator will turn back and forth to stir up the detergent among the laundry to help remove dirt and stains. In front load machines with no agitator, the wash basin turns back and forth to clean the laundry. 

• Draining the water. After a specified amount of time, the water will drain out of the wash basin along with the detergent, dirt, and debris. 

• Rinse cycle. The washer will fill with water again to rinse the detergent out of the laundry. If you use fabric softener, it will be applied to water during this cycle. 

• Draining the water. The water will drain out again. If you set your machine to do a second rinse, the rinse cycle will repeat and the water will drain a third time. 

• Spin cycle. The wash basin will spin at a high speed to force as much water out of the laundry as possible. At the end of the spin cycle your laundry should be damp but not dripping water. You should not be able to wring water out of the laundry when the wash load is complete. 

Signs Your Washer’s Spin Cycle is Broken  

If the spin cycle is not working properly, there are a few ways you may find out:

• You don’t hear the washer spinning. If you happen to be near your washing machine when it is running, you may notice that you don’t hear the spin cycle. It tends to be the loudest part of the cycle because it spins at a very high speed. 

• Your laundry is dripping wet at the end of the cycle. When the laundry cycle ends and you go to remove the laundry, you may find it to be still soaked and dripping wet. Without the spin cycle, the water won’t be squeezed out of the clothes and they will take much longer to dry. You may even damage your dryer by putting soaking wet laundry in it. 

• There is still some standing water in the wash basin. There may be water pooled in the bottom of the wash basin that hasn’t drained out due to the broken spin cycle. 

What Causes the Spin Cycle to Fail?

In most cases the spin cycle fails because the lid switch assembly that is responsible for locking the lid or door shut is broken. The washer will not spin if the lid or door won’t lock. A simple replacement part may be all that is required to fix the spin cycle. 

In other cases the motor may be broken, which means the machine won’t spin at all. There could also be a broken belt that is preventing the spin cycle from working properly. 

There is a chance that there is nothing wrong with the washing machine itself. The load could be too large for the machine, making it too heavy to spin. If the load becomes unbalanced the machine may stop until the laundry is shifted to be more evenly distributed. The washer itself may be unbalanced as well, meaning the feet may need to be adjusted underneath. 

Appliance Repair 512 Provides Washer Repair 

If your washer’s spin cycle isn’t working, you need fast appliance repair service. Your washer is an important appliance in your home, helping you get your family’s laundry clean. Appliance Repair 512 understands the urgency, providing fast diagnosis and repair of your washing machine. Our appliance technicians are qualified to repair any make and model of washer, saving you time and money. 

Call (512) 351-7624 or contact us today to schedule a service appointment.