How to repair a washing machine yourself

Automatic washing machine is no longer a luxury item for modern hostesses. Today, this "workhorse" is installed in almost every, even the most poor house. But no matter how modern and wonderful home appliances seem, it still has the tendency to break. The easiest way in this situation, of course, is to invite a specialist who quickly fixes the problem. True, it will cost dearly.

But you can do differently. Repairing a washing machine yourself is not so difficult. For this you do not need to have any special skills. You just need to carefully understand the structure of the washing machine and understand the principle of its operation. Therefore, if your washing machine is broken, then carefully reading this article, you will be able to fix at least half of the unpleasant situations with your own hands. So, we proceed.

The principle of operation of the washing machine

All household washing units not only have a similar device, but work on the same principle.

• After turning on the machine, loading the laundry and selecting a program, the door locking mechanism is activated and the machine starts working.
• Water flows through the inlet valve to the drum of the washing machine, the level of which is regulated by a special sensor.
• After the right amount of fluid has entered the drum, the valve closes.
• Now the water is heated to the desired temperature, the heating element turns on. Heating also controls a special sensor, and if it does not, then the timer is triggered.
• Simultaneously with the heat heater, the engine is turned on and the drum begins to turn slowly in different directions with an unequal time interval. This is to ensure that the laundry is evenly soaked.
• When the water has reached the desired temperature, the heating element is turned off and the washing process begins. The drum rotates alternately in different directions with the same time interval. This mode is necessary so that the laundry does not fall into a ball.
• At the end of the process, the dirty water is pumped out with a pump and a new one is rinsed - for rinsing.
• The drum starts spinning again at low speed, the laundry is rinsed. Depending on the selected mode, the rinsing process may be repeated several times.
• With the end of the last rinse, the pump starts up again. He pumps out the water, after which the drum begins to rotate again, but at high speeds.
• This is a spin process. The pump at the same time remains on all the time until the end of washing.

That's it. As you can see, there is nothing difficult about it. To understand why the washing machine broke, you first need to know when exactly this happened, that is, to correctly determine the node that is working at the moment. Since the principle of operation of all units is the same, then the main faults of washing machines of any brand are also very similar. In this article we will try to disassemble them all, well, maybe, except for some very small ones.

The washing machine does not turn on

If the washing machine does not show signs of life at all, the reason may be ridiculously banal - they simply forgot to plug it into an outlet.

Also the machine will not work if the door is open or closed loosely. Usually the electronics signal it and the corresponding icon is displayed on the board. Incorrectly chosen washing program is also one of the common reasons.

If all of the above reasons are excluded, and the washing machine still does not work, the problem may be that the electrical part has failed. First of all, check the machines on the dashboard, probably knocked them out of overload.

All right? Check the outlet, maybe it burned out? Now inspect the plug, unscrew it and make sure that the contacts are not oxidized and are in working condition.

And then everything is fine? Moving further along the wire. To check the terminal connections and ring the power cord, you have to remove the external panels. Just do not forget to remove the plug from the outlet.

If there is a mechanical timer in your typewriter, it is possible that the cause of the failure is in it. Twist the knob until you hear the drum spin. If it works, then the node is likely to have burned out and will have to be replaced.

Another reason why the washing machine is not turned on may be a closed inlet valve. Make sure that it is in the “open” position and water enters the drum.

The machine picks up water, but the washing process does not start

There are also several reasons for this:

• The heating element burned out. If this happens, the process sequence is lost and the wash does not start. The node needs to be replaced.
• Break belt drive. We'll have to completely disassemble the machine to see it.
• Water level or temperature sensors are out of order.
• Blown processor. The washing machine does not receive any commands and does not understand what it needs to do.
• Input valve defective. It may not open well or close as a result of clogging. It is necessary to eliminate the blockage, and to prevent the situation from repeating again, install an additional filter at the input.
• The most unpleasant and costly to repair is the burned out electric motor. It’s impossible to fix such a breakdown on your own, of course, if you don’t know how to rewind electric motors.

Does not collect water or it is slow to collect

If the washing machine does not collect water or does it very badly, there may be several reasons:

• the supply valve is closed;
• clogged or deformed inlet hose;need to straighten it and clean the clog;
• coked intake filter;To clean it, turn off the water, disconnect the hose from the machine, remove the filter and rinse it under a strong stream of water, and then perform all actions in reverse order;
• intake valve clogged and failed;need to shut off the water and replace it;
• malfunctioned water level regulator;when the water level in the drum rises, the displaced air presses on the pressure regulator and the switch is activated;if the system is clogged or damaged, water will not be collected.

Another reason why the water in the machine is typed very slowly or not at all, may be due to low pressure in the system. This is not a breakdown and you will not succeed in repairing it yourself. As soon as the pressure in the system returns to normal, everything will correct itself. If this situation is repeated regularly, then to eliminate it you need to increase the pressure in the system. For example, to equip a pressure tank in the attic of a private house or under the ceiling of an apartment.

Stops just in the middle of the washing process.

If the washing machine stops during washing and has not completed it, there may be several reasons:

1. Clogged System. Forced drain water and clean the inlet and outlet hoses and all possible filters.
2. The electricity supply has stopped. Check the traffic jams and automatons on the panel, smell the socket, check if there is light in another part of the house, ring all the contacts.
3. Incorrect mode selection. Perhaps there is a pause in your chosen program and you just need to wait.
4. The pump is broken, the water is not pumped out at the right time and the washing process is disturbed.
5. Dropped water pressure in the system. Check with what pressure water flows from any tap in your home. If the pressure is weak, pause the wash, wait for the feed to resume and continue.
6. The thermal relay or the heating element has broken, the water does not heat to the desired temperature, the program crashes.
7. Herbs exhaust hose, the water constantly goes to the drain. At the same time, the system pumps the water into the drum to the desired level, the processor “thinks” all the time that the water has not yet reached. To fix the problem, you need to check the reliability of the connection of the outlet hose and the drain riser.
8. Blown control timer. The machine “does not understand” when it is necessary to complete one process and start another and therefore stops completely. This is a rather complicated device. It will not be possible to repair it yourself; it is easier to buy and install a new one.
9. Electric motor burned out. This damage is also very difficult to fix on your own, you have to call the master.

Turns off in “spin” mode or badly squeezes out linen.

Most often, a washing machine does not squeeze out laundry because the drain system is clogged. To fix the situation, you need to clean the filter and remove hair, threads and various small items that fall into the system.

If it did not help, then the pump may have burned down and the water from the tank is not pumped out.

When the water drains normally and the spinning does not work, the drive belt is worn or stretched. To fix the problem, you need to tighten or replace it with a new one.

The drum does not spin

To find the reason why the drum does not spin in the washing machine:

• Check the selected mode, it is possible that the washing program includes a pause.
• Inspect the drive belt. He probably jumped or stretched out. To check the tension level, press the belt. Its offset should be approximately 12 mm. If the automatic washing machine is equipped with a tensioner, loosen or tighten the belt to the desired level. In the case when such a design is not provided, the only way out is to replace the belt.
• Pull up the loading door. If the latch is broken or jammed and the door does not close tightly, the drum will not work. Open the door and abruptly close it again, press firmly. If nothing happened - the lock is broken and needs to be replaced.
• Ring the electric motor. It is likely that it burned out.

The jammed hatch of the washing machine

Such a failure can also be caused by several reasons.

1. Opening delay. Perhaps the door of the washing machine does not open because the drum has not yet completed the rotation and the washing program is not completed. After one or two minutes after the end of the process, the lock will click off independently.
2. Water left in the tank. Many washing machines are programmed so that until the water is completely pumped out of the tank, the lock will not open. To open the door, you must forcibly drain the water and check whether the drain filter is clogged. After that, everything should get better.
3. The lock switch is broken and needs to be replaced.

Noise and chatter during operation.

Such a malfunction can be identified by the nature of the sound that the machine makes. If you hear an uneven metal ringing, knocking or rattling, which stops when the drum is stopped, small metal objects are likely to fall into the machine. It can be coins, nuts, keys, dropped from the pockets.(See also: Why a washing machine makes a lot of noise when spinning)

A buzzing sound that becomes quieter when the door is pressed hard, says a broken latch. If you do not fix it in time, the door may jam at the most inopportune moment.

Squeal while the drum is spinning indicates slippage of the drive belt. Try to pull it, everything should get better.

A crash and a knock at the time of the drum operation indicates bearing wear. We'll have to replace the bearing in the washing machine. If you do not, you can break the shaft and repair the machine will cost much more.

Water Flows From a Typewriter In order to determine exactly where and how much water flows, you need to do a simple operation. Wipe the floor dry and place a dry cloth under the typewriter. Start a short wash cycle without laundry and powder. Carefully inspect the rag, you will see from which side you need to look for a leak.

The main causes of washing machine leaks may be due to: cracks in the hoses, loosening of clamps, misalignment or rupture of the seal on the door, and so on. If all the parts of the machine are whole, the reason may be that the sewage system is clogged and there is no place for the water to go.

Water is not heated

First of all, you need to disassemble the machine and inspect the heater. It is likely that too much scale has formed on it or it has burned. In the first case, the heater is sufficiently cleaned of limescale, in the second one it will have to be replaced.( See also: How to clean the washing machine of scale)

If the automatic machine does not heat the water, the reason may lie in the water level regulator. When the device is broken, the unit simply "does not understand" that there is enough water and it is time to turn on the heating element.

Another likely cause may be a broken thermal switch. It turns off the heating element even before the water heats up to the necessary temperature.

Water does not drain at all.

The most innocent reason may be the choice of the wrong wash mode. See if the switch is in the rinse delay mode. It is also likely that the washing program has stopped due to lack of electricity - check the plugs.

Another quickly avoidable reason for the fact that water does not leave the washer may be blockage of the filter or drain pipe, as well as its bend. Check and clean these components and reconnect the machine.

Blocking or breaking the pump is another cause of the malfunction. Forcibly drain the water, disconnect the pump, clean it or replace it with a new one.

The next reason for which the washing machine does not drain the water may be in the electrical part: any contacts have oxidized, the timer has failed, or the water level switch has failed. All these areas need to “ring out” and, if necessary, replace the damaged part.

The washing machine jumps and vibrates strongly.

The first reason that the washing machine suddenly starts walking around the apartment is a strong overload. Take out some of the things from the drum, and follow the instructions in the future. If things are not very many, perhaps they are confused and lumped together. Unravel the knot and load the machine more evenly.

If the washing machine jumps or vibrates when spinning even with a small amount of things, the reason may be a breakage of the spring holding the drum. When replacing the spring, carefully inspect the counterweights attached to the tank with bolts. The mounts may have loosened and the weights sag. Correct the situation.

See also - Replacing the shock absorbers in the washing machine with their own hands

Also "starts to dance" and the machine, which is out of level. Adjust the position of the washer with the legs. They have adjustment bolts. If they are not enough - just put in the right places a few leaves of thick cardboard.

Our partners, the service center RemonTehnik ready to assist in the repair of large household appliances of any complexity. Did not do it yourself? Ask for help from qualified craftsmen.

How to prevent damage to

As you can see, repairing washing machines is not so difficult. But is it possible to make the washing machine break as little as possible? It turns out you can. The most frequent breakdowns of washing machines are associated with improper operation. In order for the unit to serve you as long as possible you need to follow some simple rules:

• carefully read the instructions and strictly follow all its points;
• do not overload the machine;
• use special detergents containing a water softener;
• every three months, run the longest wash cycle without things, but with anti-scale agent, this will help keep the heating elements in order;
• carefully check all pockets for small items and debris;
• regularly clean the filters at the entrance and exit of the system;
• install an additional cleaning filter, this will protect the system from dirt and debris;
• after each wash, leave the door ajar and dry the rubber seal;
• purchase and install a stabilizer, it will help protect the electrical part of the machine from jumps in the network.