Washing machine repair: Fix 90 percent of clothes washer breakdowns with these four easy fixes, including filling and draining problems, grinding noises and a failure to spin. You’ll avoid the service call.
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It can seem hopeless when any major appliance stops working, but luckily, washing machines are some of the easiest to DIY repair, especially if they’re older.
“Fixing your washing machine is definitely a task that most people, with or without basic mechanical aptitude, can manage,” says appliance repair expert Matthew Morrison. “Two of the most common issues are siphoning of the drain hose, which pulls the water out as it’s filling, and making sure the unit is level, front to back and side to side with an actual level.”
If you have a newer washer, it might even have its own diagnostics, which it will walk you through. But with these more complicated electronics, it’s also important to be a keen troubleshooter.
“Some modern washing machine issues are counterintuitive,” says senior technician Timur Bai. “For example, when the washer is not starting at all, people tend to think about a bad control board, door lock or motor issue. But it usually is something as simple as a clogged drain pump.”
Here’s how to resolve most clothes washer breakdowns, with four easy fixes, including filling and draining problems, grinding noises and a failure to spin. We won’t cover every fix, but the repairs we show will correct about 90 percent of washer troubles, like Maytag or Kenmore washer repairs.
On This Page
- Tools and Tips
- How to Access Your Washing Machine’s Parts
- Common Washer Machine Problems
- FAQs
- About the Experts
