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Why Your Washing Machine Won’t Agitate
When you’ve set aside an hour to catch up on your laundry only to find that your washing machine’s agitator has stopped working it can be annoying, to say the least. You may need a replacement part, but it’s best to take a look at what’s happening before you decide to call a repair company for help. Here are some of the main reasons your washing machine agitator not spinning:
1. Obstacle Jammed in Agitator
The simplest explanation for why your washing machine has stopped agitating may be because something has jammed it. Start by opening up the machine and taking a close look for any potential culprits.
It may be a heavy piece of clothing that’s causing the issue or it’s possible something has fallen out of a pocket and worked its way into the base of the agitator. If there doesn’t appear to be any clothes clogging up the works take a good look at the base for any foreign particles that may be the root of your problem.
After that, if you’re still having problems with your washing machine agitator not working properly it’s a good time to call in the professional help.
2. The Lid Switch
Underneath the lid of your washing machine is a switch that will control the motor – it’s a plastic tab that gets pushed down when you close the lid. Essentially when this trigger is activated it tells the motor it’s time to fire up. If the lid switch is broken, the motor doesn’t get the message and your machine will not agitate. It’s usually easy to identify the lid switch and a quick examination of this part will tell you if it may be the problem.
3. The Belt is Slipping
The heart and soul of a top load washing machine is actually at the bottom hidden from view. It’s here you’ll find the motor which drive’s the transmission via the drive belt. A major reason that your washing machine has stopped agitating may be that there’s a fault with the drive belt. The belt could be slipping because it’s loose or it may have snapped completely. If you’re going to fix an issue like this you’ll need to be fairly handy or call a repairperson for help.
4. The Transmission is Faulty
We all know that a faulty transmission in our car is a serious issue and it’s no different for our washing machine. This is the part that transmits the power from the motor to spin the agitator. If the transmission is the reason for your problems it’s a complicated fix and it’s best to seek professional help at this point.
5. The Motor is Broken
The motor is the part that drives the whole operation of your washing machine. If it fails you won’t have any power for the agitator to work. If there are no obvious reasons for why your washing machine has stopped working it could be the motor. Replacing a motor in a washing machine requires some expertise and it’s usually best to call a repairperson to help with the installation of a new motor.
Washing Machine Agitator Troubleshooting
When a technician arrives to troubleshoot and figure out why your washing machine’s agitator is not working they’ll check the obvious culprits first. It may not be a major issue and that can help to keep repair costs down.
It can also be a problem with your electronic control panel so they will check it for error codes, or it may be an issue with one of the many other moving parts in your washing machine such as the agitator directional cogs.
At SMS Appliances, our professionals have experience in identifying any potential reasons for why your washing machine isn’t agitating and we’ll troubleshoot your machine to identify the real culprit. Here are some of the minor issues we’ll look for first as we consider how to fix a washing machine agitator:
Most agitators found in washing machines these days are made from plastic. We use our washing machines a lot each week and these parts can wear out over time. If you notice a cracked or damaged agitator it needs to be replaced. Some homeowners with the technical knowledge can take care of this replacement themselves, but for most, it’s best to call in for a professional to help with the repair.
The washing machine belt is another part that can stop working properly with continued use. The belt may not be broken or worn out – it may just have worked its way loose over time. You should only be able to push the belt in about ½ an inch if it’s properly tightened. They may be able to simply tighten the mounting nut to return the belt to the proper tension. If that’s the case it’s a relatively easy fix.
If you’ve already identified the lid switch as the reason why your washing machine isn’t agitating, that’s an inexpensive fix that won’t take a technician long to replace. As long as the parts are in stock and on hand they’ll have you up and running again in a few minutes.
