Signs Your Washing Machine Needs Repair
Washer Maintenance
Signs Your Washing Machine Needs Repair
A washing machine rarely fails all at once. Most of the time it gives off a few warning signs first, and catching them early can mean a smaller, cheaper repair instead of a bigger one down the road.
Standing Water After a Cycle Finishes
If there is still water sitting in the drum once the cycle is done, something in the drain path is not working the way it should. This is one of the more common washer complaints we see, and it is worth checking sooner rather than later since standing water can start to smell and affect fabric over time. See our full washer won’t drain guide for the likely causes.
Water Where It Should Not Be
A puddle under or around the washer, even a small one, is worth paying attention to. It can come from a worn door seal, a loose hose connection, or a few other sources, and figuring out exactly where it is coming from matters more than how much water there is. See our full washer leaking guide for what to check.
Loud Banging or Grinding During the Spin Cycle
A little noise during spin is normal, especially with an unbalanced load. Loud banging, grinding, or a noise that gets worse over several loads usually points to something mechanical, like a worn bearing or a suspension component, and is not something that tends to fix itself.
Clothes Coming Out Still Wet
If clothes are noticeably more soaked than usual after the spin cycle finishes, the washer may not be spinning at full speed or for the full duration. This can be a belt, a motor issue, or a control problem, and it is worth having checked before it turns into a bigger repair.
The Washer Will Not Start or Stops Mid-Cycle
A washer that will not start, or one that starts and then stops partway through, could be dealing with anything from a simple lid or door switch issue to something electrical. It is one of the more frustrating symptoms because the cause is not obvious just from watching it happen.
When It Is Worth Calling
Most of these signs are worth a call rather than a wait-and-see approach, since washer problems tend to get more expensive the longer they run undiagnosed. If the washer is older and has needed more than one repair recently, it may also be worth weighing repair against replacement. See our full repair or replace guide, our Washer Repair page, or contact us to get it looked at.