Have you ever had that heart-stopping moment when you return to a full load of laundry, only to find water on the floor, or a drum still filled to the top?
In today’s times of restriction and working from home, the amount of laundry you must do is likely on the increase. It is a subject we have already touched upon, when we revealed sustainable ways to do your household cleaning in our article Laundry Hacks That Will Change the Way You Wash. That explored how your routine could become cheaper and more sustainable, but it did not prepare you for a breakdown.
If your washing machine does break down, it will not necessarily result in an engineer coming to your home, or even worse, an unexpected outlay for a new appliance. It may be that these simple hacks can help you troubleshoot the problem yourself in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
Washing Machine Will Not Start
If your washing machine does not start, there may be a couple of simple reasons. The first, and perhaps most obvious, is a lack of power. Check that you do not have a power cut, and if you don’t, check the washing machine plug. It could be something simple such as a blown fuse preventing the machine from powering up. Some machines have a failsafe which will prevent startup if it is overloaded, so if the lights are on and it is not starting, try taking some items out and resetting. If this does not work, it could mean you need an engineer.
Water Still in the Drum
This is a pretty common washing machine emergency situation. If there is still water in your washing machine drum after the cycle has finished, the article diagnosing common washing machine problems by HomeServe suggests you could have a blockage within the appliance, or in the drain hose. Another symptom of this issue may be residue or rust appearing inside your drum. Before you do anything else, disconnect the power supply. Any remedial work you carry out here will result in water escape, so you need to make sure there is no power at all. Get a bucket handy, disconnect the drain hose to the rear and allow any water to escape into the bucket. Make sure any kinks in the pipe are straightened out. Once empty, disconnect it from the machine and check for blockages. Do the same in the machine too, as the filter may be blocked. If that does not help, the pump may be faulty, so then an engineer will have to be called.
Water Pooling to the Rear
If you notice water pooling at the rear, it could be one of two easily solvable issues. Firstly, you may have a faulty washing machine tap, which is the bit outside the machine which connects the water supply to your appliance. Make sure it is tightened; remember that turning to the right will tighten it. Again, check the pipes too, both water feed and the drain hose. They may be worn and leaking, both of which you can replace yourself. If the leak persists, then an engineer may be needed.
Water Leaking From the Door
If water is pooling at the front of the machine, rather than the rear, then there could be two causes. Firstly, it could be your water pump which has several seals which can break or tear. Usually, you can find the pump behind a small door somewhere in the lower part of your machine. Make sure you have some towels handy, because you may find a further escape of water. It might also be your door that is leaking, meaning as the machine is in operation, water can escape through the rubber seal. This is not hard to replace, check your manufacturer’s guide for the right part code and you should be able to fit yourself. Finally, it may even be the position of your machine. The Spruce explains how an uneven surface can lead to malfunction and potentially, leaks. Check yours and if it is not level, resolve the problem immediately.
Rinsing Problems
Your problem may not be an escape of water, but inadequate washing capabilities, which is a particularly annoying washing machine emergency. If your clothes are coming out with residue on them, and not properly rinsed, then you may have an issue. Firstly, reduce the load size, as a problem with rinsing is often caused by overloading and not giving the clothes enough space to move inside the drum. How To Fix It also suggests that you may have too much detergent in the cycle, meaning there is excess post-wash. If that is not the issue, check the drain hose for blockages, in much the same way as you would for a full drum of water in the first problem we looked at – a blocked filter may be the cause of the issue.
Washing machine emergencies are the absolute worst. Hopefully this gave you the confidence to fix them yourself! Have you ever had to use any of these hacks? Let us know in the comments!
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Laundry Hacks That Will Change The Way You Wash
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