The washing machine stops during the washing process

If the washing machine suddenly freezes during washing, most housewives know what to do. You just need to turn off the machine, preferably turn it off for 10 seconds, then turn it on again and start the washing program again. After this, in about half of the cases the problem will be solved. But what to do if the machine stops and restarting it doesn’t save the situation? We will discuss this in as much detail as possible in this article.

What could cause the malfunction?

Usually, if the washing machine suddenly stops during washing, then after some time an error code is displayed on the display, by which we can determine what kind of malfunction we are dealing with. This happens in 90% of cases, but even if we find out what malfunction caused the stop, we will still have to think about how to solve the problem, because the washing machine itself will not fix itself.

First, you need to understand the typical causes of malfunctions that cause the machine to suddenly stop during washing. Then you will need to move on to studying the nuances of these faults and methods for eliminating them. Let's start with typical breakdowns.

• You put too many laundry in the drum or put it in the wrong way.
• The user has selected the wrong washing mode. washing machine doesn't work
• There were problems with the washing machine's electrical system (sensors, wires, terminals).
• There are problems with the electronic control unit of the washing machine.
• The leakage protection system has been activated.
• The hatch door does not lock properly or suddenly unlocks.
• There is a serious breakdown of the most important components of the machine: the engine, heating element or drain pump.

Drum overload or imbalance, blockage

The most common reason for a washing machine stopping during a wash cycle is improper loading of laundry into the drum. Errors in loading laundry can be determined by three points.

• The amount of laundry placed by weight is greater than the maximum drum load of this type of washing machine.
• Items are not placed in the drum correctly.
• The laundry is not sorted (for ultra-modern machines with automatic detection of the washing program).

Before you start using the washing machine, carefully read the instructions for it. For some reason, many people neglect this. First of all, pay attention to the maximum drum load . If, for example, the maximum drum load of your machine is 6 kg, and you load 6.5 kg of clothes, then most likely the machine will stop during the washing process. And if your machine has a built-in automatic weighing function, then the washing program will not start at all.

A problem may also arise if the laundry is not folded evenly into the drum . For example, if you put a duvet cover and a couple of dozen small things that are stuffed into it while the drum rotates, all this together tightly curls, forming a lump. The laundry rolled into a ball is located at one wall of the drum, enhancing the negative effect of centrifugal force during its rotation. This causes an imbalance; the machine’s protection system stops the washing process, waiting for the user to correctly arrange the laundry in the drum.

The reason the washing machine stops may be a simple blockage. In this case, it is not immediately possible to determine the place where the blockage occurred, because there may be several options.

• In the drain hose.
• In the drain pump.
• In the drain filter.
• In a sewer pipe.
• In the drain hole of the tank.

The easiest way is to clean the drain filter; any housewife can cope with this task, in a maximum of 10 minutes, after which the problem will be solved. It's another matter if a strong blockage appears in the sewer. In this case, water will not escape only from the washing machine tank, but also from the drain of the bathroom, toilet, sink, etc. You can try using household chemicals to remove blockages from pipes (Mole or Tiret), if the products do not help, it is better to call a specialist who will quickly get rid of the problem.

You can also take the risk of dealing with a clogged washing machine drain hose yourself. To do this, you need to remove the hose that goes from the machine to the sink siphon or to the sewer pipe. To do this you will need a screwdriver. Unscrew the clamps, and then disconnect the hose from the machine, and then from the siphon. Use a wire and a stream of hot water to break through the blockage, then return the hose to its place.

If a blockage occurs in one of the units of the washing machine: in the drain pump or, especially, in the tank. This also leads to the machine turning off without completing the washing program. It is best to entrust the troubleshooting of such a malfunction to specialists. You can, of course, try to clean the drain pump yourself, but no one can guarantee a positive result.

You made a mistake in choosing a mode or there was a problem with the electronics

The simplest but most common reason for a washing machine stopping during washing is the wrong program selection. Again, we return to the fact that before washing, you need to carefully read the instructions for the washing machine. The manufacturer usually describes in great detail all programs and washing modes, not forgetting to indicate their features. Therefore, if you encounter a problem with the machine stopping when choosing the same program, re-read the instructions.

For example, if you select a soaking program on a modern machine, and then wash and bleach, then most likely the machine will stop in the middle of the program. Bleaching and soaking cannot be started at the same time!

If you have problems with the electrical or electronics of your washing machine, it is best to contact a specialist. Solving this problem on your own will require too much effort and time. The specialist will have to remove the control unit and test all its elements with a multimeter, detect and eliminate the malfunction.

 

The leakage protection has activated, the hatch door does not lock

Almost all modern automatic washing machines are equipped with leakage protection systems. The task of the system, in the event of damage to the hoses, pipes or units of the washing machine, is to prevent the “escaped” water from leaking onto the floor and at the same time shut off the water supply. This way you won’t get problems with flooding, since there won’t be any flooding, but you won’t be able to do laundry either until the problem is fixed.

If the reason for the leakage protection program to be triggered is a torn hose, then you can easily replace it yourself. Changing the drain hose is no more difficult than removing it to clean it from blockages, as described above. It’s another matter if we are talking about a breakdown of the locking mechanism of the washing machine hatch cover. Here you cannot do without the help of a specialist, although sometimes the hatch cover does not close tightly due to a breakdown.

Some budget washing machine models are equipped with rubber cuffs that do not fit well enough. The cuff is a large rubber seal installed on the hatch cover; it may not allow the cover to close tightly. To close the hatch more tightly, you just need to press the lid with your knee until it clicks and then the machine will wash until the end without stopping.

The motor, drain pump or heating element is broken

Malfunctions of the most important units of the washing machine occur at the most inopportune moments. In most cases, this happens during intense work. At the same time, the washing process naturally stops, and a terrible error appears on the machine display, indicating future expensive repairs. In some cases , repairing a washing machine motor and replacing it is more expensive than buying a new washing machine, so consider whether it’s worth spending money on a new unit.

In any case, it is better to carry out the replacement by a professional, especially if you do not have the necessary skills for this work. Replacing a drain pump or heating element will cost a little less, however, before deciding to purchase a new part, read the information offered on our website, also consult with specialists, and only then make your final decision.

In conclusion, we note that there can be many reasons why the washing machine stops before finishing the wash. And finding this reason on your own is not always possible. Therefore, if, using our advice, you have done everything possible, and the machine still stops without washing the laundry, contact a qualified technician.