Tag Archives: washing machine

Why Does My Washing Machine Smell Like Rotten Eggs?

Have you noticed a rotten egg smell coming out of your washing machine, and you are wondering why this is the case? The smell is brought about by several factors that include:

Dirty washing machine

When was the last time you cleaned your washing machine? If it has been long, the smell might result from a dirty appliance. According to appliance repair professionals, the best way to get rid of this smell is to simply clean the appliance and, in the process, get rid of mold, mildew, and grime that might have built up there.

To clean the washing machine, begin with opening the machine door and then set the unit to the hottest and largest load capacity.

Once the water begins to fill up, add one quart of bleach (about 4 cups) to the water inside the washing machine.

When the water fills up the washer, close the lid and turn it on to a long spin cycle. When the cycle ends, leave the machine for about one hour before turning it back on, and then put it on a standard wash cycle.

When the wash cycle ends, turn it to the hottest setting and largest capacity again, and then add 3 cups of white vinegar and a ½-cup of baking soda.

Once the washer is full, close the lid and turn it on to a long spin cycle again. Open the lid and wipe the washing machine out with a clean cloth when the cycle ends.

Finally, leave the washing machine lid open and let it dry out for a few hours before using it again.

Something is stuck in the door seal.

Washing machines have a large rubber door seal that goes around the door to stop water from getting out of the washing machine during a cycle.

Sometimes a piece of clothing such as a sock gets stuck inside the gasket, and it’s covered in mildew.

If you leave the piece of clothing here for a long time, it can start smelling like rotten eggs.

To get rid of the smell, you need to find out if there is anything stuck there and remove it.

Pull the door seal back and look inside for any loose clothing items. If you find any, remove them.

You should then thoroughly clean the door gasket with clean, hot soapy water, then leave the door open to let it dry and air out.

Clogged drain pump or plug

Most washing machine models will have a drain plug at the bottom that can clog up, leading to unpleasant odors.

To check the drain plug and filter, locate the drain plug, then turn the cap off. Have a towel in place as some water might leak out of it when doing it.

After removing the plug, reach into the hole and remove the drain filter. Thoroughly clean the drain filter and plug it in hot soapy water.

To remove any grime in the hose, pour a glass of hot water mixed with vinegar into the washing machine drum.

After cleaning all the parts, put them back into the washing machine. If you can still smell the rotten egg smell, you may need to run your washing machine on a cleaning cycle and check the sewer.

The sewer is clogged.

If you have tried all the above and nothing seems to work, the rotten smell might be due to a clogged sewer. Due to the clog, the smell can go through the drain hose and into the washing machine.

To solve this problem, locate where your drain hose is connected and remove the hose from the standpipe. If the pipe is smelly, give the entire area a thorough cleaning with hot, soapy water.

If the smell is due to the P-trap being faulty and allowing sewer gas to come up through the drain hose and into the washing machine, washer repair Springfield professionals recommend you pour a bucket of hot soapy water down the standpipe.

If the smell goes away, this is a sign that the problem was due to the P-trap.

If you do this and the smell doesn’t disappear, get in touch with a plumber to replace the p-trap.

Can You Run Washing Machine Empty?

With the ever-increasing water and electricity prices, the last thing you want is to run the machine with nothing inside.

Can you run washing machine empty? Yes, you can do it to clean it and keep it in tip-top condition.

According to washer repair professionals, when you run the washing machine empty and let the water off the interior, you clean any debris that might be there, ensuring that all the clothes coming from it are clean.

What is the best way to run an empty washing machine?

The best way to run an empty machine is to run it on a hot cycle with nothing inside. The hot wash means that you should run the machine at a cycle of at least 40 degrees, but for the best outcome, set it to the hottest option that you are aiming for.

The hot cycle is more beneficial if you regularly wash your clothes using the cold cycle. When the machine goes for a long time without coming into contact with hot water, bacteria and detergents accumulate inside.

The accumulated grime might start affecting the clothes that you wash as they might start coming out with lingering smells.

You remove bacteria when you run the hot cycle, so your clothes always come out clean and smelling fresh.

Washing machine professionals also recommend running an empty cycle on your machine before you start using it for your clothes or bedding. This is to ensure that there is no dust, oils, or any other residues inside the machine or its pipes.

Don’t use any cleaning products when running the empty cycle. If you want, you can give the cycle some power by adding two cups of vinegar into the detergent drawer.

You can also pour half a cup of bicarbonate of soda into the machine’s drum before setting it to the hottest cycle and letting the cleaning happen.

Other washing machine best practices

Besides running an empty cycle to keep the washing machine in top shape, there are plenty of other things you need to do to maintain your machine. These things include:

Put the detergents in the right place

The detergent you use can make or break your machine, so you should be cautious about how you use it. If using a liquid detergent, measure it with a measuring cup or dosing ball and place the entire ball in a washing machine drum after your clothes.

If using a powder, measure it using a scoop and pour it into the correct compartment of the detergent drawer. It’s also wise to add the washing tablets to the detergent drawer or the washing machine drum before you put your clothes.

Just like the washing machine tablets, pop the capsules at the back of the drum before the clothes and run the cycle.

Remove the clothes at the right time.

Some homeowners leave clothes in their washing machines, sometimes even overnight. This is wrong as the moisture from the wet clothes can lead to a buildup of mold in the drum or even on the clothes.

To avoid this, always remove the clothes from the washer as soon as the rinse cycle is complete, then dry the clothes naturally outside.

Remove everything from the pockets.

Plenty of washing machines have been reported getting damaged by coins, nails, and other materials after they have hit the insides of the washing machine. As you can tell, this leads to expensive repairs, and you don’t get to use your machine for some time.

To avoid this, always double-check your pockets and remove any materials there. From the tissues to plastic toys, remove all of them. You don’t want a stray tissue leaving your entire load covered in white fluff, do you?

Hire a professional when issues come about

Your washing machine will develop problems such as blocked water pipe and others. While you can fix some of these issues by yourself, always avoid doing so as the chances are high that you will cause more problems than were there.

To be safe, always hire an appliance repair Alexandria professional to fix any problem, regardless of its magnitude.

How Do You Use Washing Machines Properly

Thanks to washing machines, we no longer worry about washing clothes with our hands. To draw the most benefits from these machines, you have to use them properly.

How do you use washing machines properly? Here is how to go about it as given by washer repair professionals:

Always prepare your clothes before putting them in the washing machine

Don’t just toss your clothes in the washing machine—prepare them for washing. A good rule of thumb is to close the zippers, unbutton shirts, secure straps, hooks, and Velcro, and inspect the pockets for any important items before putting the clothes in the machine.

The purpose of doing this is to prevent the clothes from getting damaged as you are cleaning them. For example, if you leave the clothes buttoned, you risk losing a thread around the buttonholes. Lint can also catch on the Velcro straps if you don’t close them properly.

Remove stains beforehand

While it’s possible to put bleach in the washing machine and remove stains or even whiten the clothes as you are cleaning them, it’s unwise to do this as sometimes the washing machine fails to remove the stains properly.

If you have stained clothes in your basket, remove the stains before putting the clothes in the washing machine with the other clothes. Besides having an easy time getting rid of these stains, removing the stains beforehand prevents stain transfer.

Separate light and grey clothes

The purpose of separating the clothes before putting them in the washing machine is to protect them from damage. For example, if you put lightweight clothes such as t-shirts and leggings together with jackets and other heavy clothes, it means that the clothes will stay in the washing machine for a long time so that all the dirt can come off the jackets.

As you can guess, this puts the leggings and the other lightweight clothes at the risk of getting damaged for staying in the washing machine much longer than they should.

To have an easy time sorting the clothes, have multiple hampers. You also should sort the outfits by their material. For example, put clothes made from lighter materials such as shirts and leggings in one basket and clothes made with thicker materials such as jeans and jackets in another.

You can also separate the clothes by color. Dark-colored clothes have dyes that can seep into the lighter clothes, so you should put them separately.

Turn the clothes inside out.

The point of doing this is to prevent your clothes from fading and maintain their original color. If you have fading clothes, it’s always recommended you clean them with cold water. The cold water sets the dye to the fabric, preventing it from floating away in the wash water, so you keep your clothes in their original color.

Don’t overload the washing machine.

When you have a large load to clean and minimal time, it’s tempting to load all of your clothes in one go and get done with it, but don’t. This is because you end up overloading the machine, which makes it work harder than it should and puts it at the risk of getting damaged.

All washing machines have their capacities indicated, so you can’t miss that. All you have to do is check on the indicated figures and ensure that you don’t overload your appliance.

Leave the washing machine door open.

After using the washing machine, don’t close the door. Instead, leave it open for air and light to get in. Mold and mildew thrive in damp areas, so when you close the washing machine’s door immediately after using it, you keep the insides damp, promoting mold and mildew growth.

By leaving the door open, you give the appliance time to air out and dry up, which kills the mildew and mold and prevents foul odors from occurring.

Keep the washing machine clean.

Since the washing machine cleans clothes, you don’t need to clean it, right? Wrong. According to appliance repair Springfield professionals, if you don’t regularly clean your washing machine, you don’t get rid of dust and debris that might get on your clothes, and they come out dirty.

To keep your appliance clean, clean it at least once a week.

What Should You Not Do With A Washing Machine?

Are you wondering, what should you not do with a washing machine? Well, there are plenty of things. Here are some of these things as given by appliance repair professionals:

Leaving wet clothes inside

With the hectic lives we are all leading, it’s easy to be distracted by other tasks while doing laundry, and we forget a load of clothes in the washing machine. Sometimes we are distracted or even on days that the clothes develop mildew and foul odor.

These are not only bad for your clothes, but the machine as well, which is a double tragedy.

To avoid this, set a timer or reminder on your phone to get a notification when the load is done.

Don’t overload the machine.

When you are in a hurry, it’s easy to want to load the machine with as many clothes as it can carry, so you are done fast. Don’t do this.

You should note that washing machines are designed to wash a certain weight of clothes, and when you exceed, you increase the chances of damaging the machine where the drum spins get damaged, but you also fail to clean the clothes properly.

To avoid damaging your appliance, you shouldn’t overload it. When doing the loading, ensure there is a space between the top of the load in the drum and the top of the drum itself. The space should be around the width of your palm.

Instead of cramming everything into one load to save time, use the quick washing setting for two decent-sized loads. In most modern machines, this will cut the washing time by half so you can wash many clothes without overloading the machine.

Forgetting to sort

Forgetting to sort your clothes not only damages the clothes, but the machine as well. Failing to sort your laundry leads to color bleeding, clothes shrinking and unwanted pocket items floating around during a washing cycle.

To avoid this, sort your laundry before putting it in the washing machine. It’s during sorting when you will find that you have a black permanent marker in your pocket. It’s also when you will prevent the whites from turning grey as you separate the clothes into the colored and whites, and run two loads.

Choose the wrong setting.

Although you can wash most of your clothes using the normal setting and come out perfect, there are a few clothes with special instructions you should be cautious about as they can get damaged when you wash them at the wrong temperature.

Most clothes are made from cotton that shrinks when you wash them for the first time. If the water temperature is wrong, the shrinkage worsens.

To prevent your clothes from shrinking and ensure you are cleaning them at the right temperature, read the label to find out the right temperature you should clean the clothes. You should also use the manual to find the best program to clean the clothes.

If you are worried about your clothes shrinking or losing their shape, wash them in cool water by hand, then dry them on the washing line or airer.

Failing to clean the washing machine

Many homeowners think that the washing machine is self-cleaning, so they don’t need to clean it, but this isn’t the case. Over the months and years of cleaning, the insides of the washing machine get dirty, mold builds up, and this can lead to the machine smelling bad.

To keep your appliance running in top condition and smelling fresh, make it a habit to run a service wash at 90 degrees at least once every month. You can run the wash using a detergent, a specialist washing machine cleaner, or any natural product such as vinegar.

Besides doing this, refer to your manual and see what else is recommended.

You can do the cleaning by yourself, but if you aren’t confident in your skills, you can always hire washer repair Springfield professionals to help out. The cool thing with hiring professionals is that besides running the service wash, they also inspect the appliance and fix any issues that might be present.

Of course, when hiring professionals, hire experienced technicians that know what they are doing. You don’t want someone that will damage your expensive unit, do you?

How Do You Fix An Unbalanced Washing Machine?

An unbalanced washing machine not only fails to clean the clothes properly, but it also makes a lot of noise that makes the washing experience unpleasant. In some cases, the unbalanced load damages the machine.

Have you noticed that your washing machine is unbalanced and are wondering how do you fix an unstable washing machine? There are plenty of ways to go about it, and the beauty is you don’t need to hire a washer repair professional to help you out.

Level the feet

When the washing machine feet are unbalanced, they cause a lot of vibration that is off-putting, so if your appliance is vibrating too much during a cycle, the first place to check is the appliance’s feet.

If some of the feet are too short, turn them to “loosen,” and they will come downward and contact the floor. The vibration should stop when all four feet come into contact with the ground.

Remove the shipping materials.

If you recently installed the washing machine and it’s already vibrating, the chances are high that it’s due to the shipping materials still in place.

In top loading washers, there is usually a shipping bolt at the bottom center of the machine that you are supposed to remove, and if you don’t remove it, the washer tends to vibrate when running a cycle.

Top-loading washers also have three shipping bolts, metal clamps, and spacers at the back of the washer. Some models even have other materials that you need to remove before you run a cycle.

You should refer to the installation instruction for your appliance and ensure that you remove all the shipping materials before using the machine.

Check for overloading

If your appliance doesn’t vibrate and the vibration just started after placing a new load, chances are this is due to overloading. Remove the clothes and run the cycle with a smaller load.

To avoid this problem from coming about in the future, never load the dishwasher more than it’s designed to carry. You also should avoid stocking large items that get spun on one side, causing loud knocking and shaking of the machine.

Leave these items out and hand wash or dry clean them instead.

Watch out for damaged components.

If your appliance is old, chances are the unbalance is due to damaged parts. Some of the damaged parts that will cause vibrations include:

Suspension springs: Both top and front-loading machines have springs that hold the tub to the base or suspend it from the top. Ensure that these springs are connected, and none is distended. To maintain balance, don’t replace only one of the shocks—replace all.

Snubber ring: The snubber ring is made from plastic or felt, and it provides a cushion for the tub of the top-loading unit. When it wears out, the tub contacts the metal base.

Telltale signs that your snubber ring is worn out are dust on the plastic snubber or clumps. If you have the skills, you can replace the ring but if you have never done it before, let the work be done by a professional.

Driver bearings: Some front-loading washing machines have ball bearings between the motor shaft and tub spindle. If the casting wears out and one or more of the bearings get dislodged, the tub vibrates.

Fixing the driver bearings requires high skill levels, so if you have never handled a similar problem before, let an expert do the work. If your unit is old, disassembling it might be too costly, making it logical to replace it.

Check for laundry caught below the tub.

Sometimes the laundry can be caught below the tub or between the agitator and the inner tub, causing the washer to operate off balance with every load you run. According to appliance repair Northern VA professionals, this problem can be brought about by plenty of factors such as a penny, a button that fell off a shirt, a sock, or any other article of clothing.

If you can’t find the source of the problem, you may have to remove the front or top panel and sometimes even the agitator.

To get rid of the problem, remove the offending item and clean out any debris. You should then replace the agitator and panel before rerunning the machine.

How Long Does A Washing Machine Take To Wash Clothes?

Wondering how long does a washing machine take to wash clothes? Well, according to washer repair professionals, it often depends on the type of washing machine you have. Here is the average amount of time it takes for different washing machines to clean clothes:

  • Front-loading machines: 70-120 minutes
  • High-efficiency top-loading machines: 60-85 minutes
  • Agitator top-loading machines: 35-80 minutes

If you have been following washing machines, you should have noticed that these figures are higher than years before, and there is a reason for that—washing machine manufacturers are deliberately designing slower machines.

While this might be off-putting as it means you will be spending more time waiting for the clothes to get clean, it comes with several perks:

  • The clothes don’t tear or wear out too fast as the machine isn’t too fast, and this comes in handy at ensuring that the clothes last for a long time.
  • Although the washing machine manufacturers have come up with slower machines, they have increased the tub capacities meaning that you can wash more clothes than before, which means you still save time.
  • You spend less water as the machine isn’t pulling a lot of water. When the washing machine is spinning at high speed, the machine consumes a lot of water, which increases your monthly water bill.
  • Since most modern washing machines are slower, they don’t consume a lot of water which sees you saving money as your water bill isn’t too high.

How the washing machine works

If this is your first time using the washing machine, you should know that it works in different stages that include:

Prewash: Here, the lid locks, and the tub senses the load’s weight and volume. It then fills with water and agitates the clothes lightly to distribute the detergent throughout the load. If you had selected the presoak option, this is where it will occur.

Wash: At this stage, the clothes will be agitated for some time then the machine allows them to rest so that the detergent can do its work. If you had chosen a heavy-duty wash cycle, the machine will have longer periods of agitation and soaking.

Rinse: Rinsing involves draining away the soapy water and spraying the clean water over the clothes. The washing machine adds clean water, spins the load to drain, and then adds clean water again to rinse away the detergents and soil.

If you are washing the delicates such as the underwear and brassieres, the washer doesn’t spin as fast, but if the cycles involve heavier soils, the washer might be fast and do several rinses to ensure that all the soils are completely removed.

Final spin: The final spin might include one or more rinses, then it picks up speed to wring out the clothes before they enter the dryer. It’s at this level when the washing machine spins at its highest, and if the load is unbalanced, you might have problems such as the machine making a lot of noise or moving around too much.

How to reduce your wash time

Even if most machines are now slow, you can do several things to ensure that they are efficient and clean the clothes as fast as possible. Some of the things you should do include:

Use the right detergent.

The detergent you use can significantly affect the time it takes to wash the clothes, so you need to ensure that you use the right one. As a rule of thumb, ensure that you use a detergent specifically designed for the machine model you are using.

Balance your load

According to appliance repair Springfield professionals, the load will often get unbalanced if you have overloaded it, mixed heavy and lightweight items, or using an improperly leveled machine.

Most modern machines will pause the cleaning cycle when they sense the load is imbalanced, which results in you wasting a lot of time.

To save time, take your time when loading the machine and ensure that you have loaded it properly. As a rule of thumb, ensure that you have loaded the right amount of clothes. Also, ensure that you aren’t mixing lightweight and heavyweight clothing items in the same cycle.

How Do You Know If Your Washing Machine Is Broken?

How do you know if your washing machine is broken? Well, there are plenty of symptoms you can look out for. Some of these symptoms, as given by washer repair contractors include:

The washing machine is leaking.

Most washing machine leaks are due to overflowing or loose connections, but sometimes the leaking can be due to complex problems. For example, if you have had your appliance for a long time, the water hose at the back of the washer might be worn out, and you need to replace it.

Your appliance might also be having a cracked tub you need to seal to restore the unit to its proper working condition.

Before you hire a service provider to fix the unit, first try to solve the overflowing problem. You do this by finding out the size of the load that can fit the washer and still leaves room for turning, shaking, and spinning.

The washer is making a lot of noise.

The washing machine will make weird noises due to plenty of reasons. For example, if it’s unbalanced, it will make noise when running, and all you need to do to fix this is to place the washer level.

If you balance the machine, but it’s still making the noise, you have a reason to be worried. First, stop the wash cycle, rearrange the clothes, and load the washing machine correctly, so the clothes are evenly distributed. Still experiencing the noise? The motor drum or mount might be loose and need tightening.

Unless you have the experience, let an experienced professional help you with the work.

Water doesn’t drain properly.

Once you have completed the washing cycle, the washer should drain completely, so you are left with little or no water in the washer. If you complete a cycle but some water sticks around the washing machine’s insides, you definitely have a problem you should address as soon as possible.

For example, the pump might be blocked, or the drain hose might be clogged hence preventing the water from draining as well as it should. The improper draining might also be due to problems with the water pump.

You need to get in touch with experienced technicians with the necessary tools and expertise to help you diagnose the issue and fix it.

Water doesn’t fill the drum.

When properly functioning, the washing machine should fill up with enough water to thoroughly clean the clothes. When the appliance is broken, water has a problem getting into the appliance. Water will fail to get into the appliance due to plenty of problems such as: kink in the hose, issue with the machine’s water intake valve or filter, or any other issue.

Contact an experienced professional to help you troubleshoot the source of the problem and fix it.

The drum doesn’t spin.

Water might fill the drum without any issue, but if the drum isn’t spinning, it’s pointless as you won’t be able to clean your clothes. The drum will fail to spin due to plenty of issues such as belts or lid switch.

You can try to replace the belts on your own but replacing the lid switch is more difficult, so you will be better off hiring a professional to help you out.

The washing machine keeps moving.

A moving washer might seem interesting, and most homeowners ignore it, but don’t do this. A properly functioning washer should remain in place when cleaning, spinning, and rinsing. So, when the unit is moving around, you have a problem you should fix as soon as possible.

If the machine is moving around and at the same time making a lot of noise, the movement could be due to imbalance, so you need to balance it, and you are good to go.

If you balance it and it’s still moving, it might be having a more serious problem, so you need to hire an appliance repair Springfield professional to find out the cause of the movements.

Don’t ignore these movements as a walking machine comes with plenty of risks. For example, the machine might start sloshing water outside the unit, which can ruin the floor leading to mildew and mold.

The walking washer can also pull itself free of its connections putting your property at the risk of fire.

How Do You Fix A Washing Machine That Shakes?

Is your washing machine shaking and wondering how do you fix a washing machine that shakes? There are plenty of ways to do it depending on the underlying cause of the problem. To help you out, here are some of the ways to fix a shaky washing machine as given by washer repair experts:

Replace the shock absorbers

All washing machines have shock absorbers designed to dampen the tub movements in the spin cycle. With time the absorbers weaken or even get damaged, and this causes the washer to shake and move. Because of this, the machine makes loud banging sound during a spin cycle.

So one way to fix the shaking washing machine is to inspect and replace the shock absorbers if worn out. To undertake the inspection, begin with unplugging the machine to avoid getting electrocuted, then locate the shock absorbers. Depending on the model, you may have to remove the front or rear panels to access the shocks.

To tell whether the shock absorbers are damaged, look out for broken attachments, leaking fluids and weakened dampening action.

Level the washing machine’s feet

Unbalanced feet are one of the leading causes of a shaky washing machine, so when your washing machine is shaking, this is the first thing to look into. Some dishwasher models use four threaded legs, while others use two threaded legs and two self-leveling rear legs.

How you go about the leveling depends on your washing machine’s model. To avoid electrocution, unplug the washing machine from the power source then tilt the machine on it’s front, side and back to access the feet.

Carefully inspect the feet and ensure they are level. If any of the feet isn’t level, run a test cycle to see where the problem could be and fix it. If the feet are level but the machine is still shaking, lookout for signs of wear and damage and ensure the feet are properly threaded.

Pad the sides

Sometimes you might have the impression the washing machine is shaking too much, but this isn’t the case. You should note that it’s normal for the washing machine to wiggle a little as the drum spins, especially during the high-speed spin cycles.

While the wiggling is normal, it can sometimes be unpleasantly noisy or shaky, especially if your washer isn’t padded.

If every diagnosis you are doing is checking out, but the washer is still shaking, chances are the appliance lacks padding. Place pads to the sides of the washing machine to reduce the sound and effect of the vibrations. These pads function like acoustic panels that reduce the washing machine’s vibrations and cushion any shaking the machine might cause to the nearby appliances, objects, and walls.

You can also buy special anti-vibration pads specifically designed for washing machine and other similar appliances.

To stop the washer from wiggling out of place, place anti-walking pads under the washing machine’s feet.

Balance the load

Load imbalance can also significantly contribute to a shaky washing machine, so balancing the load will go a long way towards keeping the washer stable and prevent it from shaking. When you notice the machine shaking, stop it and balance the load.

How do you do this? If you have a top loading washer, ensure the clothes are evenly distributed all the way around the center column.

If washing one or two items, add a few towels or shirts to even out the load. You should always avoid washing just one piece of clothing as it will put more weight on one side, which is dangerous.

Remove the shipping bolts

Have you just bought the washing machine and its already shaking? This could be due to the shipping bolts. From their name, these are clunky plastic bolts placed to prevent the washing machine drum from wobbling during transit.

These bolts protect the drum and the internal parts of the machine when the unit isn’t in use, but you should remove them immediately you install the machine.

Before you contact an appliance repair Fairfax professional to find out the cause of the shaking, reach inside your washer and press the inside of the drum. If the drum doesn’t wobble, the shipping bolts are most likely in place and you need to remove them before you run the next cycle.

How to Drain a Washing Machine for Moving

You are excited. You have found a new job in a different state or you built your house and you have to move from your current rental apartment. Among the things you have to move with is the washing machine.

Unfortunately, you can’t carry it with water—you have to drain the water. Since you don’t want to have any water remaining behind that might damage your other valuables, you have to properly drain the washing machine.

How do you do this?

Here is a guide given by washer repair experts on how to drain a washing machine for moving:

Step 1: Disconnect the machine from the power

Start with switching off the power button on the machine and unplug the machine from the power source. To avoid splashing the power cord with water, duct tape it to the top of the washing machine.

Step 2: Locate the drain hose and water supply hoses

If necessary, pull the washing machine away from the wall and access the drain hose. The drain hose is often located at the back of the washer, along with hot and cold water supply hoses. And it carries wastewater away from the machine while the hot and cold water supply hoses bring clean water to the machine.

To tell them apart, the hot hose is colour-coded red while the cold one is coded blue. The drain hose is often gray.

Step 3: Drain the washing machine

Depending on how the washing machine is installed, the drain hose might be carrying water into a standpipe, a drainpipe in the wall, or a large nearby utility sink.

To drain the washing machine, place a large bucket in place and disconnect the drain hose from the pipe by simply wigging it loose. You should then hold the hose up in the air to prevent water from flowing out until you place the bucket in place.

Once the bucket is in place, lower the end of the hose below the water level and gravity will cause the water to flow out.

If the water is too much that you have to pause to empty the bucket, simply place the disconnected end of the drain hose.

Step 4: Get rid of the drain hose blockage

If you find that the water doesn’t flow out or it drains too slowly, chances are you have a blockage in the drain hose. To unclog the drain hose, release the clog using a plumber’s snake. To do it, push the tip of the coil until it reaches a blockage, then turn it manually with the handles on the opposite end until you get through the blockage.

Step 5: Remove the clog in the drain pump

If the clog isn’t in the drain hose, chances are it’s in the drain pump. Depending on your machine, the drain pump might be located behind the removable panels in the front or back of the washing machine. It’s also not uncommon to find it at the bottom of the machine, and you have to tip the machine forward to access it.

After locating the pump, remove the spring clamps by squeezing them with a pair of pliers and clear any clogs present using needle-nosed pliers. The clogging material can range from small articles of clothing to a buildup of lint or pet hair.

Once you are done, reattach the hoses.

Step 6: Inspect the machine

You are better off fixing the washing machine before you move so that when you get to your new home, you will have time to enjoy it, not start looking for an appliance repair Fairfax to fix the machine.

Inspect the washing machine’s lid switch and confirm its working properly. All you need to do is to depress the lid switch by hand and if you don’t hear a click, its most likely broken and needs replacement.

You also should take a look at the belts and if they are damaged, unscrew the access pane and replace them.

You can do the work by yourself, but if the work is above your skill level, let a professional handle it. For best results, ensure the professional is experienced and certified to work in your local area.

Is It Worth Repairing a 15-Year-Old Washing Machine?

Are you wondering, is it worth repairing a 15-year-old washing machine? Well, this depends on the broken part and the cost of repairing it. If the broken part is easy to find, so you can easily source it and not expensive to repair, it’s worth repairing the appliance, but if the part is hard to find and expensive to repair, you are better off getting a new appliance.

A good rule of thumb is to avoid repairing an appliance if the cost of repair is half the new unit’s price.

As you are making your decision, remember that most old appliances have fewer electronic widgets, so appliance repair professionals have an easy time repairing them.

While this is the case, there are situations when you shouldn’t even weigh your options and instead replace the appliance. These situations include:

Excessive leaking

A leaking washing machine comes about due to overflowing or a loose connection. If your appliance is old, it most likely uses the same amount of water for every size load. To minimize leaking, determine the load’s size that can fit in the washing machine and leave enough room for spinning, turning, and shaking.

If you do this and the appliance is still leaking, the water hose located at the back of the washing machine might be worn out or has come loose. Take a look at the hose and tighten it.

If you tighten it and the washer still leaks, you might be having a cracked tub. Tubs are expensive to replace, so you are better off buying a new appliance.

The appliance is making a lot of noise.

One of the most common washing machine noises is the appliance sounding as if it’s about to take a flight. If this is the case with your unit, you have nothing to worry about as the unit is simply unbalanced, and all you need to do is rearrange the clothes, so they are evenly distributed.

If the machine makes the noise even when empty, it means it’s sitting on an uneven surface. To fix the problem, position the washer in such a way all four feet are level.

If neither of these solves the problem, your motor mount or drum may need tightening. Contact your local appliance technician and find out how much it will cost you to do it. Depending on the amount charged, you will assess whether it’s wise to repair the unit or get a new one.

The appliance moves around.

A properly installed appliance should stay in place when cleaning, rinsing, and spinning your clothes. If your washing machine moves around that it looks as if it’s walking, you have a problem.

Begin with checking whether it’s level, and if it’s not, level it.

Even if your walking machine is functioning as well as a stationary one, you should know it’s not normal for a machine to move around. One of the issues that can come about is the appliance sloshing water outside the unit and ruining the floors and other parts of the house.

The walking machine also has high chances of pulling itself free of its connections, and it comes to an abrupt stop.

Ask an experienced professional to look into the problem, and if there is no way you can stop the appliance from walking, get a new one.

Water doesn’t fill the drum.

When your drum’s washer isn’t filling up, it means you have a delayed cycle selection, a problem with your hot and cold water faucets, and a kink in your hose. If you check all of the three and see no problem, your unit might be having a complication with the water intake valve or filter, and this needs to be looked at by a professional.

Sometimes the drum might fill with water, but it doesn’t turn as it should. If this is the case, take a look at the lid switch and belts and ensure they are working as well as they should.

Malfunctioning belts are easy to replace, but if the problem is with the lid switch, the washer repair Springfield professional needs to put in some work. Get a few quotes from different contractors and compare them. Is it worth fixing the lid switch issue or getting a new appliance? It’s up to you to make the decision.