Why does not the drum in the washing machine and what to do?

The washing machine has long been an indispensable attribute of modern homes, without which the household becomes many times more difficult. As soon as the faithful assistant breaks down, we try to solve the problem as soon as possible, because without clean clothes and linen life becomes extremely uncomfortable.

One of the most common breakdowns that happen to the washing machine is the stoppage of the drum rotation. Faced with this problem, many people rush to contact a professional repairman. However, in some cases, you can fix the breakdown yourself.

So, if the drum in the washing machine has stopped spinning, it is not necessary to immediately call the master. If the problem is not serious, first you can try to deal with it on your own. Before proceeding with self-diagnosis, you should take some precautions:

1. Forcibly end the washing program.
2. Disconnect the unit from the power supply.
3. Place a basin under the door and drain the remaining water into it.
4. Remove the laundry from the drum.
5. If necessary, wipe the inside of the drum dry.
6. Unfold the washing machine and remove the back panel (in most cases you just need to unscrew a few screws to do this).

Having accomplished all the necessary preparatory work, you can proceed to identify the causes of the breakdown. But before this, we recommend that you once again study the instructions to the washing machine and check the maximum allowable weight of the laundry. The fact is that all washing machines are designed for a certain number of kilograms. Most modern models automatically block washing if you have loaded too much laundry in the drum.

If the drum of the machine does not rotate for this reason, no need to take any steps: just next time do not overload the machine, otherwise the consequences can be quite serious.

You have followed the manual exactly, and the weight of the laundry did not exceed the established standards? Then the source of the problem lies elsewhere. To find it, first of all, you should try to rotate the drum by hand. If it rotates, it is likely that the breakdown occurred due to one of the following reasons.

The heart of any mechanism is its motor. The washing machine is no exception. It is the condition of the motor that determines the quality of your washing machine. The belt is one of the most important elements of the engine. It is most prone to abrasion and other damage. As a result of abrasion, the drive belt can become loose or even torn.

See Vladimir Khatuntsev's video on how to replace the belt in a washing machine.

This problem refers to the category of more serious. Identify it independently, of course, it is possible, but to cope with it, not having knowledge in the programming of electronics, will be much more difficult. Specialists fix the situation by zeroing or re-flashing the hardware-software device. In some cases, you may need to replace it.

Carbon brushes are another important part necessary for the stable operation of the washing machine motor. They are needed to absorb some of the tension, thereby prolonging the life of the motor. Sometimes it happens that the brushes "burn out", that is, wear out. If this happens, the cause of the malfunction immediately becomes clear, because a carbon deposit appears on the surface of the brushes - as if they were burnt. The burned brushes should be replaced with new ones.

In the following video Vladimir Khatuntsev shows the process of independent replacement of brushes in a washing machine.

Despite the apparent simplicity, the device of the washing machine is quite complex, which can cause a variety of problems related to the operation of any part of the electric motor. For example, the drum may "refuse" to rotate because of a short circuit that has occurred in the windings, or because the ignition coil tachometer has broken. Whatever the cause, if you can't identify it yourself, it's better to abandon attempts at self-repair and enlist the help of a professional.

There is another group of malfunctions associated directly with the work of the drum. In some cases, the drum jams and then it is impossible to set it in motion even by pushing it by hand. The drum may jam for one of the following reasons.

The most common cause of drum jamming is the ingress of foreign objects into the internal parts of the machine. Most often this happens during washing, when coins, keys, hairpins and other small things fall out of pockets. In this case, the obstruction can be removed by yourself. To do this, you need to open the top panel, find the tubular electric heater (TEN) and carefully disconnect it. In the formed cavity, as a rule, there are things that got inside. After pulling out the foreign body, perform all the same actions in reverse order.

The bearing is the most important element of the mechanism of the washing machine.

To understand that something is wrong with the drum bearing of the washing machine is very easy: during the next wash, the machine begins to make uncharacteristic noise. It can be a creaking, knocking or humming. If you hear something like this, it is likely that the bearing has begun to deteriorate. This happens when:

• the machine has been serving you for a very long time, and many elements have had time to wear out;
• to take care of your washing machine, you often use descalers, which have an aggressive chemical composition, leading to the destruction of the metal elements;
• The oil seal - the rubber seal on the bearing - has not been lubricated with a special agent for a long time, and as a result it has become loose and is leaking water.

Once you find the cause of the drum malfunction in the bearing, the failed part should be replaced with a new one.

Replacing bearings is a job you can do yourself. See about it in the video of V. Khatuntsev.

Below is a list of less common breakdowns affecting the operation of the washing machine drum. It should be noted that this list is far from complete, as each model has its own features.

1. Failure of the heating element. Very rarely, the tubular heating element overheats, breaks down and falls apart. Its debris and can be the cause of blocking the drum.
2. Failure of the condenser. If you have an older model washing machine, the drum has probably stopped rotating because the condenser has failed. Fortunately, the condenser is a part that is fairly easy to replace.
3. Pump malfunctions. If the pump fails to draw or drain, the drum may automatically lock up.

It also happens that the drum of the washing machine, although it does not stop at all, but rotates very slowly. As soon as you notice such behavior for your washing machine, you need to urgently take action, otherwise the problem may take on more serious proportions. Usually, the drum slows down the rotation in case of any problems with the motor. As a rule, the cause is in the drive belt, the bearing or getting foreign objects inside the mechanism.

Sometimes the drum of the washing machine spins at a low speed because of imbalance. The drum "loses" balance when it is loaded with too much or, on the contrary, too little stuff, or if the laundry is piled up. Modern models of washing machines, as a rule, independently recognize the problem and signal it.

Due to poor quality soldering of the relay contacts on the control board, the washing machine drum can also rotate badly. On how to solve the problem, see the following video.

• Before you load the laundry in the wash, carefully check all the pockets, turn out the duvet covers and pillowcases - so you'll be sure that no small items will get inside the machine.
• Before starting a new machine, read the owner's manual carefully. Be sure to follow the recommendations regarding the volume and weight of the laundry to be loaded.
• There are special pouches available for washing underwear and other small items. Specialists strongly advise using these bags not only for safety, but also for the safety of the washer-dryer.
• Do not use laundry conditioners, bleach, descalers, and do not exceed the dosage of laundry detergent. The components contained in household chemicals can damage the insides of the washing machine.
• If during the washing process the machine started making strange noises, cancel the program and unload all the laundry. If the situation repeats when restarting, it means that the washing machine needs diagnosis and repair.