Washer Repair? Why wont it drain?

Before you woke the kids up this morning, you threw a load of clothes into your washer machine, did you expect to need a washer repair? Once everybody was dressed and eating breakfast, you ventured back to the laundry room to continue your morning chore. Unfortunately, when you lifted the lid of your appliance to retrieve your clothes, you were met by a washer still filled with water. After pushing a few buttons and turning a couple of knobs, you close the lid and wait for something to happen, but the washer stays perfectly silent. You refrain from cursing the washer’s existence, and head back to the kitchen to take your kids to school, leaving any inquiries into washer repair for when you get back.

If you’ve ever found yourself in this situation or a position similar to this, there are a few common washer malfunctions that you should know about.

  • Your washer’s lid switch may be defective. Lid switches on washers were designed and installed to prevent people from reaching into a machine that was running. When you open the lid the switch turns your machine off and when you close the lid, the switch signals for the machine to continue operating. The switch is often made of plastic and can become worn after years of use. If this is not the case, you may be dealing with a mechanical problem. Replacing the switch is your best bet and probably requires professional assistance.
  • The pump or hose leading to your washers drain could be clogged. There is a good chance a small piece of clothing found its way into the hose or pump, causing a blockage in your washer’s draining system. The only way to correct this problem is removing the hose from the drain pump to locate and eliminate the obstruction.
  • A clogged coin trap may be your culprit. Your washer has a device near the drain pump called a coin trap. A coin trap’s job is to prevent foreign objects from entering the drain. If the trap is blocked, it can stop your machine from draining. Luckily, most coin traps are designed for you to easily reach through an access panel. After you’ve found the coin trap, clean it, and remove all obstructions. Once this is done your machine should have no problem draining.

If you find yourself faced with a malfunctioning washer machine, please contact us at SoBellas Home Services. We offer same day services and have helped over 35,000 customers for the last 37 years.

How to Remove Your Washing Machine Door Seal – Washer Repair

Replacing your front loader washing machine door seal, also known as the boot is a much bigger task than it sounds. While replacing the door seal on a refrigerator is incredibly easy, the one on your washer could not be more thoroughly installed. In this article, we will only be focusing on how to remove the initial boot seal and will cover installing a new boot seal in another separate article. Ready? This is not an easy task but you can do it.

Gather Your Materials

  • Slot and Phillips Screwdrivers
  • 1/4 inch Nut Driver
  • Inner Spring Clamp Tool
  • Outer Spring Pliers
  • Pliers
  • Socket Wrench Set
  • Work Gloves

Safety First

For this repair, you will be working with wires which means you will need to shut off power to the washing machine. Unplug it from the back or shut off the breaker that powers the washer.

Remove the Top Panel

Start by removing the top panel. This is the easiest part. Move to the back of your washer by pulling out the washer or making room. Then unscrew the two mounting brackets at the back. Pull the washer lid toward you (away from the control panel and then lift it away. Set the washer lid to the side for now, along with its screws.

Remove Every Part of the Front Assembly

Next, you will need to remove practically every part of the front of your washer. Each one either blocks your way to the door boot seal or is directly attached to it. We’ll go through the process quickly in this guide.

  • Remove the Soap Dispenser
  • Pull out your soap dispenser and set it aside.
  • Remove the Control Panel
  • Use the screws revealed by removing the soap dispenser to release the control panel
  • Unplug the control panel
  • Pull the control panel away and set it aside.
  • Remove the Drain Trap Hatch
  • Open the small hatch at the bottom that has the pump drain filter
  • Use the revealed screws to unfasten the hatch housing
  • Pull the hatch away and set it aside with its screws
  • Unscrew the screws revealed behind the hatch housing.
  • Detach the Spring Clamp
  • Use your spring pliers to detach the outer spring clam around the top of the door boot
  • Pull Away the Door Boot Seal
  • Pull the top of the door boot seal away from the top of the washer pocket for the seal.
  • Remove the Top Front Panel Screws
  • There are several screws at the top of your washer front panel revealed by removing the control panel. Remove these screws.
  • Unplug the Door Lock
  • Release the wires from the wire harness connecting the door lock to the rest of the washer
  • Remove the Front Panel
  • Pull the front panel away and set it side
  • Remove the Counterbalance Weights
  • Underneath the drum you will see two large screws that connect the counterbalance weight. Remove these and the weight.

Washing machine repair – Remove the Door Boot Seal

  • Release the Spring Clamps
  • Use your pliers to release the next set of spring clamps.
  • Pull the Hoses Off the Boot
  • Then use your pliers to detach the hoses from the boot seal
  • Unplug the Washer Drum Light
  • Release the wires connecting the drum light from the washer
  • Release the Inner Spring Clamps
  • Remove the boot door inner spring clamp with the spring pliers
  • Pull Your Door Boot Away
  • Finally, you can pull the now-released washer boot seal out of the inner pocket aperture.
  • Observe your Handiwork and avoid needed washer repair

    This is only half a repair finished, but it’s already taken a good bit of time. Wipe your forehead, review your handiwork, and grab something to drink before tackling the serious task of installing a new washer boot seal in the place of the one you just removed. Contact us for more helpful repair guides and tips!

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