Repair guide
Washer not spinning? Common causes
By Deven Alcantara, EPA 608 certified technician ·
Most washers that won't spin are protecting themselves. Check that No Spin or Low Spin isn't selected, spread out an unbalanced load, make sure the lid or door is fully closed, and use HE detergent so suds don't slow the spin. A washer also won't spin until it drains, so a clogged pump filter can stop it too.
Safety first
Never reach into a washer that’s still turning. GE says the lid stays locked until the basket coasts to a stop, which can take up to 3 minutes, so let it finish. Unplug the washer before you clean around the lid lock, level it or open the pump filter.
What to check first
- Check the spin setting. Whirlpool says washers remember settings, so a cycle last run with No Spin will recall No Spin next time. Delicate and Handwash cycles spin slower on purpose. Select a normal spin and run Drain & Spin.
- Rebalance the load. An unbalanced load can stop the spin. Most washers try to fix it by refilling and turning the load, but you may need to spread the clothes out by hand. Don’t wash one heavy item like a single rug on its own; Whirlpool suggests two or three to balance it. Load clothes loosely, no higher than the top row of holes in the basket. On GE top-loaders, a flashing Spin light or bALAnCInG means it can’t spin; Samsung shows Ub, UE or Ur.
- Make sure the lid or door is closed and locking. A top-load HE washer won’t fill, drain or spin with the lid open, and GE says none of its top-loaders will spin with the lid up. If the lid lock light flashes, wipe detergent and lint off the lock and striker with a damp cloth. On GE front-loaders, check that the detergent drawer is fully closed. Samsung’s dC and dE codes point to the door.
- Cut the suds. Too much detergent, or regular detergent in an HE washer, lowers spin speed. Whirlpool shows Sud or Sd and Samsung shows Sud when suds are detected. Whirlpool also notes that no-splash bleach has a thickener that can make extra suds. Use measured HE detergent and run Drain & Spin.
- Level the washer. Rock the washer corner to corner. If it moves, adjust the feet until it sits solid on all four.
- Check for water left in the tub. GE washers drain with a separate pump before they spin, so if water stays in the tub the washer won’t spin. Samsung says a clogged pump filter can stop the spin, and on Whirlpool top-loaders a flashing spin light can also mean the drain hose is too far into the standpipe. See my washer not draining guide if there’s standing water.
- Check power and reset. Check the breaker and test the outlet with a lamp or hair dryer. Whirlpool says a power failure during spin can keep a washer from reaching full speed, and its reset is to unplug the washer for 5 minutes.
Normal pauses that look like a problem
GE says pauses of up to 3 minutes before pump-out and spin are normal, so don’t advance the timer. Whirlpool adds that pausing late in the cycle to add a garment can limit the top spin speed for that load. GE also says a load that’s too small may not spin in a front-loader. If a single item won’t spin out, add a couple of towels and run Drain & Spin again.
Water softeners and suds
East Valley water is hard. Phoenix reports 9.2 to 20.1 grains per gallon and Chandler averages 16.5, so a lot of homes here have a water softener. That matters for spin problems: GE says over-sudsing is especially common in homes with softened water, and Whirlpool says very soft water may need less detergent. If you have a softener and see suds codes or slow spins, try less HE detergent.
When to call a technician
Call me if the setting, load, lid and suds all check out and the washer still won’t spin, or if it hums, smells hot or stops with a code that comes back. The usual causes are a lid or door lock that won’t engage, a worn drive belt, a motor control fault or, on top-loaders, a failed clutch.
Upfront pricing
$65
Service call, waived when you approve the repair. You get an exact price before any work starts.
Stacked washer and dryer units have a $125 service call, also waived with the repair.
From My Recent Repairs
- Samsung Front-Load Washer Not Draining or Spinning: Drain Pump Replaced
A Samsung front-load washer would not drain or spin. I came out quickly and replaced the drain pump.
Washer Error Codes
Sources for This Guide
The checks and numbers in this guide come from the manufacturers’ own support pages and manuals, plus the public sources listed. Your owner’s manual has the final word for your model.
Sources
- Not Spinning, Front Load Washer (Whirlpool)
- Not Spinning, Top Load Washer (Whirlpool)
- Slower Spin Speeds on a Front Load Washer (Whirlpool)
- Top Load HE Washer Is Unbalanced or Overloaded (Whirlpool)
- Lid Locking on a Top Load High Efficiency Washer (Whirlpool)
- Lid Lock Flashing, Washer (Whirlpool)
- Excessive Suds in a Front Load Washer (Whirlpool)
- Spin Light Flashing (Whirlpool)
- Not Draining, Top Load Washer (Whirlpool)
- Top Load Washer Not Spinning (GE Appliances)
- Front Load Washer Not Spinning (GE Appliances)
- Washer Lid Lock (GE Appliances)
- Washer Drains Before Spinning (GE Appliances)
- Suds Lock (GE Appliances)
- Washer Oversudsing (GE Appliances)
- How to resolve a 5E or 5C error code on a washing machine (Samsung UK)
- Samsung washing machine error and information codes (Samsung UK)
- 2024 Water Quality Report (City of Phoenix)
- Water quality FAQs (City of Chandler)
Ready when you are
Still not spinning? Book your washer repair.
Call or text (480) 292-4746, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm. Same-day and next-day appointments are often available.