- Having a washing machine in your laundry room comes with many responsibilities. We’re talking about knowing how to get the best out of the washer by maximizing its functionality and how to troubleshoot it when problems come up. In this article, we’ll be looking at some of the most common Whirlpool washing machine problems and what you can do to solve them.
- If you’re looking to get a washing machine soon and all hyped up about it, it’s such a great feeling, and don’t let anybody tell you any different. We’re also going to be exploring some of the benefits of having a washing machine in your laundry room.
As a washing machine owner of modern times, there are certain things you need to understand about how modern washing machines operate; otherwise, you’ll miss out on the most important things, and you may not be getting the best value for your money at the end of the day. Modern-day washing machines are not complicated, but their uniqueness makes people have a different opinion of them, especially those just making the transition from conventional washers to modern ones. We’re talking about understanding how these machines function, maximizing the features that make doing laundry very easy for you and getting the best value for your money.
Table of Contents
ToggleIt’s not surprising that most folks only use about 40% of what their washers have to offer, which, technically, is a bad thing because there’s a lot to explore in these washing machines than people eventually do. If you have a modern washing machine, there’s a lot to do in the washing machine than just using the Normal cycle whenever you want to do your laundry. You won’t be surprised that some people will only use the Normal cycle for as long as the washing machine functions without exploring the other features or cycles the washer offers.
Long before the washing machine, people were content to do their laundry by hand, but we can’t rule out the possibility that they wished they had a machine that just required a little human effort to get the job done. People were ecstatic when the first residential automated washing machine was introduced in 1937 since it was something they had been waiting for for a long time. However, if you compare early washing machines to what we have now, you’ll see a significant difference.
People who own modern washing machines have no idea how much these machines can help them, and most of them don’t even take the time to learn about everything these machines have to offer, which is the unfortunate aspect of this entire technological evolution.
The first domestic automatic washer was manufactured by a subsidiary of Avco, one of the most popular appliances manufacturers of the mid-’90s, Bendix Home Appliances, and there weren’t a lot of manufacturers that wanted to take the risk Bendix Home Appliances took during this period.
Today, things have changed, and almost every appliance manufacturer you can think of has the washing machine as one of the many products they offer to their consumers. Brands like Samsung, LG, Frigidaire, and GE have taken the game to a different level because they’re the best appliance manufacturers in the world.
With all of these well-known brands at the forefront of the appliance market, the Whirlpool name is sometimes overlooked. While it may not be well-known worldwide, it is quite popular in the United States and is largely recognized as one of the best. Whirlpool has been responsible for some of the top washing machines and appliances created in the United States in recent years, so it’s reasonable to assume that the brand is the best of the rest. Whirlpool’s success is evidenced by the fact that it is a Fortune 500 firm with anticipated annual revenue of $21 billion, a feat that can only be accomplished by a large corporation.
If being a Fortune 500 firm isn’t enough to make Whirlpool Corporation one of the finest appliance manufacturers in the US, consider the company’s 70 research and manufacturing facilities throughout the world and its 78,000 people – a feat only a large corporation can achieve.
It’ll be wrong to think the brand’s exposure is only limited to the United States, as its nine manufacturing facilities in states like Tennessee, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Massachusetts only account for 5% of its employees. Whirlpool Corporation also owns popular appliances brands like Jenn-Air, Maytag, Amana, and Magic Chef, while it also markets brands like Inglis, KitchenAid, and Hotpoint, to mention but a few.
If you have a Whirlpool washing machine in your laundry room, you have one of the best and most regarded washing machines in the United States and the rest of the world because that’s what the Whirlpool brand does best. Sadly, again, people don’t know how to get the best out of their washing machines, which is why topics like How to Use Whirlpool Front Load Washing Machines, How to Troubleshoot Whirlpool a Washer, Whirlpool Front Load Washer Troubleshooting, How to Fix My Whirlpool Washing Machine – are some of the most popular Whirlpool-related topics on the internet today. People need to be getting the best out of their washers, and from what we’ve seen so far, folks are only getting little out of the many things they can enjoy in their washing machines.
As a washer owner, getting the most out of your machine should be your top goal because there’s more to enjoy than just running the Normal cycle, rinsing, and spinning. Imagine investing over a thousand dollars on a washing machine only to treat it the same way you would a washer that costs less than $300. It just doesn’t seem right because you should be getting more value out of your investment than doing the mundane. Whirlpool is known for providing high-end washing machines with unique features such as the self-clean option, which can run a cycle that cleans the washer tub in a matter of minutes.
Knowing how to repair a Whirlpool washing machine is one of the best ways to get the best value for your money because if you don’t have this kind of information at your disposal, you’ll be spending a lot of money on repairs as repair services are very expensive these days.
You can easily carry out some detective tasks on your washer; even if you need repair service, you won’t be charged for troubleshooting because you’d have figured out the machine’s problem. Most of the time, the problem is always simple, but you need to have the right knowledge to figure out what might be wrong with the washer in the first place.
Before getting into our Whirlpool washing machine troubleshooting guide, you need to know some of the benefits of having a washing machine, so if you’re missing out on some, you will know what’s wrong and how to get things running again. If you’re getting a new washing machine, it’s okay to be hyped up about it; you’re getting your hands on a machine that will bring comfort and convenience to your home, but it uniquely does this. Let’s take a quick look at some of the benefits you should expect when you have a washing machine in your laundry room or just looking to purchase one.
Benefits of Modern Washing Machines
It’s natural to expect certain changes in your life when you buy a new machine, no matter how minor they may appear. After all, you’re acquiring the new equipment to fill a hole, so forgive yourself for having expectations and wanting to receive the most value for your money at the end of the day. Some of the advantages of having a modern washing machine in your laundry room are listed below.
Technology
There’s no denying how much technology has impacted our world, and every person on earth has benefitted from it since it has become a mainstream thing, and that’s to show how influential it is and how much we need it in the world we live in today. Introducing technology to our household appliances has to be one of the coolest things that ever happened to us as humans because this brings some extra comfort and convenience to the way we interact with these machines. Think of a smart refrigerator in your kitchen reading out useful recipes to you while you try them in a bid to make wonderful meals for your family; that’s exactly how far we’ve come.
Washing machines are not an exception as they’ve also enjoyed tech integration, especially those produced in recent times. Washers can now connect to Wi-Fi as some were made with built-in Wi-Fi receptors that make you connect them easily to smartphones or a website. They can also send alerts to you whenever something’s up with them, like error codes or alerts when a cycle has just ended. If you want premium features like these, you’ll have to opt for one of Whirlpool’s high-end washing machines, usually priced higher than the middle-end washers.
Safety Features
The concept of innovation is to build on an existing idea, find the problems with the idea, and find solutions so people can enjoy the idea better, with much ease and convenience. The problem with old washing machines was that they didn’t have enough safety features to protect people from accidents, and this made people wish they had washing machines with enough safety features. Many years later, we now have machines with enough safety features to protect people from accidents and the washers from things that can get them damaged.
One of the most popular safety features in modern washing machines is the child lock, perfect for households with younger children. Once this feature is activated, the control panel does not function to avoid being accessed by kids who will press any button on the control board just to have fun. This way, you’ll be protecting both your kids or anyone who doesn’t know how to operate the washing machine and your washing machine because pressing buttons without knowing what they do can cause the washing machine to be damaged.
Stainless Steel Washer Tub
Some ten years ago, stainless steel washer tubs were rare in washing machines because stainless steel itself is an expensive material to incorporate in most appliances, and any appliance that had them was priced higher than the ones that didn’t have stainless steel. Today, many high-end washing machines and even those that are not as sophisticated come with stainless steel washer tubs that provide smooth operation for your laundry needs. Stainless steel has a reputation for its smooth surface and its resistance to rust and corrosion, so as your washer tub continues to interact with water and detergent, you won’t have to be scared that it might rust anytime soon, although you have to properly maintain it to ensure this.
With stainless steel wash tubs, you don’t have to worry about rough operations that can get your laundry damaged because these tubs will thoroughly wash, rinse, and spin your clothes without any risk of damage due to their smooth surface. Snags and tears are things you shouldn’t worry about with stainless steel washer tubs, as they can keep up with intense cycles and pull more water out of your loads. If you’re investing in a washing machine with a stainless steel washer tub, you should look forward to getting the best out of it because it’s a great material to have in a washing machine tub.
Other Benefits of Modern Washing Machines
- Touchpad controls and digital display
- High-end features
- Large washer capacity
- Quiet operation
- Remote controls
- They’re easy to repair
- They save you a lot of time
- They also conserve energy
- Easy to clean
- They’re reliable and durable
- They’re available in different styles and sizes
Whirlpool Washing Machine Problems
Whirlpool often gets mentioned whenever high-end, high-performance, and high-quality appliances are mentioned in the United States, although not as much as brands like GE and Frigidaire because they’re quite ahead in brand exposure and popularity. The brand’s washing machines are also very popular, but that doesn’t come without saying; just like every washing machine, running into some problems with your Whirlpool washing machine is not unusual. According to Denver Appliance, certain components and parts of your Whirlpool washing machine can break down, so you need to know how to diagnose a Whirlpool washer and common problems with Whirlpool washers, some of which we’ll be exploring below.
First Things First…
Before attempting to troubleshoot your Whirlpool washer or even service it, there are things you need to take into account for your safety as well as the washer’s so all parties can be okay before and after the procedure. Before doing anything in your washer, below are some of the most important safety rules you need to follow to make sure everyone and everything is safe at the end of the day.
Turn off and unplug the washer
The first and most important step to take when fixing anything in your Whirlpool washer or any electrical appliances in your house is to turn off the breakers, turning off the washer by pressing the power button before unplugging the unit from the power outlet in your laundry room. This reduces the risk of any electric shock or, worst-case, a fire outbreak because that can happen if you don’t unplug the unit from the power outlet before attempting to fix it.
Get help if you need some
You shouldn’t be shy to get some help if you need to because you might need some extra pair of hands to help you lift, hold, or handle anything you can’t do by yourself, which is why it’s always great to have some help ready whenever you’re troubleshooting your washing machine. You’ll most likely need some help if you have a stacked dryer and washer because it’s usually heavy, and attempting to move it independently can hurt yourself or damage the appliance. Dropping the appliance can cause some serious damage that may be hard to fix, and, at the end of the day, you may find yourself on the market again for a new washer.
Call a technician if you don’t have any experience with electrical appliances
It’s easy to feel pressured into doing this yourself, as most people will tell you that’s what they do and you’ll feel left out or like you’re not even doing enough if you don’t attempt to fix your washing machine yourself. However, it’s better to spend that money and let your friends say what they want than to risk hurting yourself or damaging your washing machine when you opt to do it yourself with little or no experience with electrical appliances. You can always learn, but some situations won’t give you that luxury as you’ll have to take some quick action to try and correct the problems with your washing machine.
What you need to understand is that whether or not you have any experience with electrical appliances, most repairs that involve replacing and removing internal components require to be done by a trained professional if you don’t want to risk causing more damage that could put your warranty in jeopardy. It’s always ideal to involve a trained professional to protect yourself, your washing machine, and the warranty offered by the manufacturer if you know you can cause more damage to the washer by attempting to fix the problem yourself.
Whirlpool Washing Machine Making a Loud Noise
Washing machines making a loud noise is one of the most common washing machine problems, but, over the years, people have got the hang of it, making solving it very easy. It’s perhaps the easiest washing machine problem to solve because people have had to deal with this more times than any other washing machine problem. As usual, it’s okay for your washing machine to make some noise when it’s running as long as the noise is not loud or unusual. When your washing machine starts making loud and unusual noises, it means it’s not working properly, and something has to be done.
Causes
1. One of the reasons you may find your washing machine making unusual noises is when the bearing is broken, which is a common problem amongst modern washing machines, especially the high-end ones. Broken or rusted bearings usually cause the washing machine drum to spin almost uncontrollably and make a lot of noise in the process, disturbing noises most of the time. This problem has to be fixed as soon as possible if you don’t want to risk getting your washing machine damaged.
2. If it’s not a broken bearing, it’s probably from the washer belt, usually at the washer’s access panel just behind the pump belt. When the washer belt is worn-out, water will start draining from your Whirlpool washer uncontrollably, and this will also cause it to make a lot of noise before finally getting damaged.
Solution
1. If you’ve gone through the troubleshooting process and you’ve found out that the problem is a broken bearing, you may not have much of a choice but to call a professional to help you fix it because it involves taking the bearings out and replacing them, depending on how many of them are broken. With broken bearings, you have to move to fix them as soon as possible if you don’t want to damage your Whirlpool washing machine because that’s the consequence of not moving as fast as possible.
2. For a worn-out washer belt, it’s something you can do yourself, but, again, if you don’t have any experience with electrical appliances, you might want to involve a trained professional to help you fix this problem. As we mentioned earlier, the first step involved in any troubleshooting process is to turn off the power and unplug the washing machine from the power outlet. After this, remove the washer’s access panel at the back and take off the pump belt before the drive belt. Take the drive belt out, replace it with a new one, and reconnect any other connections or belts that may have been tampered with. Once you’re done, screw the access panel back into position and ensure everything is intact before you plug the washing machine.
Whirlpool Washing Machine is Leaking
Whirlpool washing machine leaking is not unusual as we’ve seen over the past few years, not just with Whirlpool washing machines but also with washing machines from other manufacturers. When this problem arises, you don’t need to fret as it’s a very common problem amongst washing machines and something you can fix yourself if you have experience handling electrical appliances. However, to fix the problem, you have to be able to identify the cause, which can range from a failed water pump to a fault waterline or even the door gasket. Whatever the problem is, you have to ensure you need to get it fixed as soon as possible to avoid damaging your washing machine.
Causes
1. Whenever your washer is leaking, the likeliest culprit is the water supply line and your drain, so that has to be the first place you check whenever you encounter a problem as common as your Whirlpool washing machine leaking. Usually, the waterline is responsible for supplying the washing machine with cold and hot water, so whenever there’s a leak, that’s the first place to check if there has been any loose hose connection, damaged or missing rubber washer, or cracks in the waterline.
2. Since the waterline is responsible for supplying the washing machine with enough cold or hot water depending on the temperature you choose when doing your laundry, it’s not surprising that another place you should look if the waterline is not the cause of the problem is the water pump, which is responsible for draining water out of the washing machine tub. A broken water pump might cause your washing machine to leak water because what’s supposed to take water out is not functioning properly.
3. Lastly, if you’ve checked out the first two possible causes and you couldn’t find anything wrong with them, you should go ahead to check the door gaskets on the washer because they can cause your washing machine to leak out water, especially during a cycle. The door gaskets were placed around the washing machine door opening to keep water in the washer tub. Once these gaskets are broken, your Whirlpool ashing machine will likely leak water when it’s running, and that will only make your laundry room filled with water if you don’t move to correct this as soon as possible. Open the washer door and inspect the rubber seal – if you find any damage or the gaskets are cracked or hardened, then this indicates that they need to be replaced.
Solution
1. If you’re not sure you’re facing a waterline problem, the best thing to do is check for yourself and be sure what you’re dealing with. To check the waterline, the first thing to do is to turn off the washing machine and unplug it from the power outlet, which is an important safety step. You need to also turn off the washer’s water supply to stop water from flowing before you move to pull the washing machine away from the wall. Check the waterline for any damage, and if you find any, you’ll most likely need to replace the waterline with a new one. If it’s not a waterline problem, it might be that the hose connector is loose, which is a very simple problem to fix. All you need is to use a wrench to tighten the connection so that it won’t lose any time soon. After checking these two things and turning the water supply back on, the washer still leaks, then it’s most likely the rubber washer is missing or damaged and needs to be replaced with a new one.
2. If your washer’s water pump is broken, the only thing you can do to fix the problem is to replace the old water pump with a new one. To start, you need to turn off the washing machine and unplug it from the power outlet. Remove the access panel at the back of the washer before you unclip the drain hose from the tub. Sometimes, the pump may not be broken but rather dirty and only needs to be cleaned to start functioning properly again. However, if you check to see if the water pump turns easily and doesn’t, it indicates that it needs to be replaced. If you have no experience with repairs like this, you may need to involve a professional technician.
3. Lastly, if it’s a gasket problem, there’s nothing else you can do than to replace the affected gasket(s). To replace the washer door gasket, you need to start by turning off the power, opening the washer door, and gently removing clips that are holding the gasket in place to check them out. As soon as you remove the old door gasket, clean the area with a damp cloth and allow it to dry before installing a new door gasket by putting the clips back in place. After you’re done with these steps, try to run a wash cycle to see if the problem has been solved completely.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where can I get a Whirlpool top load washer repair manual?
This is one of the easiest things to get as far as washing machine manuals are concerned. Firstly, if you’re buying a brand new washing machine, a user manual will most likely come with it, but we understand that it’s easy to lose the hard copy, which is why we always advise that you request the soft copy to be sent to your email so you can always access it whenever you want.
Also, if your washer is not new and you have no hope of getting it anywhere, you can simply punch your washing machine model on Google and search for its user manual, and we’re sure you’ll see a lot of search results related to what you’re looking for.
2. What is wrong with my Whirlpool washer?
To know what may be wrong with your Whirlpool washer, you must pay attention to the signs the washing machine has shown you. If the washer has been making an annoying noise lately, you should look at the different possibilities and what may have caused it to be like that. You need to ensure you’re troubleshooting your washing machine properly to know what may be wrong. With the right information, you can always solve whatever problem you might be facing with the washer very easily.
3. What are the most common problems with a Whirlpool washing machine?
According to Danmarc Appliance, some of the most common Whirlpool washer problems include washing machine not starting, Whirlpool washer stopping mid-cycle, washer showing LD error code, washer not cleaning clothes efficiently, and many more.
Conclusion
While Whirlpool may not be often talked about compared to other giant brands like LG, Samsung, GE, and Frigidaire, the American brand remains a force to reckon with in the appliance industry in the United States and the rest of the world. The brand’s washing machines are famous for being strong, reliable, and efficient – three important factors to decide whether or not a washing machine is great. Being familiar with the most common Whirlpool washing machine problems will do you a lot of good as you’ll always know what to do when your washing machine starts showing signs. This article discusses some of the most common Whirlpool washing machine problems and how you can solve them.
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