Published: 20 Dec 2020
You threw things into the washing machine, turned on the wash and forgot about it for a while, because the automatic equipment does not require attention until the end of the work. But this time, when you went to the washing machine to take out and hang up the clean clothes, you discovered that the washing machine had frozen.
The washing machine can stop at any time, both at the beginning and at the end of the wash; it can stop during rinsing or when it starts spinning. In most cases, equipment owners turn to us for help when the SMA freezes during the spin cycle.
When the washing machine is working properly
Stopping a machine with laundry is unpleasant, but often the reason for the machine getting stuck on the spin cycle is not related to a breakdown. Our inattention or forgetfulness causes us to stop. Here are the main reasons that you can deal with on your own.
No spin program with water stop selected
On programs for delicate fabrics, the machine washes without spinning by default. Depending on the type of program, it may drain the tank or leave things in the water. In the second case, the washing machine hangs on the spin cycle and waits for the drain to be started manually.
HOW TO FIX
Check which program you have chosen. Turn on the drain or spin the items at minimum speed if this does not damage the fabric. Switch the program after the previous wash. Otherwise, the machine will stop again without spinning.
The machine is overloaded with laundry
Loading rates are indicated in the instructions. They differ for different programs and types of fabric. If you put in more items than you need, the machine will wash them, but will not be able to spin them. If the tank is overloaded, protection will be activated to protect parts from unnecessary vibration and damage.
HOW TO FIX
Take some of the things out of the tank and wring them out in two approaches. Next time, load the laundry without exceeding the weight of the laundry for the selected program.
Unbalanced laundry in the drum
The machine does not spin if it fails to distribute the weight of the laundry evenly throughout the drum. As in the case of overload, protection against unnecessary drum shaking is triggered here, and possibly an error message pops up. Therefore, it is not recommended to wash single items such as pillows or small fleecy rugs. They absorb a lot of water and become very heavy, so they begin to hang around the drum when revving up.
Imbalance also appears due to crumpled laundry. For example, small items love to dive into duvet covers. You can wash the lump, but it is difficult to wring out. The machine tries to unravel the lump, but fails and freezes.
HOW TO FIX
Load the machine with items of approximately the same weight so that they are evenly distributed throughout the drum and do not bunch up. You can add a towel to pairs of single pillows or rugs. It is better to wash large bed linens separately from small ones and not mix them with other oversized items.
What to do first?
When your LG washing machine freezes, you need to make sure that the cause is not a user error . For the simplest analysis, disassembling the apparatus and special knowledge is not required.
Tank overload
Stuck in the wash cycle, or more often in the spin cycle, can occur when the drum is overloaded.
This situation may arise if the items sent to the drum are compact in size, but at the same time quite heavy.
During the washing process, the LG automatic machine itself cannot distribute them evenly in the drum, and the cycle freezes. If there is a suspicion of overload, you need to remove some of the things and then continue to operate the washing machine.
Mode selection
The user has the opportunity to select a mode from a wide range, and, in addition, additionally make his own settings, canceling, for example, spin or drain.
If the washing was carried out on delicate items, wool, etc., then the output of the product may be noticeably wet. This gives the impression that there has been a freeze and stop in operation. The remaining water in the tank can be drained by selecting the “drain” mode separately .
Imbalance of things in the drum
If the operation of the LG washing machine has stalled, you need to make sure that all the laundry is not collected in one lump. Often this situation occurs when washing bed linen, when absolutely all the items end up inside the duvet cover or pillowcase. Stopping work and laying things out manually will help solve the problem.
The use of laundry bags can prevent this situation in the future. It is better to place, for example, a duvet cover in them.
The washing machine freezes while washing - possible reasons
Most often, the machine stops washing due to problems with the supply, heating or draining of water. We have already discussed such moments in previous articles.
- If the washing machine freezes without filling the tank, see the article Why the washing machine does not fill with water. The main reason is a malfunction of the water supply valve.
- If the machine has washed and stopped with water, refuses to rinse and spin, then see the article Why the washing machine does not drain the water. The main reason is the failure of the drain pump.
- When the washing machine freezes 10–15 minutes after starting and does not heat the water, read the article Why the washing machine does not heat the water. The most common breakdown is a failed heating element. The problem can be easily identified by the cold glass of the sunroof.
Here are other problems that can cause your washing machine to freeze while washing.
The water level sensor has failed - from RUB 1,500*
Without the pressure switch readings, the machine “does not understand” the water level in the tank, so the washing process stops and the machine freezes. In models of washing machines with a screen, a level sensor error may appear on the display.
Failure of the pressure switch is usually associated with three reasons:
- contamination of the compression chamber, for this reason incorrect pressure “comes” to the sensor membrane, and the sensor incorrectly determines the amount of water in the tank;
- problems with the pressure switch tube: it falls off, gets clogged or rubs due to vibrations;
- failure of the sensor itself, the contacts inside of which stick or burn.
HOW TO FIX
The pressure sampling chamber must be cleaned of contaminants. The pressure switch hose should be put back on, cleaned or replaced with a new one. If the sensor itself breaks down, it needs to be replaced.
Engine brushes are worn out - from RUB 1,300*
Brushes are an element of a commutator motor that drives the rotor. Due to constant friction, the embers wear off and contact is lost. First, the machine hangs on the spin cycle, never picking up speed, then it stops spinning the drum during the wash cycle. Worn brushes can also be accompanied by sparking and rattling noise from the motor as the drum rotates. The reason for this is poor contact of worn brushes with the commutator. An engine error code may appear on the display in washing machines with a display.
HOW TO FIX
The old brushes must be removed and new ones installed.
The control unit (electronic controller) is acting up - from RUB 1,800*
Although the control unit has a large margin of reliability, sometimes it fails. Power surges, shaking, humidity or water ingress render smart electronics unusable. The tracks in the motor circuit oxidize or the radio components of the controller burn out. In some cases, the firmware crashes. As a result, the washing machine stops spinning the drum and freezes.
HOW TO FIX
The master tests the control board and, if the firmware fails, reprograms the module. The damaged board will have to be repaired or replaced with a new one. Repairs can be made if the cause is oxidized or burnt tracks, contacts or radio components. If the processor fails, the unit is completely replaced.
The tachometer (Hall sensor) has failed - from RUB 1,800*
It is responsible for controlling the engine rotation speed and connecting the control unit with the motor. If the Hall sensor is faulty, the control module “does not understand” at what speed the drum is rotating, so it stops the program and reports an error.
HOW TO FIX
First of all, you should check the wiring and contacts from the sensor to the motor and from the motor to the control unit. Sometimes the sensor magnet simply unwinds and needs to be tightened. A faulty tachogenerator must be replaced.
* Prices are for labor only; spare parts used for repairs are paid additionally.
Technical difficulites
No one disputes that a washing machine that constantly slows down is a rather alarming symptom, but before you panic, you need to answer a few questions.
- At what minute does the freeze occur - at the beginning of the rinse cycle, in the middle or towards the end?
- How often does freezing occur - every wash or occasionally?
- What happens to the machine in this case - does it stand still or try to spin the drum?
- Does the device respond to user commands or do they not receive any response on the board?
All these factors are very important in determining the cause of the problem. So, if a freeze occurs in the middle of the rinse cycle, then you are probably dealing with complex technical faults - damaged electronics, motor failure, program malfunctions.
First, turn off the unit, and then try to start the wash again. If rebooting does not help, then drain all the water, take out the laundry and wait for the technician to arrive.
The problem with freezing in the middle of the cycle is often the result of problems with the drain, pump or board. The fact is that in the rinsing mode, the used liquid must be drained several times; such circulation allows you to wash out all the remnants of the washing powder. If the water does not drain or does not enter the machine, the equipment stops working.
It often occurs in the first minute, when the SMA takes in water, but immediately drains it - that is, the rinsing process does not even begin. This usually happens when the connection to the sewer is incorrect, when all the water drains by gravity, and the device simply does not have time to heat it, sees that the liquid has run out and is immediately refilled. This error may occur if the intake valve or pressure switch is damaged.
If the program freezes at the end of the cycle, the machine is either stopped completely or the rinsing is started again - the breakdown is due to problems with the heating element or the software module. The machine may refuse to spin if the dampers are broken. When shock absorbers are faulty, the springs are unable to cope with vibration damping due to centrifugal force. As a result, the board detects a failure and automatically starts standby mode.
Pay attention to other symptoms as well. If, at the moment of freezing, the machine does not give any response to the user’s commands, then this indicates problems with the electrical system - be sure to check the board for functionality; it is best to entrust the diagnostics to professionals.
If the machine stands still and does not even make any attempts to accelerate the drum, this may indicate serious damage. It is impossible to cope with such a problem on your own; you will need qualified help.
Why does the washing machine freeze while rinsing - major breakdowns
Some of the faults are the same as during washing: breakdown of the pressure switch, control module, motor brushes and tachometer. We sorted them out earlier. Let's talk separately about the water supply valve. Most often, the SMA does not rinse due to the failure of this node.
Filling valve is faulty - from RUB 1,400*
The valve is responsible for supplying water to the washing machine. Depending on the make and model of the machine, it can have up to three sections. One of them is in charge of filling the rinse water. When the “rinse” part of the valve fails, the automatic machine does not fill the rinse with water and freezes. The display may indicate that there is no water supply.
The electromagnetic coil usually burns out in the valve, so when voltage is applied to it, the membrane does not open and water does not fill.
HOW TO FIX
The valve is not repaired, but replaced with a new one.
* Prices are for labor only, new water supply valve is paid separately.
Meaning of other symptoms
Now let's look at the remaining nuances. If the machine does not respond to user commands when it freezes, then there are problems with the electronics. It is necessary to check the board for functionality; for this it is better to turn to professionals.
Next we deal with the water supply. When freezing occurs when the drum is empty, you should make sure that the water supply is functioning. If there are no problems with the flow and pressure, check to see if there is a blockage in the inlet valve mesh or in the inlet hose. Often the valve itself is faulty and does not open when the contacts are activated.
It’s bad if a frozen machine stands and doesn’t try to speed up the drum. This indicates serious problems and becomes a reason to contact the service center. When the machine manages to squeeze out a couple of revolutions, you can exhale - most likely, a banal imbalance has arisen. In the latter case, no repairs are required: just stop the cycle, remove some of the laundry from the tank, evenly distribute the remaining items and repeat the start. The Indesit washing machine often freezes during the rinsing stage. The main thing is to soberly assess the situation based on the above “symptoms” and provide adequate “treatment” to the machine.
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Possible breakdowns when the washing machine freezes on the spin cycle
Most often, the machine hangs on the spin cycle. As in the case of washing with rinsing, the cause of freezing may be breakdowns of the pressure switch, control unit, tachometer and motor brushes. Here we will look at malfunctions that are specific only to spinning.
Bearings have fallen apart - from RUB 3,000*
When the spin is turned on, the vibrations of the drum and the entire machine increase. If the bearings are in “poor” condition, the drum will play and shake violently during acceleration. If the SMA can still cope with washing and rinsing in this state, although it creaks more than usual, then it can no longer wring out normally due to strong shaking. When trying to accelerate the drum, the washing machine rattles very loudly and the drum does not gain speed.
In addition to the lack of spin, a washing machine with faulty bearings can stain laundry with black grease from the oil seal. And if you remove the back wall of a front-loading machine or the sides of a vertical-loading machine, you can find rusty stains on the tank from the location of the bearings.
HOW TO FIX
The bearings and seal need to be replaced. It is best to do such repairs immediately when the first signs of damage appear. Otherwise, the malfunction may cause the crosspiece to break or damage the tank, and then the entire tank assembly will have to be replaced.
Motor, pump or heating element
The most important elements of an automatic washing machine always fail very unexpectedly. As a rule, their breakdown occurs during intensive operation of the equipment. The reason why the MMA “freezes” in the middle of the cycle can be a burnt-out drain pump, a non-working heating element, or a damaged engine. Of course, if any major part stops functioning, the wash stops and the appliance displays an error code.
The user manual will help you interpret the symbols issued by the SMA self-diagnosis system. Based on the breakdown, an algorithm for subsequent actions is determined. So, if the error indicates a failed engine, you need to understand that its repair or replacement often costs a lot of money. Sometimes repair work costs more than purchasing a new “home assistant”.
You can replace the heating element yourself. This type of work does not fall into the category of complex. You need to purchase a heating element similar to the one installed in the washing machine, arm yourself with a screwdriver, and partially disassemble the body of the machine. Afterwards, the wires are disconnected from the faulty heating element, the central nut is loosened, and the heater is removed from the system. Connecting the new part is done in the reverse order.
Changing the drain pump is somewhat more difficult; in such a situation, it is better to entrust the replacement to a professional. Moreover, if you do not have enough knowledge and experience for such repairs.
Thus, there are quite a lot of reasons that block washing equipment during operation. It’s not always possible to find the “weak spot” of a washing machine with your own hands, but it’s still worth a try. Moreover, initial diagnosis does not require any special knowledge and skills. If the problem lies in damage to complex parts, then it is recommended to entrust the repair of the automatic machine to an experienced technician.
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Stopped timer
If Ariston, Veko or Indesit suddenly show you a reset counter for the remaining time, then you are out of luck. Typically, such washing problems are quite difficult to diagnose, and the cause can be either a sensor or dashboard failure or engine failure. In this case, it is better to immediately contact a qualified specialist.
Timer for washing machine
Tips and tricks to avoid this problem
You should not load the drum very little or, on the contrary, put too many things. Insufficient or excessive overload will lead to the fact that either the washing machine will run almost empty, or, conversely, the laundry will turn into one lump that will be difficult to wash and rinse. There will also be difficulties with spinning clothes.
Use your washing machine carefully - this will extend its life. The instructions for each washing machine indicate the permissible volume for one wash. It indicates how much cotton or other laundry should be put in for washing.
You should not put too much washing powder - this will lead to excess foam, after which the washing machine may freeze and the powder tray itself will become dirty.
