The washing machine washes without stopping

You traditionally started the washing machine, but after a while you realized that the program was not running as it should. Most often, RemBytTech clients note that:

The washing machine constantly washes without stopping and does not enter the rinse phase;
The spin cycle in the washing machine does not turn off; it constantly spins, but the drum does not pick up speed;
The washing machine constantly rinses the clothes and does not spin.

Before passing a verdict, it is necessary to exclude typical situations that can be mistakenly taken for “erases without stopping.” These include:

Stopping the machine with water. If your SMA has stopped without draining water, and does not turn off, see the article “Why the washing machine does not drain water.”
Machine freezing. If your washer freezes and won't run the program, check out the article "Why does your washing machine freeze on the wash, rinse, or spin cycle."
Increased wash duration. Does your machine wash for longer than expected but complete the program? Then the material “Why does a washing machine take so long to wash” is for you.

In this article we will consider only those cases when the machine constantly works, does not turn off and does not terminate the program.

Why does the washing machine wash without stopping?

Is your washing machine washing non-stop or stopping less often than usual?
This behavior of the washing machine indicates a malfunction. If the washing machine washes for a long time without stopping, the causes of the problem may be the following:

water is supplied in a smaller volume than usual or at low pressure;
heating element is faulty;
The thermostat or temperature sensor is broken;
The draining process is not working properly;
the pressure switch has failed;
there are faults in the control module;
You put too much laundry in the drum.

In a simple situation, you can fix the problem yourself. But often you have to turn to specialists.

We will analyze all possible problems.

Error codes

A good assistant in determining the breakdown of an automatic machine are error codes, which are more likely to be displayed on the display, indicating a failure.

If the drain system in the Indesit brand SMA is damaged, F-05 will appear on the display.

F-04 or F-10 will notify you that the pressure switch is faulty. In this case, the control module will receive a signal that the tank is empty and overfilled at the same time. But error H20 in Ariston machines can indicate several breakdowns at once: a failure in the control board, lack of fluid supply or self-draining.

If the tank is not filled within the allotted time to a certain level or, conversely, fills faster than the allotted time period, the LG washing machine will display a PE error. Then you need to look for the reason in the pressure switch or check the water pressure in the water supply.

Each washer has its own error marking. A complete list of them is in the operating instructions for the device. But if the electronics are broken, the fault code will not be displayed, which means you will have to look for the fault yourself.

Incorrect water supply

The machine may wash without stopping due to insufficient water supply due to the following reasons:

no water or low pressure;
The water supply valves are not fully open;
the filter mesh is clogged;
The water supply valve is broken.

What can be done:

wait until the water pressure is good;
open the valves completely;
clean the filter on the supply hose;
eliminate the inlet valve defect.

When you need specialist help

If you have certain skills, it is quite possible to deal with clogged filters, hoses or replacing them yourself. But it is unlikely that internal damage will be eliminated without the involvement of a specialist. Therefore, it is better not to take risks, but to entrust the repair to a specialist. The only way you can help the technician is to report the error code on the SMA display (if it appears). This way, the specialist will be aware of the essence of the problem in advance and will be able to take with him the necessary tools and spare parts. And this will significantly speed up the process of diagnosing and repairing the washing machine.

What you can do yourself

A machine can wash without stopping for a number of reasons. Including due to installation or operation errors.

Incorrect connection of the SMA to the sewer . If the drain hose is located below the level of the tank, the water will flow by gravity into the sewer, and the machine will be forced to constantly add water. Because of this, washing takes forever. To solve the problem, connect the machine drain according to the instructions.
Overloading the machine with laundry . If the permitted weight of items is exceeded, the washing machine cannot spin the drum to the required spin speed. Therefore, the SMA rotates the drum without stopping, trying to arrange the laundry as expected, and does not turn off. It is necessary to remove some things and restart the spin cycle.
Imbalance of load on the drum axle . May occur if you wash one large item and several small ones. SMA cannot distribute the laundry evenly across the drum, so it constantly rotates it in an attempt to do so. You can try manually straightening a large item onto the drum. If this does not help, then you will have to squeeze the item manually.
Control module failure. Sometimes the control unit of the machine “freezes”, which is why it washes without stopping and does not turn off. Try rebooting it. To do this, disconnect the machine from the power supply for 10-15 minutes. If after turning on the problem disappears, it was a one-time failure, and your equipment is fine. You can continue to wash your items as usual.

Clogged or incorrectly positioned drain hose

The next group of reasons are problems in the drainage system. If you connect the drain hose incorrectly, the water will leave the machine by gravity, then be drawn back into the tank - this will lengthen the cycle. You should connect the corrugation according to the rules, then you will be able to cope with the constant circulation of liquid in the washer.

In this case, it is easy to do the repair yourself. All you need to do is connect the drain hose according to the instructions. The hose must be located at a certain bend; the point of inclusion in the sewer must be arranged at a height of 40-80 cm above the floor level.

If your washing machine freezes during rinsing or spinning, it is likely that the drainage of water from the system is obstructed. In this situation, you will have to check the garbage filter, the pipe connecting the tank and the pump, the drainage hose, and the pump volute for blockages. It is likely that the common house riser is clogged - then you will need the help of a plumber.

An automatic machine may also freeze due to a faulty drain pump. If the pump is truly burnt out, it will need to be replaced. Repairing this part is not practical.

Actions in case of problems

It is not always possible to simply open the drum or restart the program after stopping the wash cycle. You need to understand how to behave if problems arise.

How to open if there is water left in the drum after stopping

After an emergency stop or program failure, water often remains in the drum. For top loading machines this is not a problem as you can simply remove the laundry and spin it by hand. But if the equipment is horizontally loaded, then after opening the hatch, water will flow out onto the floor, so you need to drain it first.

If there is any water left in the drum, it needs to be drained.

There are 2 ways to do this:

Start the “Drain” or “Spin” program. In this case, the machine will drain the water itself. This will not work if the equipment is frozen or there are some things inside the drum that need to be removed immediately.

Drain the water by hand. No more than 10 liters are collected in the drum. You just need to place a bucket or basin, carefully unscrew the drain hose and lower it into the container.

The door is jammed

Sometimes, after stopping the equipment, the hatch does not open. Do not immediately try to open the door by force. First, wait 10-30 minutes - perhaps the blocking will be removed on its own.

If you are sure that the hatch is jammed, then you can use several methods:

Some car models are equipped with a special emergency rope. Most often it is located on the bottom panel, next to the filter. The cable is easy to see because it is made of bright yellow or orange plastic. You need to pull it for the hatch to open.

If the lock on the door has a latch, you can try to open the mechanism using an elastic cord. First you need to wrap the cord around the hatch in a circle, then carefully pull it so that it presses on the latch. This method will not work if the lock on the door is of a different design or if we are talking about a top-loading machine.
Using a thin spatula. The tool must be carefully inserted between the body and the door in the lock area, and then press the latch. This method is considered dangerous because it can lead to damage to the mechanism.
Remove the top cover of the machine by unscrewing the bolts. After this, access to the lock will open - press the latch and open the hatch.

Long rotation or immobility of the drum

The reason for the decrease in washing efficiency in an indirect drive AGR may be the belt. It tends to wear out, and this leads to its slipping on the drum pulley or breakage - then the actuator does not rotate at all. Other reasons for long washing times due to the laundry washing chamber:

damage to the electronic control unit;
blocking the drum with a foreign object caught in the gap between it and the machine tank;

breakdown of the SMA drive motor;
insufficient motor power to initially spin the drum.

The last reason appears on machine models that do not have the function of controlling the imbalance and weight of the laundry. The resulting overload and uneven distribution of things in the drum is eliminated by repacking them in smaller quantities.

honeycomb drum

The main breakdowns due to which the washing machine does not finish washing:

Failure of the water level sensor - the pressure switch detects the water level in the tank and transmits a signal to the control element when it is necessary to start rinsing, spinning, draining. If the pressure switch breaks down, this signal is not transmitted, the washing stops or continues continuously.
The heating element is faulty - if 15 minutes after starting the washing machine freezes and the hatch glass is cold, there is a problem with the heater. The machine will not wash when one of the programmed events does not occur (the desired temperature is not reached). The heating element needs to be cleaned, and special descaling agents must be used to prevent damage.
Problems in the control unit - if the washing does not stop in the washing machine, but the cycle repeats again, this is due to a problem with the control board. The washing machine will wash and spin again and again, which is dangerous for both equipment and laundry.
The hall sensor is damaged - the tachometer controls the rotation speed of the drum during washing and connects the control unit with the motor. If the sensor does not transmit the required signal, the drum stops spinning and an error message appears on the display.
Bearing failure - the problem manifests itself when the washing machine spins, when the drum spins quickly, picks up speed, and the machine shakes and hums. Parts are replaced when the first malfunctions appear, so as not to aggravate the situation.
Faulty shock absorbers - parts smooth out vibrations of the drum at high speeds, so when loud knocks are heard during the spin cycle during the rinse cycle, the machine shakes and jumps, this indicates a breakdown of the shock absorbers. They are replaced in pairs at once.
Wear of motor brushes - due to constant friction, the brushes wear out, the contact weakens and the washing machine freezes. When the drum picks up speed, the engine may crackle and spark.

The filling path is clogged

Taking too long to draw water can also delay the cycle. Therefore, you need to carefully inspect the filling system. Check the inlet hose to see if it is kinked or crushed by a foreign object. Then you should do the following:

turn off the power to washing equipment;
disconnect the inlet hose from the washing machine;
rinse its cavity under pressure of water;
Remove the filter mesh and remove all dirt from it. If there is rust on the element, soak it in a citric acid solution;
install the filter and hose in their original place.

Inspection of the drain system is carried out as follows:

disconnect the machine from the network, turn off the water supply;
Unscrew the garbage filter; it is located in the lower right corner of the case behind a special panel. Before removing it, it is better to cover the floor with rags, as liquid will flow out of the hole;
clean the filter element, remove debris from the hole;
put the garbage filter in its original place;
Disconnect the drain hose and rinse it under high water pressure.

If cleaning the drain filter and hose does not help, you will have to go deeper. It is necessary to lay the washer on its side and check the pump pipe. Find the tube, loosen the retaining clamp and remove the hose from the pump. The pipe is cleaned and fastened in place.

The nuances of stopping the washing process in machines from different manufacturers

If an emergency shutdown is necessary, it is better to study the instructions that came with your equipment. The machine can be turned off in different ways (see table).

Equipment manufacturer	Brief instructions
Samsung	After stopping the program, you must first drain the water (use the emergency drain button for this), because otherwise the hatch will not open
Beko, L.G.	First you need to press the “Pause” button, wait until the drum stops completely, and then disconnect the equipment from the power supply. After 5-10 minutes, the hatch lock will turn off with a characteristic click.
Atlant	For emergency unlocking, you need to use a special cable. It is located next to the drain filter
AEG/Electrolux	If you have equipment from this manufacturer, then just click on “Pause”. The hatch unlocks automatically as soon as the water temperature in the drum drops below +50°C
Bosch	Some models from the manufacturer have a function for additional loading of laundry, so stopping the wash is easy. Simply press the “Start” button again, after which the Yes command will be displayed on the screen, the drum will stop and the door can be opened.

conclusions

If the washing machine does not stop or freezes due to a blockage or problems with the water supply, you can solve the problem on your own. If the main reason is internal failures, it is better to entrust the repair to a specialist. The price of a professional’s work will be lower than purchasing parts, which you will have to pay for separately if you try to eliminate the cause of the freeze yourself.

To get advice by phone or call a specialist to your home, leave a request on the Tandem service website or call.

Electronic board

This problem is considered the most serious; it will be difficult to fix it yourself. In this case, it is better to invite a service center specialist to repair the “home assistant”. If the electronic control module breaks down, the washing machine can continue washing indefinitely. The device will automatically switch programs, freeze and resume operation again.

The problem can be fixed either by flashing the electronic module or by replacing the semiconductors on the board. Microprocessor diagnostics are performed using special devices and tools. Without having the necessary knowledge and experience, you shouldn’t get into the “brain” of the washing machine; you can only aggravate the situation.

Control module

If all of the above breakdowns are absent, the problem is in the electronic module. This element itself is reliable, but can be damaged during power surges. If there is an endless wash, it will most likely not be possible to restore its correct operation.

Expert opinion

I work in the household appliance repair industry. Extensive experience in restoring washing machines and dishwashers.

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In this case, you need to consider purchasing a new module or washing machine.

There is another option. Make the machine semi-automatic. That is, forcefully stop the program and drain the water. In some cases this works. But it won't suit everyone.

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This problem is inherent in any brands, such as: Samsung, LG, Bosch, Electrolux, Zanussi, Ariston, Indesit, Whirlpool, Kandy, Hansa, Gorenje, Ardo , Beko, AEG, Miele, Siemens, Kaiser and Atlant.

Fill valve

The cause of prolonged washing may also be a faulty solenoid valve. It happens that its membrane “wedges” and water begins to flow freely into the tank. There is no point in repairing the fill valve; it needs to be completely replaced. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

remove the top cover;
find the valve, it is located near the back wall;
disconnect the contacts and all hoses from it;
unscrew the fixing bolts;
pull out the old valve;
install and secure the new part, connect hoses and wiring.

This completes the quick diagnosis of breakdowns. If you still haven’t been able to solve the problem, you’ll have to dig deeper.