TIPS FOR TROUBLESHOOTING A WASHER

Locate your drain hose—it usually exits the washer in the back, near the bottom. Make sure it’s not kinked, crushed or leaking. If it’s kinked or crushed, straighten the hose to encourage adequate water flow. If it’s leaking, see the section below on leaks. You may also want to check for any clogs in the drain hose and drainpipe. Check your owner’s manual for instructions on how to remove the washing machine drain hose.

Washers have minimum and maximum drainpipe height requirements. For most Maytag^® washers, the drainpipe should be installed at a maximum of 96 inches and a minimum of 39 inches from the bottom of the machine. Your washer will not be able to adequately pump water out of the washer if the drainpipe reaches too high. In this case, water may flow back into the washer. 

Consult your washer's installation instructions for model-specific installation requirements or watch this video on proper drain hose and drainpipe installation for Maytag^® washers.

Gentle, Delicate or Hand Wash cycles use slow spins to help keep fabrics from stretching and wrinkling. Slow spinning also leaves more water in the load. To remove more water, select a cycle that uses a higher spin speed such as the Normal cycle. Learn more about washing machine settings.

If the power failed during the spin cycle, it’s possible the washer did not ramp up to full spin speed. In this case, turn on a spin cycle or drain and spin cycle to help get rid of the remaining water.

The wash load must be balanced and not tightly packed. A large unbalanced load could result in a reduced spin speed and wet clothes at the end of the cycle. Learn more about how to load clothes into the washer and other laundry basics.

It’s important that the washer is level. If not, the load may become unbalanced, causing the washer not to spin properly. This can also cause excessive noise and vibration, especially during the spin cycle. Learn how to level a top load washing machine or front load washing machine.

This may be a problem with the door seal. Wipe it down with a damp cloth to remove any dirt or debris. If the problem persists, check to see if something is lodged under the door seal by gently pulling it back. If there are tears in the seal, it probably needs to be replaced.

Too much detergent could also be the culprit. If you see soap bubbles on the door after a cycle, try using less detergent to prevent oversudsing. Switching to High Efficiency (HE) detergent can also help cut down on suds.

Make sure the fill and drain hoses are securely connected to the washer. You may also want to check the rubber washers on the fill hoses to make sure they’re fully in place and not damaged or missing. Ensure all connections are properly tightened. Learn more troubleshooting tips that could help if your washing machine is leaking.

Many washer lids make clicking noises while they’re locking in place at the beginning of a cycle. You may also hear metal items on clothing like buckles or zippers touch against the stainless steel basket.

Always empty your pockets before putting clothes in the washer—it’s possible for coins or other items to fall between the basket and the tub, which may require a service call.

You may hear the pump or motor make a continuous humming sound while loads are washing, along with periodic gurgling or surging as water is removed during the spin or drain cycles. You may also hear the hum of the sensing spins after you have started the washer.

If you’re hearing a rattle when your washer is running, it may be off balance or unlevel. Remove some items from the load if it’s tightly packed. Then, redistribute items in the washer as evenly as possible. If you’re washing a single large item like a rug or comforter, try to balance the load with another large item. If you think the floor your washer sits on might be unlevel, read this guide on how to level a washer.

It’s not unusual for a washing machine to shake during a spin cycle; however, if you hear thumping, banging or loud vibrations, you may need to address these. Ensure you’re loading your washer properly, your appliance is level and balanced, and the drum or basket is centered.  

Parceling out your large load into smaller loads, raising or lowering the legs until the washer is level and enlisting the help of a professional can help if your washer is shaking.

Clunking or thumping may be heard when the drive system switches modes from agitation to a full spin. If the sound is unusually loud like metal banging or grinding on metal, you may want to contact a professional.

Find a full list of common washer noises, including audio clips, on Maytag^® Product Help.

Your washer may have its own cleaning cycle or even recommended cleaner. You can always use a cleaner such as affresh^® washing machine cleaner tablets¹, but there may be additional items you can use as well. Learn how to clean your washer in four simple steps and how to clean your washing machine using affresh^® washing machine cleaner.

Loads left too long in the washer can cause odors. Try to transfer loads to the dryer right away, or activate a cycle that continues to tumble loads after they’re done washing, like the Fresh Hold® option available on select Maytag washers, which circulates air through clothes for up to 16 hours after the wash cycle ends.

If you use too much detergent, this could result in oversudsing, which may leave behind a residue and cause odors. If you use the detergent cap to measure, you may only need to fill it up to the first line for a normal load, which is about a tablespoon of detergent. If you’re filling up the whole cap, you could be using up to ten times the amount of detergent you actually need.

If you don’t use it already, try switching to High Efficiency (HE) detergent, which creates fewer suds. Or consider an ultra-concentrated detergent like Swash laundry detergent^®, which offers a Precision Pour Cap that dispenses the detergent for you, so you only pour what you need.²

If you selected a cycle that uses a low amount of water instead of a deep fill option, clothes may struggle to agitate correctly. Bulky cycles, for example, often use higher water levels than others, so it’s important to use the correct cycle during your laundry routine. Refer to your owner’s manual for the recommended cycles for your washer.

Check that your washer isn’t overloaded. A large load may result in a washer not agitating properly, reduced spin speeds and wet clothes at the end of a cycle. Ensure you’re washing the recommended load size and that your washer isn’t unbalanced.

Make sure both the hot and cold supply lines have been turned on and opened. You may also want to ensure the inlet hoses don’t have any kinks or clogs, which may prevent water from flowing freely.

If the drain hose isn’t properly installed, it may affect how water flows into the washer. Check that the drain hose doesn’t have kinks or clogs, otherwise you may need to straighten the hose or remove any blockage from the drainpipe or utility sink. Refer to your owner’s manual for more information on how to install your drain hose.

If you have a Maytag^® washer, search the Maytag^® washing machine help page to find answers to your issues. If you need professional repair help, schedule service online or call 1-800-344-1274.