Why your Washer
Won't Spin
You just put a full load of laundry in your washer, you’re about to kick back and relax – but then you realize it’s not spinning.
Let’s look at some reasons this may be happening, so we can get your washer moving again.
Non-HE (High Efficiency) detergent
If you’re not using an HE detergent in an HE washer, you may be creating excess suds and very wet loads which can slow spin speeds.
Overloaded or unbalanced
A large load can slow down spin speeds, too, especially if it’s tightly packed or unbalanced. Balance a load by evenly distributing all the items around the wash basket.
Some other reasons for an unbalanced load:
- Washing a single bulky item by itself. Add a few more items to help balance the load.
- Washer is not level. See how to level it here.
Drain hose installation
If your washer is not spinning and water is standing in the tub, check for proper drain hose installation, especially if your “spin” light is on. This light will turn on after 10 minutes of the drain pump being on with no water level change. This can happen if the drain hose is too far down the drain pipe. See more on proper installation here.
Delicate, hand wash, or low/no spin settings
These settings naturally have slower spin speeds, and they allow more water to remain in the load at the end of the cycle to help keep delicate fabrics from shrinking and wrinkling. If you want to remove that extra water from the cycle, select “Drain & Spin.”
“Add a garment” feature
Did you wait until the indicator light was on to add items? If the machine is paused at the wrong time, it could cause the fast-spinning washer to slow down.
Power failure during the spin cycle
If you lost power during the spin cycle, the washer may not have ramped back up to its full spin speed.
Flashing lights or error code
Lid Lock light flashing
The lid may appear to be closed but not be locked, and therefore won’t spin. Check for anything in the
way. You may need to wipe down the lock striker (the piece on the lid that fits inside the lid lock) with
a damp cloth to wipe away any detergent or lint.
Washer still not moving?
You may need a professional repair. Or, if your washer is over 10 years old, it may be time for replacement. Amana has great washers at a great value — check out the latest.
