Washing Machine Not Stopping? (try doing this)

If your washing machine is stuck on a particular cycle and won’t stop it can be a real pain. There are a number of reasons for this problem and some are easier to solve than others. In this article we’ll look at all the possible reasons for your machine to not stop and the solutions too.

Some of these are easy to fix and can be completed by a complete lay person whereas others will need expert help. If you’re not sure you can complete any of these tasks yourself it’s probably best to call a fully qualified engineer.

Which Cycle Is The Machine Stuck On?

If the machine is constantly filling with water there are a number of things to check. Likewise if it’s stuck on a spin cycle, let’s start with constantly filling up and go from there. If this isn’t your problem feel free to jump to the relevant section.

Washing Machine Won’t Stop Filling With Water

If the machine is constantly filling up with water, it could be the inlet valve that’s faulty.

Faulty Inlet Valve

The inlet valve is the only possible way clean water can enter your washing machine. It allows water in through the inlet hose until the control board sends it a message to stop. To check if this is the problem;

• Allow the machine to fill half full of water
• Unplug the power supply
• Check the water level, Is it still filling up? If so it’s the inlet valve is failing to shut off.

If the inlet valve is failing to shut completely it is probably worn or coated in calcium scale. It is possible to clean, remove and replace the inlet valve yourself, but it does involve messing with electrical components so unless you are super confident, this is probably best left to a professional..

If the machine stops filling up with water when the power is removed, it could be a faulty water level switch

Faulty Water Level Switch

The water level switch, or pressure switch works by detecting the air pressure in the drum. As the water level increases, the air pressure alters until it eventually alerts the pressure switch that the correct amount of water has filled the drum. At which point the control board shuts off the water flow from the inlet valve and the machine starts it’s wash cycle.

If this develops a fault, through either the switch becoming faulty or the pipe connecting the switch to the drum becomes loose, falls off or gets damaged, the water will continue to fill up. This is ideally repaired by someone who knows exactly what they are doing.

Washing Machine Won’t Finish Its Cycle

There are a number of reasons the machine won’t finish its cycle, it could be as simple as resetting the machine. To reset the machine follow the instructions in your hand book, if you don’t have access to the hand book and there is no reset button on your machine, unplug the machine.

After 5 to 10 minutes, plug it back in and open and close the door 6 times in 12 seconds, this should reset your machine. If you are fortunate, this will have solved the issue and you can put another wash on or finish the wash you already started.

Faulty Timer

If the timer is malfunctioning it can get stuck on any program. You can check this yourself using a multi-meter but unless you are a competent electrician we’d recommend calling an engineer to investigate and repair this problem for you.

Blocked Drain Hose

If the drain hose is blocked it’s likely your machine is stuck at the end of the wash cycle. And it’s the spin cycle that won’t start. If this is the case, check the drain hose for bends, kinks or blockages.

Blocked Drain Pump Filter

To inspect the pump filter, locate and remove the filter (be sure to prepare for a drum load of water to gush from the filter housing). Check inside the filter for anything like a coin, screw, nail, hair clip, item of clothing, or anything else that shouldn’t be there.

Faulty Drain Pump

If the drain pump is faulty you’ll need an expert to repair or replace it.

Heater Fault

If the machine stops during the first 30 minutes, it could be the heater is faulty. If the machine stops after 30 minutes it could be the machine is overheating. The most common fault if this is the case is the thermostat is faulty. Either way you should contact an engineer to fix this fault. 

Control Board Fault

At any point of the cycle, the control board could malfunction which will keep the machine from completing its cycle. This can be checked with a multimeter if you are competent. If not, contact an engineer.

Frequently Asked Questions