Washer only wants to spin
May 30, 2010 5:26 PM Subscribe
I just closed on my house a few days ago, moved in this weekend. I thought the inspector had checked the washer and dryer, but apparently he hadn't. No matter what settings I choose, all it does is the spin cycle. What causes this, and is it fixable? Also, how likely is the seller to be receptive to rectifying the problem?
Previously, I explained my home purchase situation. Initially, the washer, dryer, and refrigerator were not included in the seller's disclosure. Over the course of negotiations as we moved closer to our closing date, we agreed to reduce the seller's closing costs concession by $500 in order to keep the appliances. I was under the impression that the inspector checked them and reported that they were in working order. Apparently, I imagined that.
Anyhow, I threw a couple light blankets in the wash, only to find that the washer would do nothing but the spin cycle, no matter what combination of options I chose. Can I go back to the seller, or am I stuck with this? Also, what's causing it and how can I fix it?
Previously, I explained my home purchase situation. Initially, the washer, dryer, and refrigerator were not included in the seller's disclosure. Over the course of negotiations as we moved closer to our closing date, we agreed to reduce the seller's closing costs concession by $500 in order to keep the appliances. I was under the impression that the inspector checked them and reported that they were in working order. Apparently, I imagined that.
Anyhow, I threw a couple light blankets in the wash, only to find that the washer would do nothing but the spin cycle, no matter what combination of options I chose. Can I go back to the seller, or am I stuck with this? Also, what's causing it and how can I fix it?
Response by poster: There's a knob for hot water and cold water directly behind the washer. Either way they're turned, the result is the same. Spin cycle only. I hear water working somewhere in the vicinity of the machine, but the inside of the machine isn't getting wet.
Sorry that I'm clueless; I'm a first-time homeowner and don't know much.
posted by litnerd at 5:37 PM on May 30, 2010
Sorry that I'm clueless; I'm a first-time homeowner and don't know much.
posted by litnerd at 5:37 PM on May 30, 2010
Can you post a picture of the washer's control panel? Or, tell us what make and model it is?
posted by amyms at 5:39 PM on May 30, 2010
posted by amyms at 5:39 PM on May 30, 2010
I ran into similar stuff on moving in to my house. Contact your real estate attorney; ours sent a letter to the seller's attorney (not charging anything beyond what we'd already paid him; YLMMV). You are probably screwed, but small claims court is the likely route if the seller claimed the appliances were in good working order.
posted by kmennie at 5:41 PM on May 30, 2010
posted by kmennie at 5:41 PM on May 30, 2010
Response by poster: Pictures of the washer's control panel, and of water knobs.
posted by litnerd at 5:45 PM on May 30, 2010
posted by litnerd at 5:45 PM on May 30, 2010
From your pictures, your setting options look pretty straight froward (I was wondering if maybe you had an overly-complicated set of options, but that doesn't seem to be the case, so at least that eliminates that as a possible cause).
posted by amyms at 5:48 PM on May 30, 2010
posted by amyms at 5:48 PM on May 30, 2010
Not to put too fine a point on this, but if water is "working somewhere in the vicinity of the machine, but the inside of the machine isn't getting wet", you might have bigger problems.
You need to figure out where that water is going, urgently.
posted by mhoye at 6:10 PM on May 30, 2010
You need to figure out where that water is going, urgently.
posted by mhoye at 6:10 PM on May 30, 2010
Best answer: A similar thing happened to us - and it was an easy fix! Hopefully yours is as well. After several years of being in our current home, the washing machine stopped filling with water. I could hear water turn on, but the tub wouldn't fill. After much investigation, we realized that the previous owner had installed special hoses that automatically "trip" when the water pressure gets too high shutting off the water to the washtub to avoid flooding. We're not exactly sure why this happened, but we replaced the hoses and all is well. Hope that makes sense.
So check the hoses if you haven't already. Good luck!
posted by fresh-rn at 6:28 PM on May 30, 2010
So check the hoses if you haven't already. Good luck!
posted by fresh-rn at 6:28 PM on May 30, 2010
Best answer: This site is good for diagnosing problems. If it's the water inlet valve you'll probably need someone to replace it.
I just had a problem with my washer that could be related and was easy to fix. The screens at the inlets for the water were full of debris, and it was stopping the water from entering. I just turned off the water to the hoses, unscrewed the hoses, used pliers to pull the screens out, brushed the dirt off and I was good to go.
Can you contact the seller to get manuals of the appliances, in case your have more problems later.
posted by saffry at 7:13 PM on May 30, 2010
I just had a problem with my washer that could be related and was easy to fix. The screens at the inlets for the water were full of debris, and it was stopping the water from entering. I just turned off the water to the hoses, unscrewed the hoses, used pliers to pull the screens out, brushed the dirt off and I was good to go.
Can you contact the seller to get manuals of the appliances, in case your have more problems later.
posted by saffry at 7:13 PM on May 30, 2010
After much investigation, we realized that the previous owner had installed special hoses that automatically "trip" when the water pressure gets too high shutting off the water to the washtub to avoid flooding. We're not exactly sure why this happened, but we replaced the hoses and all is well.
I can confirm this happens. I bought those expensive automatic-shutoff valve hoses when we got a new Kenmore, but the pump pressure always immediately tripped one or both hoses. I decided to use the rubber hoses that came from Sears. (The old washer's lasted nearly 25 years.)
posted by dhartung at 9:09 PM on May 30, 2010
I can confirm this happens. I bought those expensive automatic-shutoff valve hoses when we got a new Kenmore, but the pump pressure always immediately tripped one or both hoses. I decided to use the rubber hoses that came from Sears. (The old washer's lasted nearly 25 years.)
posted by dhartung at 9:09 PM on May 30, 2010
Response by poster: For anyone who cares, I had my father-in-law take a look. He unplugged the power cord and plugged it back in 30 seconds later. It ran through an entire wash cycle after that. Thank you to everyone who tried to solve the conundrum. I'm glad the fix was free!
posted by litnerd at 6:32 PM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by litnerd at 6:32 PM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by box at 5:30 PM on May 30, 2010