Washing machines have become a crucial part of our day-to-day life. It has made washing clothes very simple and effortless for us. With a washing machine, you can wash all your clothes in a matter of minutes.
The washing machines from GE are one of the best units available on the market. However, it might stop draining or spinning for various reasons.
So, you might be wondering why your GE washer is not draining or spinning. Let’s find out the reasons behind your GE washer not spinning or draining.
GE washer not draining or spinning
The GE washer will not drain or spin if the lid switch of the unit is defective or not closed properly. It can stop draining also if the drain hose and drain pump filter gets clogged. If the wash load is unbalanced in the tub, the GE washer will also stop spinning and the wash cycle will not start.
The GE washing machines won’t stop spinning and draining frequently. It can stop draining and spinning if there is a fault in any part of the washing machine.
The washer can stop both draining and spinning at the same time only if the lid switch malfunctions.
The GE washer will stop draining if the drain pump filter and the hose get blocked with hair and lint. It can also stop draining if the washer is loaded with more clothes than it can hold.
If the drive belt of the GE washer is damaged or loose, the unit will not spin properly. An unbalanced wash load in the GE washing machine will also cause it to stop spinning.
Let’s take a look at why your front-load and top-load GE washing machine is not draining and spinning in detail.
Not draining
Front-load
Improper drain pipe height:
The drain pipe height influences the draining rate of the front load GE washer. The higher the height of the drain pipe, the lower the draining rate of the washer.
If you place your front-load washer too high from the floor, the long drain pipe won’t be able to drain the used water properly.
Place the washer at the right height:
By placing the front-load GE washer at the right height, you can make sure that the unit is draining at the proper rate. You should check the manual of the GE washer to know the right height.
Clogged drain hose:
The main reason for which a front-load Ge washer can stop draining is a clogged drain hose.
If the drain hose gets clogged, the used water from the washer tube won’t be able to flow to the drain. As a result, the draining of the washer will stop until the drain hose is unclogged.
Unclog the drain hose:
You should remove the drain hose from the washing machine and clean it manually to unclog it. Before removing the drain hose make sure to clamp the bottom of the washer so that your laundry room.
Faulty lid switch:
The front-load GE washer will not turn on let alone drain if the lid switch isn’t properly closed. This is a safety feature added to every front load washer.
Replace the lid switch:
The best way to fix a faulty lid switch is to replace it. Before replacing you should press the switch with your hand to check if it is really defective or damaged.
Top-load
Clogged drain pump filter:
The used water in a top-load GE washer flows to the drain hose with the help of a drain pump.
The drain pump contains a filter to prevent any unwanted element from passing to the drain hose. If the drain pump filter gets clogged, water won’t pass to the drain pump, causing the unit to not drain.
Unclog the pump filter:
You should remove the pump filter from the washing machine to clean it properly. You should use a brush and running water to clean the foreign items from the filter.
Poor load distribution:
If the load in your top-load washer is unevenly distributed, the unit will vibrate too much and malfunction. It will cause the washer to stop draining and spinning.
Redistribute the clothes:
You should evenly distribute all the clothes so that a part of the washer doesn’t have to withstand too much load. Byt doing so, you will make the unit start draining again.
Not spinning
Front-load
Broken drive belt:
The front-load GE washer basically spins with the help of the drive belt. If the drive belt is broken or becomes loose, it will stop spinning quite immediately.
Fix the drive belt:
If the drive belt has become loose, then you should tighten it by repositioning it. However, you should replace the belt if it is defective or broken.
Malfunctioning door lock:
The front-load washer will not even start if the door is not properly locked. So, if the door lock is malfunctioning, the unit will not spin.
Fix the door lock:
You will have to fix the door lock to make the GE front-load washer start spinning. The easiest way to fix the door is to replace it.
Top-load
Malfunctioning drive motor:
The drive motor of the top-load GE washer can malfunction sometimes. The malfunctioning drive motor will cause the washer to stop spinning.
Replace the drive motor:
If the drive motor of your washer makes noise, doesn’t run, or runs very slowly, then you should replace the motor of the washer with a new one.
Unbalanced wash load:
The top load washer will not be able to spin if the wash load is unbalanced in the washer tub. If you place the heavy items on one side and the light items on another side, the GE top-load washer won’t be able to spin.
Evenly distribute the load:
You should redistribute the load evenly with your hands across the washer tube to make it spin correctly and wash the clothes properly.
Incorrect wash cycle:
There are a few wash cycles in the GE top-load washer that uses a slow-speed spin to wash cycle. This includes a hand wash or delicate wash setting.
Select the correct wash cycle settings:
You should select the correct wash cycle setting to ensure that your washer spins fast and properly. You can select a heavy-duty and quick wash setting to make the unit spin fast.
How do I test my GE washing machine drain pump?
Testing the GE washing machine’s drain pump is not as complicated as it may seem to you at first. You can do it quite effortlessly in the shortest period of time by knowing the right process and with the right equipment.
Let’s have a look at how you can test your GE washing machine drain pump.
Unplug the electrical outlet:
To prevent any electrical accidents while testing the drain pump, you should unplug it. To unplug the washer easily you can pull the unit away from the wall.
Get an ohmmeter:
You will need an ohmmeter to test if the drain pump is working properly. You should adjust the scale of the ohmmeter to zero by touching the probes together.
Pull the wires:
There are two wires that connect to the side of the drain pumps. You should pull the end of the wires away from the terminals of the pump.
Test the drain pumps:
After pulling the pumps, touch the two wires with the two probes of the ohmmeter.
According to the type of the drain pump, the range of the ohmmeter scale reading should be between 5 to 10 ohms. If the reading is 0 or infinite, the pump has to be replaced.
How do you reset a GE washer that won’t spin and drain?
If your GE washer is not spinning or draining due to any external issues, the best way to fix it is to reset it. You can reset the GE washer quite effortlessly in a matter of minutes.
Let’s take a look at how you can reset a GE washer that won’t spin and drain step by step.
- Turn off the GE washer for a minute.
- Reconnect the washer’s electrical cord after 60 seconds.
- Now, close and reopen the washing machine’s lid six times in less than half a minute.
- You should do it within 12 seconds.
- Lift the washing machine’s lid a minimum of two inches. The magnet won’t break the magnetic connection if the lid is too low.
Final Thoughts
The GE washer will not spin or drain together if the door lock of the unit malfunctions or if the load is unbalanced. A clogged drain hose and drain pump filter will also cause the washer to stop draining. You can however fix the issues and make the unit spin and drain again quite easily.