Symptom
A washer not agitating is easy to miss at first. The machine fills, the timer counts down and the cycle ends, but the clothes come out much as they went in. If you are dealing with a washer not agitating in Albuquerque, the fault usually sits in the drive system between the motor and the tub.
Which parts are involved depends heavily on the type of machine, so it is worth establishing that first.
A traditional top-loader has a tall agitator in the centre of the tub that twists back and forth. A high-efficiency top-loader has a low impeller plate instead, which moves the load by circulating water and clothing. A front-loader has neither — it tumbles the load using paddles as the drum rotates.
The phrase 'not agitating' means something different in each case, and each has its own set of likely causes.
On a front-load machine, the equivalent complaint is a drum that fills but does not turn. Possible causes include a drive belt where fitted, the motor or its control, the door lock not confirming, or a control fault.
It is worth checking, with the machine off, whether the drum turns freely by hand. A drum that will not move at all suggests something mechanical; a drum that spins freely points more toward drive or control.
On a top-loader with a centre agitator there is a simple observation an owner can make. With the machine off, try turning the top of the agitator by hand. If it moves freely in both directions with no resistance, worn agitator dogs are a common possibility.
That is an indication rather than a diagnosis, but it is a useful thing to mention when you call.
Safe checks: confirm the lid or door is fully closed, confirm the machine is filling to a reasonable level, run a short cycle and watch what the tub actually does, and listen for whether the motor is running.
Do not remove the agitator, open the cabinet or attempt to inspect the transmission. Beyond observation, this is a repair that involves dismantling the drive system.
Describe what the machine is doing and we will tell you what it is likely to involve before anyone comes out.
(505) 594-7911You can also return to the Albuquerque washer repair homepage for an overview of the service.