Yesterday we started our washing machine (top loading) and were 20 feet away when we heard water splashing. The machine wouldn’t stop the water filling the tub, which was now overflowing. We had to turn the water off at the wall, as turning the machine off and unplugging it didn’t stop the water. I had this happen in 2017 and fixed the water-level sensor myself. Tried this again yesterday and it didn’t solve the problem. I do recommend staying home when running an appliance, be it washer, oven or other, and preferably within hearing distance.
So if we go buy a new front loading machine, what happens when it doesn’t stop the water? Does the drum have an overflow outlet, or does it fill completely and then the water stop because there’s no more air to displace?
I’m not looking forward to shopping for a new machine. I’ve read some old threads on here and it seems the new ones don’t last long. I don’t want or need all the bells & whistles (steam, wifi). Any suggestions? Home Depot or appliance store?
We’re not going to fix our machine because it has another problem, not spinning as well, that we tried to fix by replacing the belt and it still doesn’t spin the last water out of the clothes.
I’ve always worried about this, plus having unbalanced loads and the washer knocking into something. So I only run the washer when I’m home. No exceptions, and not really a big deal.
Our house has a new, efficient washer. I don’t need water or electric efficient, but I didn’t buy the thing. Electronic controls. When it seemed to me to be off center, I checked the level and it is correct, yet heavy items cause an imbalance even when I do my best to layer them, spread 4 towels so the open side is at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. That should equal the weight but doesn’t. It doesn’t have an agitator. The water level barely covers the clothes. Spin cycle is horrible and I have to stay right next to it to hit the pause button, wait for it to finally stop, rearrange the clothes and start again. It then starts filling with a bit more water, seems to wash a bit then drains, spins and is off center enough to literally seem like it is going to take off. I will have to open the back and see if any counterweights have moved, but even if I find the problem I hate this thing. Granted these problems would not happen with a front loading unit OR a unit that just starts spinning when you tell it to.
Note: Electric is solar so who cares if it is not electric efficient. I have 80,000 gallons of water I could use in an emergency but my water usage from the County is a Agricultural rate so very cheap and there is no septic charge.
Having had two washers without agitators over the past 25 years I have found that they work best when the load is distributed around the side of the tub with less in the middle. If I’m doing a large load, regardless of content, I select bedding so that it thoroughly soaks the load. Also, I find that medium spin will extract the water about as well as max spin and is much less likely to go off balance.
Your washer sounds like my old (well, less than 10 years) Whirlpool. that thing was constantly off balance and if I wasn’t around it would ‘walk’ across the basement floor. And I never felt like it got my clothes cleaned. I replaced it when I moved my laundry room upstairs. I bought a GE over/under unit to replace the washer and dryer and it has been a huge improvement.
We went to Home Depot yesterday and bought a new front loading washer & dryer. I asked the sales guy what happens to a front loader if the water won’t stop flowing and he looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. Maybe it doesn’t happen to front loaders. And hopefully we won’t have balance issues like you guys have had. We never had that problem with our top loader that just died (used it 22 years, it was 25 years old).
I went to an appliance store (not a big box store) to find out about the new washer/dryers for future reference.
The sales person told me that the new ones go unbalanced a lot, which eventually breaks the plastic parts. They said the expected lifespan is about 6 years for the new models. Six years?
They said that Speed Queen is much better, more like the older models, better build, longer lifespan.
And they said to keep my 1998 washer/dryer alive as long as possible.
I don’t think I’ve ever had a washer not stop filling. I have had water heaters break and flood the laundry room. That’s been awhile; now their heating ability fails sooner than the tank. The only issue I’ve had with my front loading washing machine is not draining (initially drain blocked; now more an issue of the specific setting, so likely electronic. Easy fix is to change the setting.). Btw, that washer is a 2008 model. Most modern appliances are “Smart",” and will send you notifications of things like an overflow, or even being on. Finding dumb appliances is difficult.
