Washer Won’t Turn Off? It Could Be 1 of These 6 Reasons

Is your washer on what seems to be the longest cycle ever? Does it keep spinning and spinning as if it were on a washing marathon? Then in this article, you’ll find 6 reasons why it does this and what you can do to stop it.

If your washer won’t turn off it could be because it needs resetting, or the timer or control board is faulty. It could also indicate that the pump or drain is blocked or the valve is defective. 

How can you work out which of the problems is the one that’s keeping your washer running? What can you do to fix it? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this article. 

6 Reasons Why Your Washer Won’t Turn Off

Let me guess. Your washer has been running for a long time now and it’s not showing any signs of slowing down to a stop. You know that your clothes will be squeaky clean after this cycle, but you’re worried about how this extra run time is affecting your electric bill. 

Is this just the normal run time for a cycle? Or, is there something wrong with your washer? Coming up next, I’ll discuss some of the reasons why your washer might run for longer than usual. And as always, I’ll provide you with some of the best tips to get the washer working properly again.

Reason #1 It Needs Resetting

Have you recently had a power outage? Losses of power that interfere with your washer might make it go a little stir-crazy. Your washer might also need to clear its cache to start working again properly. 

To do this, your washing machine will need resetting. This will clear the washing machine of any glitches and help it to run normally again. Methods for resetting a washing machine vary from model to model. If you would like to see how you can reset your specific washer, you should consult your user manual. 

NOTE: If you are not sure where your user manual is, you can find it online. Type in “[YOUR MODEL] washing machine manual PDF” into an internet search engine to find it.  Here’s an example: 

Samsung WF50A86**A* washing machine manual PDF. 

You can then follow the specific instructions in the manual to reset your washing machine. 

However, there are some universal reset methods that will help you to restart any washer. Here’s what you can do. 

1. Turn the washer off at the power button
2. Turn the washer off at the circuit breaker
3. Wait for 5 minutes
4. Turn the washer back on at the circuit breaker
5. Turn the power button back on

NOTE: Some 2-in-1 washer and dryer models have two power buttons. One for the washer and the another for the dryer. On these models, you must make sure that you are pushing the right power button. This is a common issue with some of the newer Samsung 2-in-1 washers and dryers. 

Reason #2 There Is a Pump Blockage

Does your washing machine seem to be on an endless washing cycle? Does it keep whirling your clothes around without ever seeming to spin them out? Then this could indicate that there is a pump blockage. If this element blocks, excess water will not be able to pump out of the machine. This will prevent it from advancing onto a spin cycle and finishing the load. 

So what can you do in this instance? Your first port of call should be to check the pump for blockages. After that, your washer should be able to finish its cycle and drain normally.

To prevent this from happening again in the future, you should clear your pump periodically. It is all too easy for it to block with lint, hair, and other debris that would prevent it from working efficiently.

NOTE: If the pump fails to work properly after you clear it of blockages, it may be faulty. You will need to call a technician to have a closer look at it.

Reason #3 There Is a Drain Blockage

What if your washing machine seems to wash your clothes well but just doesn’t want to spit the water out at the end of the cycle? Do your clothes keep swimming around and around without spinning? Then this could indicate that there is a drain blockage. If this element blocks, excess water will not be able to leave the machine. This will prevent it from advancing onto a spin cycle to finish the load. 

So how can you fix this problem? Firstly, you should check the drain for blockages. After clearing the drain, your washer should be able to finish its cycle normally.

To prevent this from happening again in the future, you should clear your drain periodically. It is all too easy for it to block with lint, hair, and other debris that would prevent it from working efficiently.

Reason #4 The Timer Is Faulty

Your washing machine has a timer that signals the machine when to move on to the next phase in the washing cycle. If the timer is worn or damaged, it will not be able to move on. This will cause it to keep pushing the clothes around the drum without ever advancing onto the next stage.

To fix this problem, you will need to replace the timer. This is a rather fiddly and complex job that I recommend you call a technician to repair. 

Reason #5 The Control Board Is Faulty

Your washing machine has a control board that chooses the washing program. If the control board is worn or damaged, it will not be able to choose a program and the wash load will never be complete. This will make it continue washing in a loop without advancing.

To fix this problem, you will need to replace the control board. This, again, is a rather fiddly and complex job that I recommend you call a technician to repair.

Reason #6 The Valve Is Faulty

What should you do if your washer seems to keep filling continuously with water? The inlet valve on your washer fills the machine with hot or cold water for the rinsing and washing cycles. But if the valve is faulty, it could seem like your appliance is on a washing marathon rather than on a quick rinse cycle. A faulty valve will fill the machine with water non-stop.

How can you tell whether the washer inlet valve is faulty or not? Here’s what you can do:

1. Turn the power off the washing machine using the circuit breaker or the power cord
2. Take a look inside the machine. If water continues filling inside the machine, the inlet valve could be faulty. 

What if the inlet hose is the culprit? Then you will have to replace it in order for the machine to work properly again. 

Conclusion

Are your washer cycles taking abnormally long to finish? What should you do if your washer won’t turn off at all? In this article, I’ve covered 6 reasons why this happens and what you can do to resolve the problem. I am sure the tips mentioned in this article have got you on the road to fixing your washing machine.

Have you found this article helpful? Then feel free to browse our website and find other informative articles. You could even sign up to our e-mail list.

Thanks for reading, and have a great day!

Cheers,

Craig