Whirlpool Washer Agitates but Won’t Spin (How to Fix)

Whirlpool washers are some of the most reliable washers in the market today. The whirlpool brand has been around for over a hundred years. 

Washing machines have been around for some time now. Saying they make doing laundry more manageable is an understatement. Imagine this: You wash and rinse your family’s clothes by hand every day. Exhausting, right?

I am not saying it is not doable; it is just very tiring. With washing machines, all you have to do is sought out your clothes and put them in the washer. 

Washers make work easy. They also save time and energy. 

Most people do not understand the working of the washing machines. You are lucky, though, because I will tell you how it works later in this article. 

Despite whirlpool washers being efficient, they sometimes develop problems. After all, they are artificial, and everything artificial is prone to problems. 

One of the main problems you might note with your whirlpool washer is agitating but will not spin. 

Your whirlpool washer agitates but won’t spin because you have overloaded the washer. You have installed the washer incorrectly, or the switch might be blown. The washer might also have a faulty lid switch, a defective drive belt, or a damaged door latch. 

Also, Check Out: Why Does my KitchenAid Dishwasher Stop Mid-cycle? (How to Fix it)

How a Whirlpool Washer Works

The whirlpool washer has various vital components that allow a complete cleaning cycle like any washing machine. The motor, agitator, drums, pump, valves, control panel, heating element, drain pipes, and the timer are those key components. 

You must understand the basics of how a washing machine works. It will help you know when you have the issue where your washer agitator works but won’t spin. Stay with me. 

The working of a washer can be highly technical. I will, however, simplify it for you. 

The washer works by stirring your clothes in warm water with detergent at high speed. This is the process that we call agitating. 

There are two water inlets at the back of the machine, hot and cold water. You will mainly only use the cold water inlet seeing the washer has a heating mechanism. 

The water goes into the detergent chamber through the valves. It then flows to the drum together with the detergent. At this point, the water is heated. 

The motor starts to spin once you have done all your settings in the control panel. You have to set the timer too. 

After the washer has finished agitating, the water is drained via the drainage pipe. It is now time for spinning. The spinning process removes excess water from the clothes and prepares them for drying in the dryer. 

Why is my Kenmore Dishwasher not draining? Click to Read.

Why Does Your Washer Agitates but Won’t Spin, and How to Fix it?

I have briefly explained what happens with your washer from when it starts the cleaning cycle to the end. I have done it shortly, only so you can understand better what we mean by agitating and spinning. 

Another question arises, how do you know your washer is agitating and not spinning?

If you do not hear a gurgling sound of the water draining after the washer has finished agitating, you will know it is not spinning and draining. 

What can cause your whirlpool washer to agitate but not spin? Read on to find out. 

1. You Have Overloaded the Washer.

We are all busy. Often, we are too tired to do the laundry. When we finally get to do it, we want to be done with it as fast as possible. 

So what do you do? You fit as many clothes as you can in your washer. Doing this will put a tremendous amount of stress on your washer. 

You need to leave enough space for water and detergent. When the washer agitates, it should be able to clean every piece of clothing thoroughly. 

Although your washer might agitate successfully while overloaded, it will not do a thorough cleaning job. Worse, it will not drain the water properly and might lead to leaks. 

Too many clothes in your whirlpool washer will cause a lot of entanglement. It might result in a button or zip getting stuck on the spinning wheel. As a result, your washer will not spin. 

Again, overloading your washing machine will put massive pressure on the motor. Finally, the pressure will cause the engine to break down; thus, the washer will not spin. 

How to Fix an Overloaded Washer

Some whirlpool washing machines will indicate you have overloaded them. Some of the earlier brands might not. 

Something has gone amiss if you hear your washer agitate but then stop during the spinning or draining cycle. 

If your washer had not indicated that you had overloaded the machine, you should check it manually. 

Open the lid and look inside. Remember to disconnect the washer from the power source. 

The best way to check whether you have overloaded the washer is to stick your hand in it. If your hand cannot fit, you have put on too many clothes. 

The only solution will be to remove some of the soggy clothes and hope the motor has not broken down. In case there is a zip or button caught in the spin belt, you will have to take it out and start the cleaning cycle again. 

2. You Have Installed the Washer Incorrectly.

Sometimes, the problem is not as complicated as you might think. We, at times, are quick to jump to the worst conclusions when our washer is not spinning, when the problem can be as simple as a bad installation of the machine. 

The main sign that you have not installed your washer correctly is it makes loud noises while agitating. And while it might swirl successfully, the spin belt will not spin if the machine is tipped in one direction. 

 A slanting washer is something you might ignore. What you do not know is that it will cost you a lot of time. What do I mean?

Besides your machine not spinning, it will also take time to finish agitating. It will also be too noisy.

The Solution

The solution to a washer that you have installed poorly is to install it properly. How do you do this? 

Follow the steps below to ensure you have installed your washer correctly. 

● Ensure that the ground you are going to place the washing machine on is level. Remember, this is the most crucial step. 

● Put the washer on the ground and ensure it is well balanced. Even the slightest slant will be detrimental. You can try shaking the washer and see if it is firm. Supposing it shakes, that means it is not well balanced. 

● The ground where you place the washer should be close to the water source. Connect the water pipes to the water source, and you are set. 

3. A Blown Fuse

The problem of a blown switch causing your washer not to spin mainly occurs in top-loading whirlpool washing machines. In these washing machines, the switch controls the flow of electric power. 

Supposing the switch gets blown during the spin cycle, your washer will not spin. It will stop working. 

A primary reason that causes a fuse to blow is too much electricity. To protect all the core components of the washer, the switch will blow, cutting the power supply. As a result, all the other parts will not become toast. 

In top-loading washers, the switch is directly connected to the lid switch. If the lid switch is faulty or has not closed completely, the switch will blow off. 

The washer will not spin or work when the switch blows off. The main reason whirlpool manufacturers make a washer with a lid switch that locks is to prevent injuries. 

How to Fix a Blown Fuse

It is crucial to note where the problem originated from; otherwise, you risk having the issue of a blown fuse often. If it was too much power, you could just replace it. 

Supposing the blown fuse results from a faulty lid switch it will keep blowing even when you replace it. To be safe, replace both the lid switch and the blown fuse. 

To replace a blown fuse:

● Disconnect your washer from the power source. Ensure there is no load in it. You can also disconnect it from the water source to be safe. 

● Open the lid of your whirlpool washer. On top, you will see a small component: the lid switch. 

● Unbolt the load switch and locate the fuse. 

● If your lid switch is not affected, you can unscrew the fuse and change it. Supposing it is faulty, you will have to change the whole lid switch. 

● Screw back the lid switch with the new fuse, and close the lid. 

4. A Defective Drive Belt

A whirlpool washing machine that uses a drive belt will not spin if the drive belt is defective. The belt connects to the motor in the front loader washers. In top-loaders, it connects to the transmitter. 

Whichever the case, the washer will not spin if the belt is damaged. It might have just come off the pulley at times that holds it together. 

In other instances, the drive belt might have worn off due to old age and constant use. The good news is that you can fix a defective drive belt. 

How to Fix a Defective Drive Belt

There are two ways you can fix a defective belt. First, you will have to diagnose the problem.

Access the drive belt first to know where the problem lies. Depending on the washer you are using, you will have to remove the drum or control panel or put the washer upside down to access the belt. 

Supposing the belt has slid from the pulley, fix it. If it is damaged, you will have to replace it. In case you are not an expert in fixing the washer, you should seek the help of a technician. 

5. A Damaged Door Latch

There is no way your washer will work, let alone spin with a broken door latch. The door has to be completely shut for the washing cycle to start. A broken door latch will lead to the door not locking properly. 

Supposing something happens and the door becomes loose during the washing cycle, the washer will stop spinning. It stops to prevent water from spilling. 

It is pretty challenging to open a washer once a cycle starts. If you have ever noted it. To open it, you have to terminate the wash cycle. 

There are various reasons why a door latch can stop working. They are:

● The whirlpool washer is too old, and the latch fails

● There is a short-circuit in the door latch

● The seal component has worn off. 

Since there is no telling when the door latch can become broken, it might stop when the spin cycle starts. In that case, you need to find a solution fast.

The Solution

To resolve the problem of a broken door latch, you need to replace it. To replace it:

● Disconnect the whirlpool washer from the power source

● Remove the screw that holds the washer’s lid and lift the lid. This step will only be helpful if your door is locked. 

● Unlock the door from inside the washer

● Remove the screw that holds the door lock assembly in place and remove the wire harness.

● Replace the spoilt door latch with the new one and connect the wire harness.

● Screw the door lock assembly back 

● Bolt the lid back in place

3 Reasons Why Your New Dishwasher is Not Draining. Click to Read.

Bottom Line

The whirlpool brand has been making washing machines that are always up-to-date and last long. While the washers have a lot of advantages, they sometimes develop problems. 

A significant issue with your whirlpool washer is where it agitates but does not spin. There are various reasons this problem can occur, as we have seen above. 

I hope you can troubleshoot the washer if you experience any of the above problems. If the problem is too huge for you to fix, seek professional assistance.

There comes a time when your whirlpool washer will not spin due to old age. In that case, get yourself a new whirlpool washer.