Modern washing machines are a complex symbiosis of the mechanical part and the electronic control unit. This circumstance confuses the owner when the unit begins to behave inappropriately. Diagnostics and repair of washing machines is not a cheap pleasure, however, most malfunctions can be eliminated with your own hands.
Repair Safety
The conditions in which the washing machine operates are particularly dangerous in terms of the possibility of electric shock. As a rule, washing takes place in a room with high humidity, where water is often on the floor. Therefore, before starting the diagnosis and repair of the washing machine at home, it is necessary to de-energize not only it, but also the room where it is located. To do this, turn off the feed in the distribution panel, then check the absence of phase and only then remove the cord from the outlet.
If during the repair process it is necessary to power the "washer" again, then this is done in the reverse order: the cord is plugged into the outlet, then the connection is made in the shield. Functionality should be checked while on a rubber mat.
Diagnostics of malfunctions of the washing machine
A washing machine rarely crashes suddenly. As a rule, deviations from normal functioning occur before the onset of a serious breakdown. They can be expressed in improper operation of washing modes, increased vibration, uncharacteristic knocks. Repair experience shows that each malfunction has certain symptoms:
- Small tapping, accompanied by shallow vibration, indicate a possible failure of the bearings of the motor shaft or drum. A more accurate diagnosis of the washing machine and repairs are possible after partial disassembly. Replacing the bearings of these units is difficult at home, since it requires the fitting of new parts.
- The creaking sound, the rotation of the drum is uneven, tremors occur during the spin cycle. The reason is the extended drive belt. The replacement cost is small.
- An unpleasant rattle about a metal that occurs with a certain periodicity. The reason is the penetration through the hole of the drum of a long thin object, such as a bone from a bra. Rotating between the drum and the tank, it creates a rattle and can damage the heater. The elimination of such a malfunction requires disassembly with the obligatory dismantling and inspection of the heater.
- A slight increase in noise. At first glance, nothing terrible happens - the sound has become a little louder, but this can hide the wear of the plastic supports of the suspension system. This is especially true for the Ariston washing machine. Diagnostics and repair of plastic liners will save more expensive shock absorbers.
- Stopping the machine after a short shake. Some washing machines have unbalance sensors. When this system fails, it automatically shuts off at the time of strong vibration.
- Stop work in the middle of a wash cycle. It is possible to start only after de-energizing and reconnecting. Often accompanied by clicks and buzzing. Such a malfunction may indicate a malfunction of some sensors. For example, a high water level due to a clogged filter may suspend the wash cycle. In such cases, it seems that the automation has broken, but it is worth restoring the normal operation of the sensors, and the duty cycle resumes. Diagnosis and repair of the washing machine control unit is extremely rare.
Leakage Malfunctions
Leaks that occur during operation can also be classified by type of fault:
- In the center of the car in front. This indicates a leak in the rubber gasket between the door and the housing. Repair is simple - it comes down to replacing the seal.
- Leaking in the center at the rear indicates wear on the tank seal. There is a lot of work to disassemble and replace not only the stuffing box, but also often the bearing.
- An indefinite leak at the bottom of the machine indicates a broken hydraulic system. This may be the connection of pipes that have lost their elasticity due to calcination.
Failures due to non-compliance with scheduled maintenance
Many owners of washing machines do not even realize that their unit requires scheduled maintenance. If the "washer" worked for 5-10 years, then this is already considered the standard of reliability. And if it is still regularly serviced? Then the service life will increase significantly.
Maintenance comes down to periodic cleaning and replacing the water filter. He is hiding at the bottom of the machine, behind the service panel.
Prying a plastic shutter with a thin object can reveal a filter. If it has not been removed for several years, then most likely it cannot be removed from the outside due to the abundance of scale on the walls of the case. Nevertheless, the hydraulic system must be cleaned constantly. You can remove the filter from the inside, reaching it from the side of the pump. Often it is clogged with lumps of hair and wool. Small coins may fall through the holes of the drum. If the pump does not cope with draining the water, then the diagnosis and repair of the washing machine comes down to removing the filter, flushing the system and eliminating calcium deposits.
How to repair
Tools for the diagnosis and repair of washing machines are not much different from the usual set of home masters. In order not to have difficulties with disassembly, you need to acquire the following devices:
- Cross and flat screwdrivers of different sizes.
- Pliers ordinary and pliers with round nose with elongated nose.
- Pincers for removal of collars. They will be needed to disconnect the pipes of the hydraulic system.
- Diode lamp. Better if it is with a mount on the head, then both hands will remain free.
- Phase indicator or multimeter.
- Medical tweezers. During disassembly, small parts may get into hard-to-reach places. In addition, with tweezers it is convenient to remove foreign objects that block the operation of the pump and drum.
- Set of wrenches from 5 to 19 mm. Using an adjustable wrench is undesirable - it has a large thickness, which is inconvenient when working with small fasteners.
- Plastic mount. It can be replaced with a wooden spatula made of hard wood. It will be needed to disconnect the housing panels.
- Magnet. Many small fasteners can be fixed on it to avoid loss.
Prevention
The most effective way to deal with an unexpected failure is preventive measures and timely maintenance. These include adjusting the position of the washing machine. To do this, the vertical surface is set strictly according to the level, which will help maintain the balancing system.
To reduce deposits on the heating element and on the walls of the nozzles, sometimes it is necessary to add descaling powders, clean or change the filter in a timely manner. Such simple methods will significantly extend the life of the washing machine.