Washing machine not spinning? Why it happens and how to fix it
Open the door to a drum of sopping clothes and the spin clearly never happened. Before you assume the worst, rule out drainage first: a machine that won't drain won't spin either. The washing machine fault our engineers attend most often is not draining (1,069 jobs in the last 12 months).
Rule out drainage first
A machine won't spin until it has pumped the water out. It's a safety feature. So a machine that won't drain will also refuse to spin, and the fix is completely different. If there's water sitting in the drum, start with our guide on a washing machine not draining, clean the filter and sort the drainage. If it drains fully and still won't spin, read on.
The real spin faults
With the water gone and the drum still not turning up to speed, it's usually one of a handful of things.
Worn motor carbon brushes are the common one. They wear down over years of use and are among the parts we replace most. A machine with worn brushes often washes fine but has no power to spin, sometimes with a buzz or a faint burning smell. Caught early, new brushes can save the motor.
On belt-driven machines, a snapped or slipped drive belt lets the drum turn freely by hand but never spins under power. Beyond that it's the motor itself or a control fault stopping the spin command reaching the drum.
One thing worth trying before any of that. A single heavy item like a towel or a duvet can throw the balance so far off that the machine refuses to spin up to protect itself. Redistribute the load and run it again.
What it costs
Once drainage is ruled out, customers typically paid £102 to £180 in total for this repair, including parts and VAT (from 329 repairs). You'll have a fixed price before any work starts. Our engineers carry common parts like brushes and belts on the van, so many repairs are finished at the first visit.
Book a washing machine repair
If it drains fine but won't spin, book a washing machine repair or find your local washing machine engineer.
Frequently asked questions
Why won't my washing machine spin but it drains fine?
With drainage ruled out, it's usually worn motor carbon brushes, a snapped or slipped drive belt, or a motor or control fault. An unbalanced load can also make it refuse to spin.
Why are my clothes still soaking?
Either the machine didn't drain, so it wouldn't spin, or it drained but the spin failed. Check for standing water first. No water means it's a genuine spin fault.
Can I fix it myself?
Redistributing an unbalanced load is worth a go. Anything past that, brushes, belt or motor, means opening the machine up, which is an engineer's job.
How much does it cost?
Once drainage is ruled out, customers typically paid £102 to £180 in total, including parts such as brushes or a belt, and VAT (from 329 repairs).
What our engineers found on 810 jobs
The figures below come from NAC's own repair records: 810 washing machine jobs our engineers attended for this fault, what they found, what fixed it and what it typically cost.
When a washing machine stops spinning, the cause most often turns out to be worn carbon brushes, the small blocks that carry power to the motor. As they wear down, the drum may turn slowly, stop before the spin or not move at all, and some machines show an error code on the display. The next most common cause is a drive belt that has come off, sometimes after an unbalanced load. Less often, the machine will not spin because water cannot drain away past a blocked pump filter, and engineers sometimes find limescale or other debris behind the blockage.
An engineer will usually run the machine to see what it does, then check the motor, its brushes and the belt, and turn the drum by hand to confirm it moves freely. A belt that has slipped off can normally be refitted there and then once the motor and pulley have been checked. Blockages are cleared from the filter and pump, and the engineer may suggest the occasional hot wash to keep scale at bay. New brushes often have to be ordered and fitted at a second visit. Afterwards the machine is run through a cycle to make sure it fills, drains and spins properly.
Written by our engineers from these jobs.
- Jobs attended
- 810
- Confirmed repairs
- 338
- This is not a success rate. Jobs inside their 60-day window, jobs still being classified, jobs held for review and visits that didn't end in a repair aren't counted.
- Fixed at the first appointment
- 50%
- about half of our repairs
- Typical total paid by customers
- £102 to £180
- including parts and VAT, from 329 repairs
What's usually behind it
The causes our engineers found and fixed, as a share of our 338 confirmed repairs for this fault.
-
Worn carbon brushes: about 2 in 5 of our repairs, from 128 jobs.
38% -
Drive belt off: about 1 in 7 of our repairs, from 51 jobs.
15% -
Blocked pump filter: about 1 in 7 of our repairs, from 46 jobs.
14%
We only list causes with enough repairs behind them, so the shares won't add up to 100%.
Error codes we see with this fault
- Candy E08: Motor or motor drive fault, often worn carbon brushes.
- Indesit F01: Motor or motor control fault, such as a motor short.
- LG U5: Imbalance or vibration sensor fault.
- Miele F53: Drum speed or motor sensor fault, programme stops during spin.
- Samsung 5C: Drain fault, often a blocked or faulty drain pump.
By brand
Brands with enough repairs of their own for this fault to show separately.
Bosch washing machine not spinning
115 jobs, 54 confirmed repairs. Customers typically paid £104 to £177 (from 53 repairs). 57% fixed at the first appointment.
This is not a success rate. Jobs inside their 60-day window, jobs still being classified, jobs held for review and visits that didn't end in a repair aren't counted.
- Worn carbon brushes 46%about half of repairs, from 25 jobs
Beko washing machine not spinning
103 jobs, 42 confirmed repairs. Customers typically paid £102 to £178 (from 40 repairs). 45% fixed at the first appointment.
This is not a success rate. Jobs inside their 60-day window, jobs still being classified, jobs held for review and visits that didn't end in a repair aren't counted.
No single cause has enough repairs behind it yet to show for Beko.
Hoover washing machine not spinning
97 jobs, 53 confirmed repairs. Customers typically paid £102 to £165 (from 52 repairs). 55% fixed at the first appointment.
This is not a success rate. Jobs inside their 60-day window, jobs still being classified, jobs held for review and visits that didn't end in a repair aren't counted.
- Worn carbon brushes 47%about half of repairs, from 25 jobs
Why the first-appointment figure differs by brand. Our engineers carry common parts on the van, so those repairs can be finished at the first appointment. Other parts have to be ordered in, and fitting them takes a second visit.
About the price. £102 to £180 is the typical total paid by customers, including parts and VAT: the middle half of what customers paid on 329 of these repairs. Repairs paid for by manufacturers and insurers aren't counted, because that work is charged at contract rates. It's a guide, not a quote. Your engineer confirms a fixed price before any work starts.
- Washing machine repair
- Washing machines
- Not spinning
- Carbon brushes
- Drainage
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