Troubleshooting Washing Machine Agitators
Over time, a washing machine can lose its shimmy because of an agitator problem. When an agitator fails, it can lead to a noisy machine that should be inspected as soon as possible to establish the root cause of the problem. This article offers beginners some tips for troubleshooting faulty washing machine agitators. Note that repairing or replacing a raucous agitator is better left to a skilled and experienced technician.
How an Agitator Works
For an agitation cycle to start, you must turn on the power, which sends voltage to a washing machine's drive motor. The motor is responsible for operating the agitator via a drive shaft controlled by either a belt or a transmission. As the drive shaft oscillates, the agitator circulates the water and subsequently churns laundry around the tub. Different washing machine models have different operating mechanisms, but the agitator's operation remains mostly the same. You might find other models using two-part agitators that comprise directional cogs. The cogs push the upper part of the agitator to move in one direction, which causes laundry to move to the bottom of the tub. Similarly, the directional cogs force the agitator's lower portion to push back laundry to the top side.
Signs of a Faulty Agitator
Worn-out directional cogs are the leading cause of agitator failure. Besides, if you frequently overload your washing machine with laundry, the chances are that the agitator will fail pretty much quickly. Common signs to look out for include an agitator that spins in both directions or a noisy agitator. Also, if your laundry stuck at the bottom section of the tub, then the directional cogs might be failing. A technician can disassemble the washer to find out if the agitator needs repair or replacement. Since washing machines comprise complex components, it is not advisable to perform a DIY job if you don't have the right skills, tools and knowledge.
Get the Right Agitator for Your Washing Machine
If a technician establishes that the agitator needs replacement, you need to find the right replacement part, which suits your washing machine model. You should first determine if your machine is still under warranty because the manufacturer can replace the agitator for free. However, if the warranty period has lapsed, you have other options to consider. You can visit your vendor to determine if they stock replacement parts, such as agitators. Alternatively, check out washing machine repair shops or websites dealing with washing machine spare parts. Some websites have very user-friendly interfaces to help with your search, whereby you can enter the model number of the washer and then filter the search by choosing 'agitator'. Remember that other vendors might have a no-return policy, so you should make sure that the agitator you are ordering is a direct fit for your washer model.
To learn more, contact a supplier of appliance parts near you.