Servicing your washer on your own is an easy do-it-yourself project. Being able to fix the washer on your own will eliminate the costs of labor and make you feel great that you have accomplished something on your own.

Step One

Check if the washer will not run and will not make any noise at all, or if the washer makes a lot of noise, but still won't work. Check to see if the washer is securely plugged in, if the circuit breaker has blown, if there is a current in the outlet being used, or if the water valves are turned on. Also inspect the filter, test the timer, or the valve that lets water into the washer. Check to see if the motor is working, as well.

Step Two

Assess if the water in the washer fills too slowly. If this is the case, see if the water valves are fully turned on and look to see if there is adequate water pressure. If the washer doesn't fill up with an adequate amount of water, find out if the drain hose is positioned correctly, at the top of the inner wash tub.

Step Three

Find out if the washer drains at the same time as it is filling up with water. If this is so, inspect the drain hose and make sure that it is level with the top of the washer, or 38 inches. Make sure the drain hose is sitting slackly in the main drain. Check that the air gap around the hose is not sealed, or it will create a siphon.

Step Four

Fix the timer on the washer so that it fills with the correct amount of water, and so there is the correct amount of time for each cycle. Make sure the washer is unplugged and take off the control knobs and the panel that lays over the knobs. The knobs could be either at the front or back of the machine. Check the wires that link the timer to other areas of the washer. If they are slack, push them further into place with pliers.

Step Five

Change the timer by disconnecting the old one. Make sure the new timer is made for the brand of washer that you own. Unhook the wires to the old timer one at a time and connect each wire to the new timer.

Step Six

Check to see if the water inlet valve is working properly. If it is not, it will need to be replaced. Remove the back panel of the washer and unhook both the hot and cold water hoses from the washer and the valves located inside the cabinet. Unhook the wires located in the terminal. Take the screws out that hold the valve to the washer. The inlet valve will have a wire coil that transports a current into the housing.

Step Seven

Tap the coils with the handle of a screwdriver to see if that works. If not, the whole assembly will need to be exchanged. Install it in the backward order that you took the old one off.

Step Eight

Find out if the agitator is cracked or broken. This could also cause the tears in your clothes. This may be able to be fixed by removing the splinters with pliers and smoothing it out with a file. If this does not work, the agitator will need to be removed and replaced.

Step Nine

Replace the agitator by unscrewing the lid on the top of the agitator. Pull up on the agitator until it lifts off. Put the new agitator into place, and put a new agitator cap in place