Checking the impeller of the washing machine pump

An important factor in making sure that water is effectively drained during the wash cycle of your washing machine is the pump’s impeller. This tiny but crucial part may clog or break with time, resulting in drainage issues that may impair the functionality of your machine.

By routinely inspecting the impeller, you can prevent expensive repairs or a broken washing machine by spotting any problems early on. It’s an easy task that can have a big impact on how well your appliance functions.

We’ll walk you through the impeller inspection process in this guide so you can keep your washing machine operating efficiently and prevent future problems.

Let"s study the impeller without disassembling the machine

The majority of the time, checking the impeller doesn’t become a difficult chore. The only things left for the user to do are empty the drum and carefully examine the "wheel"; disassembling the machine is not even required. Therefore, it is best to be safe and perform a primary diagnosis if you hear a suspicious noise in the lower right corner of the case. There’s a good chance that the part’s blades have sustained damage. The washing machine pump’s impeller is examined in the manner described below.

1. Pry off with a screwdriver and remove the cover of the technical hatch at the bottom of the washing machine body.
2. We find a round black plug – a garbage filter.
3. We place a container for collecting water under the filter and cover the area around it with rags.
4. We take hold of the protruding part and unscrew the spiral counterclockwise.

When you unscrew the drainage filter, dirty water will undoubtedly spill out.

1. We shine a flashlight through the vacated hole.
2. We inspect the impeller and try to unscrew it.

If something foreign is found inside the hole, it has to be taken out. Then, we attempt to unscrew the impeller by tying a long, thin wire into a hook. The blades should spin slowly, ideally.

If the impeller is not spinning at all, a closer inspection of the surrounding area is required. Maybe a coin got stuck in the wheel, or maybe hair was twisted around the blades. The weaker fixation is the issue if the part rotates completely freely. In this instance, disassembling the washing machine and fixing the pump will be necessary.

Remove and inspect the pump

You will have to disassemble the washing machine if the wire is unable to handle the impeller’s "unlocking" or if the blades are broken. It is best to remove the pump and schedule a thorough inspection because it will be impossible to thoroughly examine the part through a tiny hole. You must take action from the bottom up. This is how the pump’s impeller is removed.

Prior to making any adjustments, disconnect the washing machine from the communications system and keep in mind safety precautions.

1. Disconnect the equipment from communications, sewerage, water supply and power supply.
2. Drain the water according to the algorithm described above.
3. Ensure free access to the machine, moving it away from the wall by 1-1.5 meters.
4. Cover the space with rags.
5. Carefully turn the washing machine on its right side.
6. If there is a tray, unscrew the bottom, not forgetting about the wiring there.
7. Unscrew the bolts holding the pump and release the connected wires.
8. Carefully swing the pump and, turning it left and right, pull it out of the housing.

We now examine the impeller’s motion and the bushings’ level of wear. We shake the blades from side to side after first turning them with our fingers. In the event that play is present, the rotor’s permanent magnet has to be replaced because it has weakened. Once there are no obvious issues, we set the pump aside and begin the machine’s testing.

We ring the part

Maybe the pump has an internal winding break, which is causing the impeller to malfunction. It is required to de-energize the washing machine, take the contacts out of the pump, turn on the multimeter to measure the Ohms, and affix the probes to the motor contacts in order to dispute this version. After a short while, compare the display’s readings. The values shouldn’t typically be higher than 150–260 Ohms.

There is a short circuit if the screen reads "0." A sizable deviation from the average suggests that the stator or winding break is broken. Either way, the pump needs to be changed. In this instance, replacing the old device with a new one would be far more profitable than trying to fix the complicated and costly one. There’s still one test to go, so don’t rush to replace the pump.

Testing the pump

Another test can be used to determine the cause of the "slow" drain issue. This test will, first and foremost, help to confirm that the control board is functioning correctly and will verify the equipment’s operability once more.

Turn off the machine’s electricity, fill the tank with water using the dispenser (or don’t empty it at first), place it 4-5 centimeters from the drum’s bottom, and start testing.

To access the pump terminals, first take off the machine’s end. After that, unplug the plug and attach a different wire to the device via a plug. Place the cord into the socket and observe the machine’s response after confirming the fixation’s dependability and the contacts’ independence. If the tank is empty, the pump is operating properly, and the control board or electronics are where the issue may be.

You can prolong the life of your washing machine and avoid unplanned repairs by routinely inspecting the pump’s impeller. For the washing machine to run effectively, water must drain correctly, which is ensured by a functioning impeller.

One of the first things you should do is inspect the pump impeller if you notice any problems with draining or strange noises during the spin cycle. A quick inspection can prevent future expensive repairs.

Recall that maintaining a clean laundry machine guarantees clean clothes and, over time, can save you both time and money.

It is imperative to perform routine maintenance on the pump impeller of your washing machine to guarantee optimal performance. This tiny, sometimes disregarded part may get damaged or clogged, resulting in poor water drainage and possibly expensive repairs. You can keep your machine in optimal operating condition by preventing problems before they become more serious by knowing how to inspect and maintain the impeller.

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