Hotpoint Washing Machine WMBF742GUK Sparking motor

1. The machine won’t fill with water

Make sure the door is properly closed, check that inlet hoses are clear and not kinked and that the water supply is connected and functioning. Water valve may be faulty See our video on water valves

2. The drum doesn’t turn

There are a number of things that can cause this, including worn carbon brushes, drive belt problems, or a faulty motor or control unit PCB. On new machines with 3 phase motors or inverter motors, they get a lot of control board faults

3. The machine stops mid-cycle

This generally means that the timer, thermostat, or heater had failed. The washing machine may stop due to these faults or the water rinse valve may be faulty or the machine has not emptied the water out of the drum in an allocated period of time.

4. The washing machine is noisy

A rattle, while the drum is moving, could be due to something stuck in the drum, coins and bra wires are common culprits. You may be able to remove the drum paddles to get to the offending item or remove the sump hose or heater. It’s also worth checking the drain filter to make sure that’s clear. A noisy washing machine may also indicate failed or worn bearings or drum spider. Try turning the drum by hand when the machine is empty. If you hear a rumbling noise or can feel ‘play’ in the drum, it’s likely that the bearings need replacing. You can also get drum spring or shock absorber problems.

5. Water not draining from the washing machine

This usually means there’s a blockage in the drainage filter, or the pump itself has failed. The first thing you’ll want to do is empty the water so you can rescue your laundry. Pull out the drain hose, pop it into a bucket and let gravity do the work. Also, check the sump hose and waste pipe if fitted to a sink unit the problem can also be the connection.

6. The washing machine won’t spin

Problems with the spin cycle are relatively common washing machine faults, if your machine knows there is water still in the drum it will not allow the drum to spin it must empty in allocated period of time. The good news is that they’re generally relatively inexpensive and simple to fix. Balance sensors will override the cycle if the clothes are unevenly distributed and could cause the machine to vibrate. This can happen if you’ve overloaded the washer, or if you’re trying to spin just a few items. Try reloading light loads or removing a few items from heavy ones. If this fails, motor carbon brushes may need to be replaced. On new machines with 3 phase motors or inverter motors, they get a lot of control board faults

7. The door won’t open

This will usually be due to water not draining, or a faulty door lock. Drain manually as above. If that doesn’t fix the problem you may be able to remove the top of the machine and release the lock from the inside see videos.

8. Clothes smell bad

If you always use low-temperature washes and biological detergents you could have a build-up of bacteria or even mold in the machine. Try running a hot empty wash once a week. You should also clean out the soap dispenser regularly, and leave the machine door open to air after you’ve removed the washing.

9. The washing machine is damaging clothes

Tears in clothes indicate foreign bodies in the machine or damage to the drum.

10.The machine reports a fault code or error code

Error codes can be on the display or given in certain lights flashing sequences. Washing machine fault codes are not universal but may only point you or an engineer in the right direction they are not 100% accurate they are only that for guidance. Your owner’s manual may help you identify the problem and even suggest a fix. In other cases, you’ll need an engineer to trace the fault. Don’t be tempted to ignore a fault code, even if the machine seems to be functioning normally. Some codes are ‘early warning signs’ and fixing the machine at an early stage could save you time and money in the long run.