Short answer
The usual causes, in the order we find them: something blocking the drain pump, a kinked or clogged drain hose, a failed pump, or a lid switch telling the machine it is not safe to spin. Most are inexpensive; all of them look identical from the outside.
What you can safely check yourself
Unplug the machine first. Then look at the drain hose where it leaves the washer and where it enters the standpipe — kinks and crushes there are common, particularly after a machine has been pushed back against a wall.
On many top-loaders there is a coin trap or pump filter behind a small access panel at the front. Have a towel and a shallow tray ready; there will be water in it. Coins, hair clips, buttons and the underwiring from a bra are what we find most often.
What needs a technician
If the hose is clear and the filter is clean, it is usually the pump itself or the switch that tells the machine the lid is closed. A washer will refuse to drain or spin if it believes the lid is open, and a failed lid switch presents exactly like a drainage fault.
Pumps are a routine, affordable repair and almost always a same-visit job. Do not let a machine sit full of water for days — standing water and a wet drum turn a cheap repair into a smell problem as well.
When to stop and call
Stop if you are being asked to tip the machine, disconnect plumbing, or remove the outer cabinet. Stop immediately if there is any water near an outlet. Neither of those is worth the saving.
Still not sure how this applies to your machine? Call and ask — we would rather answer a question over the phone than have you guess. We cover Rock Island, the Quad Cities and every community within 50 miles.
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