Washing machine
If the drum fills and washes but will not spin, the fault is either a drainage problem (the machine will not spin with water in the drum), an unbalanced load, or a motor or control fault.
Symptom: Clothes come out soaking wet · Typical cost: £70–£170; a motor or board repair costs more.
Most machines refuse to spin while water is still in the drum.
The fix:Clear the pump filter and hose — see the not draining fault.
Heavy single items or an overloaded drum trigger the safety cut-out.
The fix:Redistribute the load, or remove a few items, and run a spin again.
On brushed motors, worn brushes lose contact and the drum won’t spin up. Often you hear the motor trying but never reaching speed.
The fix:Replace both carbon brushes (a cheap part).
Burnt tracks on the control board or a failed motor stop the drum spinning at all.
The fix:Replace or repair the module or motor.
Wring the clothes by hand and run a drain/spin cycle after clearing the filter and checking the load.
£70–£170; a motor or board repair costs more.
If you can see leaks, smell burning, or the appliance is tripping the electrics, stop using it and unplug it. For minor faults without those signs it is usually safe to leave it off until you can diagnose it. Always switch off and unplug the appliance before inspecting it. Never work on gas appliances or fixed electrical wiring yourself — call a Gas Safe registered engineer or a qualified electrician.