Washer Won't Start or Turn On

The short answer: the door or lid switch is the most common reason a washer looks dead. A tripped breaker or closed water valve looks the same.

These take seconds to rule out.

What usually causes it

• Door or lid switch. The washer won’t start unless it sees the lid as closed.
• Tripped breaker or blown thermal fuse. The washer can look completely dead.
• Closed water valves. Some washers refuse to start without water pressure.
• Worn start switch or timer. The button or timer contacts wear out.
• Control board or start capacitor. Less common, but more costly.

What you can check yourself

• Close the lid or door firmly. Most washers won’t start unless the switch registers it.
• Check power. Confirm it’s plugged in and reset the breaker.
• Open both water faucets. Some washers won’t start without water pressure.
• Check for locks. Look for a child or control lock, and hold Start if your model needs it.
• Unplug it for a minute to reset the control.

How to prevent it

• Close the lid gently, without slamming it.
• Don’t overload the washer.
• Use a surge protector if power flickers often.

When to call a technician

Call us if:

• Door, power and water are all fine
• The panel lights up but the cycle won’t begin
• You hear clicking with no fill

These repairs involve live voltage, gas or hidden parts, so we recommend leaving them to a professional.

Service call: $89, waived when you go ahead with the repair. Warranty: 90 days on every repair.