Our topload washer has a bad odor. Seems worse when it runs and it stinks up the house! I think it smells like sewer but when I put my nose to the drain I don’t smell it. I’m sure its coming from the washer itself. Any ideas?
Kleff,
A model number would a big help,
BUT,
Do you folks do a lot of cold water washes ?
Are you using the proper type and amount of detergent ?
Do you use a lot of Fabric Softner in the washer ?
Proper load sizes ?
All of these characterristics, could be causing the odor in your unit.
Detergents don’t break down very well in cold(water temp less than 65-70 dgrs),
Not enough detergent for the load size is also ineffective.
Fabric softner, is a whole nother story…
You may want to purchase this product, to clean out your washer,
(if you’ve got a standard top load machine(tub fills full, 20 gallons average, you may want to use 2 tablets).
After you clean out the machine, review the above mentioned possible causes and your Users Manual, for load sizes and chemical uses, etc.
Good Luck,
It’s a Maytag Performa LAT3500AAQ. We normally wash in warm water. and not much softner.
Kleff,
Did you do the clean out process I reccomended ?
What kind of detegent do you use, and how much ?
The only other thing, that I know of, for you to check would be the drain time:
A) With the tub empty, fill the washer tub to the highest load size
selection.
B) Once the tub is full(starts to agitate). push in the knob and turn it to
the final spin/drain selection on the panel, you’ll need a clock or watch
so you can time the drain, from the time the tub begins to spin/drain,
until the tub is empty of water, should be less than 90 seconds
(average)and is usually ramping up to the high spin speed.
If this occurs, you do not have a drain problem, if it does not, you’ll have to check for a restriction in the hoses or pump, or a loose or tight pump drive belt.
I’m taking for granted, that the drain hose is not sealed to the stand pipe.
The only time I have seen this style machine have a “musty” or “sewer” odor, and the drain hose is not sealed to the standpipe, has been due to improper use of detergents, softner, or cold water washes.
These mis uses promote a chemical build up in the tubs, which “sour” and produce an odor. The cleaning process will usually eliminate the odor, and does not usually return, once the proper chemical usage begins.
Sorry, but that’s as far as I can get you, at this time.
Thanks for the reply! I hadn’t done the cleaning yet but I did tear things apart to check for pluggage but didn’t seem to find any. I would like to know more about the level sensor, it seems to be filling at higher levels. Is it a pneumatic switch and is it adjustable?
Thanks
Kleff
[quote=kleff;323232]Thanks for the reply! I hadn’t done the cleaning yet but I did tear things apart to check for pluggage but didn’t seem to find any. I would like to know more about the level sensor, it seems to be filling at higher levels. Is it a pneumatic switch and is it adjustable?
Thanks
Kleff[/quote]
Kleff,
Yes, the water level switch is a pneumatic switch.
The manufacturer reccomends you replace the switch, they do not want the switch adjusted, for liability reasons.
You should also check the air dome hose for blockage, or replace the tube assembly,
A clog or kink in the tube will increase the fill levels, because of the reduced air pressure to the switch, due to a minor blockage.
(usually, if you blow into the tube,after you disconnect it from the water level switch, you can dislodge most small blockages in the tube,and the levels return to proper levels).
I’ve done the Afresh tablets didn’t help! We use warm and hot water nearly all the time and 1/2 cup or so of Tide granule detergent.
I finally decided that the pump wasn’t getting all the water out so I replaced it. Guess what still stinks!!
Maytag LAT3500AAQ
My wife is ready to replace but I sure would like to repair it!
any other ideas would be appreciated. Thanks:confused:
[quote=kleff;327203]I’ve done the Afresh tablets didn’t help! We use warm and hot water nearly all the time and 1/2 cup or so of Tide granule detergent.
I finally decided that the pump wasn’t getting all the water out so I replaced it. Guess what still stinks!!
Maytag LAT3500AAQ
My wife is ready to replace but I sure would like to repair it!
any other ideas would be appreciated. Thanks:confused:[/quote]
Kleff,
Unless you’ve got soft water, or alergies, you’re not using enough detergent !!!
In that style machine, a 1/2 cup of detergent is fine, for a small to medium sized load of lightly soiled clothes.
The larger the load, the dirtier the load, the more detergent you need to use(usually 1/4 cup per load size increment, or soil level).
Also, check and make sure your warm water temp is at least 90 dgrs, in the tub, you may have to adjust the water temperature at the faucet(s).
How did you do on the air dome hose and water level switch,by the way ?
You could try this, if you want, it usually worked for me,
Put 1 1/2 cups of detergent in the tub, set the machine controls for hot wash/warm rinse on a regular wash cycle and the largest load setting.
Allow machine to fill and agitate for 1 to 2 minutes, then add 1 cup of liquid chlorine bleach to the water, at the end of the agitate cycle, stop the machine operation(push in on timer dial) and let unit soak 15 to 20 minutes, then resume remainder of cycle.
The pump was a good idea, I would’ve gone there myself, if you hadn’t mentioned the detergent usage.
I’m pretty sure you’ll be a lot happier with the performance and odor levels, if you follow the reccomendations I’ve made.
Good Luck,
Thanks again for the help! I think I will try your detergent and bleach treatment. Our water is hard at this time as the water softner has seen the end of its life. I kind of wondered if that wasn’t the problem other than there is no odors any where else.
But it’s been out for a couple of months and may coincide with the fact we may not be using enough detergent!!
Old habits die hard!
I’m still not sure about the level I did the blow trick and it seems to work the way I think it should but it just seems like way to much water when I set it for a mini load!
But I’ll keep working on the odor thing first!
I noticed the drive motor is on a sort of slide deal and depending on its position, the belts loosen or tighten. How do adjust for belt tension with kind of drive motor??
[quote=kleff;327687]Thanks again for the help! I think I will try your detergent and bleach treatment. Our water is hard at this time as the water softner has seen the end of its life. I kind of wondered if that wasn’t the problem other than there is no odors any where else.
But it’s been out for a couple of months and may coincide with the fact we may not be using enough detergent!!
Old habits die hard!
I’m still not sure about the level I did the blow trick and it seems to work the way I think it should but it just seems like way to much water when I set it for a mini load!
But I’ll keep working on the odor thing first!
I noticed the drive motor is on a sort of slide deal and depending on its position, the belts loosen or tighten. How do adjust for belt tension with kind of drive motor??:)[/quote]
Kleff,
There’s your explanation and reason for the odor.
Once you do the wash out and use the proper amounts of detergent, etc. , you’ll be fine.
As for the motor slide and motor movement, that’s normal, It was engineered that way, to help reduce burnt belt problems, and it also acts as a clutch device when the motor torques up to drive the agitator, ans slips in the even off an off balanced load.
Just keep the bottom plate clean of debris and you’ll be fine.
Good Luck,