- The visible parts of a washing machine include the cabinet, control panel, lid or front-loading door, drum, agitator, power cord, water supply hoses and drain hose. The cabinet encloses all the moving and non-moving parts. A control panel is mounted on the top or front of the machine, enclosing all of the electronics and function switches.
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Drum and agitatorThe drum, or tub, holds the clothes and is suspended inside the cabinet. It spins at different speeds, depending on whether the machine is washing, rinsing or spinning water away from the clothes. The agitator is a propeller-like assembly inside the drum that mixes the soap and water and moves the clothes around. -
Waste water empties into a utility tub.Two water supply hoses, one for hot water and one for cold, connect to the back of a washing machine and to the water sources using standard garden couplings. A drain hose carries used water out of the tub, to a utility tub or waste-water connection. Washing machines are powered by electrical connections, which in the U.S. are normally 110/120 volt electrical outlets. - The enclosed parts of a washing machine include the control mechanism, which is either electro-mechanical or computerized; a solenoid; a motor and transmission; and a pump. The control mechanism governs temperature settings, laundry load sizes, timers and agitator speeds. It turns on the water solenoid at the appropriate time in the washing cycle and controls the motor, transmission and pump.
- Water sensors in the drum control water levels and temperatures. The sensors send a timing signal to the washing machine's control mechanism, telling the machine when to shift to different functions. They also enable the pump to empty water from the drum at the correct time.
- Some newer washing machines have sensors to adjust drum and agitator speeds automatically, depending on the type of clothing being washed.
- You can usually remove the front, top and back of a washing machine to reach the enclosed parts for maintenance and repairs. Some machines may have screws for opening the unit, while others must be pried open at the seams. Make sure the machine is empty, turned off and unplugged before opening the cabinet.
