Most washing machines sold in appliance stores have been equipped with a belt drive motor. Today there are three types of motor technology. The first and least reliable is the chain drive. This is used for other appliances such as the lawn mower. The most sophisticated is the direct drive. This is quite popular today in the laundry industry due to its durability. Compared to other motor technologies, it lasts longer because there are fewer moving parts.
Washing machine companies often use belt drive technology. Although this isn’t as durable as the direct drive, it’s still reliable when it comes to giving your washer more power to spin and clean clothes. This is the heart of the washing machine.
When the belt becomes damaged or loose, most of the washing machine’s functions are compromised. The washing machine usually experiences failure in the spin cycle. The drum will not be able to rotate due to the damaged belt. You may also hear loud and alarming noise inside the washing machine due to this problem.
If you want to extend the life of your washing machine, you need to learn how to take good care of your drive belt. Here are some simple tips:
Tip 1: Avoid using a very fast spin speed as this will wear out the belt faster. Most machines have different spin settings. Set it to medium speed only and finish the drying cycle by hanging your clothes to dry.
Tip 2: Do not wash clothes with loose buttons or corners. These can somehow fall into the motor part of the washer and damage the belt functions. Be sure to check your clothing for signs of loose buttons. Check pockets and remove loose change.
Tip 3: Stop overloading your machine by washing large loads of laundry at once. Wash only as many clothes as you can fit. Washing machines tend to wear out faster when they are overloaded. On top of that, the machine tends to vibrate and tends to spin when there is a load imbalance inside.
Tip 4 – Plan your laundry days so that you can minimize the number of times you’ll use your washing machine in a week. Avoid using small laundry loads. Run only full wash cycles so that you can maximize the power of the washer.
Tip 5: Put your washing machine on a platform. If the floor is uneven, the machine works harder to clean your clothes. This also makes the load of laundry inside uneven. It hinders the proper functioning of the belt.