Sometimes when the washing machine takes longer to wash than its displayed time,
Users often wonder why washing machine times lie. But really, they need to know why it happens. Also, it’s not a fault, several factors play a role when a washer takes 20 minutes while performing only 10 minutes.
Washing machine times are not necessarily lying as they are just an estimate. It is usually based on standard load size and can be affected by factors such as including the laundry amount being washed, dirt level on the clothes, excessive suds, and the water temperature setting selected.
We’ve gathered all the information you need to understand why your washing machine times lie or if it takes longer than the displayed time.
Table of Contents
Reasons Your Washing Machine Times Lies to You?
Practically, we’ve researched and reported several reasons why washing machine times become inaccurate. If the same situation has occurred in your device, check each cause that is described below.
Here’s a list of reasons why your washing machine times can lie to you:
- Mechanical wear and tear
- Load size
- Detergent type
- Age of the machine
- Environmental factors
Let’s explore each reason in-depth!
- Mechanical wear and tear
Over time, the timer mechanism in your washing machine can become damaged or worn, leading to inaccuracies in the cycle time. There may be other faulty parts within the washing machine that are affecting the timer’s accuracy, such as a malfunctioning water sensor or control board.
- Load size
Different fabrics and loads require different amounts of time and water to be cleaned properly. If you’re washing a particularly heavy or dirty load, the machine may need more time to complete the cycle. You should set the right time to wash specific heavy and dirty clothes.
- Detergent type
Using a different type or brand of detergent than what your machine is designed for can affect the cycle time and the effectiveness of the wash. So, always use the right detergent and its amount.
- Age of the machine
If your washing machine is old, it may simply be less accurate than newer models due to wear and tear on the timer mechanism. If any part requires repair or maintenance, do that as soon as possible.
- Environmental factors
Temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors can affect the performance of your washing machine and its timer. For example, If you use cold water in the winter season for washing cloth, this will surely make the washer’s time inaccurate.
Why are Washing Machine Timers Always Wrong?
While it’s not necessarily true that washing machine timers are always wrong, many people do find that their machines’ timers seem to be inaccurate at times. Several factors can contribute to this issue.
Nowadays, the smart washing machine has a load-sensing system. Once these models sense the load size, they show a more accurate time to get clothes washed. However, mechanical wear and tear of the timer system can display inaccurate cycle times. This issue comes over time.
Power fluctuations can also be a factor – voltage spikes or drops can cause the timer to speed up or slow down, resulting in cycle times that don’t match up with what you’ve set. However, this is a rare cause that has typically not been reported.
You also know that some fabrics and loads require different amounts of time and water to be cleaned properly. For instance, when you’ve put in a particularly heavy or dirty load, your washer would need more time to complete the cycle.
As every washer doesn’t sense the load size, it can show the default load washing cycle time for heavy loads also.
On the other hand, if the detergent you’re using is the wrong type and makes too much sud in the washing machine’s drum. It leads the machine to take more time. More suds means the more time the device requires to clean and remove it.
We’ve reported that the age of a washing machine also plays a role in the accuracy of its timer. Some Older units were less accurate than newer models due to old and overused components such as the timer mechanism.
Sometimes temperature and humidity can also affect the performance of a washing machine and its timer. This happens when the season is winter and the filled-in washing drum is also cold.
It is because the cold weather and water can take longer to wash out the same load size which you wash out in summer.
If you’re experiencing issues with your washing machine’s timer, it’s important to troubleshoot the issue to ensure that your machine is working efficiently. In the next section, we’ve described what you can do when your washing machine displays inaccurate times.
What to do When Washing Machine Times Lie?
Whenever you find your washing machine timer is inaccurate, you will need to check for several things that possibly cause this issue. However, making the washing machine time taken in washing accurate is possible.
Here’re the best practices you can do to make your washer times correct:
- You must check the load size before running the wash cycle. Typically, washing machines have different load capacities, and if you overload the machine, it can take longer to wash the clothes. Technically, most washing machines don’t exactly know what is the real time it will take, but they know if the clothes are washed or not. Just make sure you are not exceeding the recommended load size.
- Always check and set correct the water temperature. Some washing machines have settings for different water temperatures. If you choose a setting that requires a higher temperature, it can take longer to heat the water. If the clothes need hot water to be washed, don’t use cold or normal water to wash them.
- Practically, If we use too much detergent, it creates more suds. And when there are more suds, the washer takes more time to remove it from the drum and the sensor thinks the dort persists in the load. This is the most common reason that causes the machine to take longer to wash the clothes. Using the right amount of detergent and the right detergent is recommended.
- You can test different cycles. Sometimes cycle 1 takes longer than cycle 2 to wash out the same garment. This is because both cycle settings are unique. If possible, consider using a different cycle. Technically, Some cycles are designed for specific types of clothes, and using the wrong cycle can lead to inaccurate time consumption issues in the washer.
- It is not a secret that most washing machine manufacturers provide manuals. If you just bought a washing machine and you are unsure about the machine’s settings or performance, it is good to consult the manual for troubleshooting tips and advice.
Final Thoughts
If your washing machine’s timer is lying, you need to find the cause of the problem. You can do this by checking the load size, water temperature, detergent, and machine performance. You can solve this issue and clean your clothes in time after fixing the issue and mistakes you make while washing clothes.