A "Little" Mystery

Recently, I received a text noting how the washer was not draining and that Jacob’s coat was in it because it was in desperate need of being cleaned. There were a number of texts that flew back and forth, did you do this, did you check this, what sound is it making, etc. Nothing seemed to be working…

Upon inspection, there indeed was water in the washer. After an attempt or two of running the washer, yup, the water is not pumping out. Uh oh! What’s this, water on the floor… Better check the basement, yep, water there too! Are the hoses hooked up? Check! Are the hoses dry? Check! Hmmm… Looks like the water flows over the sides when it is spinning. This is strange, I thought, but not the issue at the moment. After tearing off the front of the washer, I noticed a belt was about to fall off and wouldn’t you know it, it was a belt that included the pump. Must be time to replace it. So, a quick check online resulted in finding the cost of a new belt and also a location in the area to pick one up. This would be a good errand for Amy and Jacob to do.

Now we have the new belt. Let’s try putting it on. No problem! Let’s start the washer. Yeah!!! The pump is working as I can hear the water pumping. Let’s walk away so that it can finish the cycle… Okay, that’s long enough, let’s see if the water is all gone… NOPE!! Pretty still all there! Hmmm… What seems to the problem (also thinking, this can’t be good…)?!?! The belts move clockwise easily and the belts move OOOUUCCHH!!! That’s hotter than #@%&!!! and sticky. Better wait for the belt to cool down…

Hours later… Okay, so the belt moves easily clockwise and now counterclockwise (without getting burned this time). The motor turns, the pump did pump water, no screeching noises that Amy talked about. This sucks!! Well, I guess it is time to really start thinking about getting a new one, but it might be worth a shot talking to a repairman.

After the parade and since Jacob crashed upon getting in his car seat, we decided now would be a good time to run in to Maytag for some conversation. We talked about a number of different things and one of them being a small adjustment that is uncommon/doesn’t happen, but might work. There was also discussion of bearings, etc. and a potential $300 bill, which would mean just getting a new one for a little more. So, back home we went and check all the belts, etc. again. I started moving the pump belt in both directions again and it seemed to be working great in one direction and not so great in the other (as noted by the repairman or so I thought). Then I noticed the white component that I could see through the plastic top would stop in the same spot in either direction. I noticed this white before, but just thought it was a paddle that moved the water out and was there for a reason. Upon closer inspection and trying to figure out whether this needed to be there or not, the proverbial light bulb went off… AHA!! Amy, who was in the kitchen said did you figure something out? I replied with yep, I think one of Jacob’s socks is in the pump. With a little maneuvering of a screwdriver, VOILA! There was Jacob’s sock, with which Amy noted, I have been looking for that sock… Mystery solved!!