Ignoring the error code in the washer is dangerous as it may damage the appliance and also cause potential harm to people. If your Maytag washer displays the UL error, it indicates a serious issue.
The UL error code in the Maytag washer indicates the off-balanced state of the washer. Check if the clothes are loaded evenly in the drum. Avoid overloading the clothes. A loose drain pump may also trigger the UL error code; in such a case, tighten the drain pump of your washer.
Continue reading the article to know the common causes of the UL error code and the steps to fix the issues.
You will also know the exact method to calculate the load capacity of your washer to choose the right quantity of load during the next wash cycle.
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This post includes some affiliate links.What does the UL code on the Maytag washer mean?
The UL error code communicates that your Maytag washer is off balance.
A washer will sometimes undergo the correction stage to balance the load.
During this correction stage, a washer will try to solve the issue by itself. Most of the time, it fails.
This UL error is the most common issue in the Maytag washer and is not complicated to solve.
It happens mainly due to uneven clothes distribution during the washing load.
If you load heavy clothes in the washer, it will cause an imbalance in the washer.
To avoid this, you must load the light clothes with the heavy clothes.
It will also be caused by overloading of the clothes; you must load the washer only until 80% full.
Doing this will produce a loud banging noise causing the washer to be off balance.
It is not safe to ignore the UL error code and the banging noise as it may damage the appliance and cause damage to the people operating a washer.
How do I fix the UL code on the Maytag washer?
As we have already discussed, the UL error in the washer indicates the off-balanced state of the drum and, often, the entire washer itself.
Fixing the UL error code is not a complicated process; you can fix it yourself.
Here are some of the common issues and steps to fix them efficiently:
1. Check if the laundry is loaded evenly
If the clothes in the washer are not distributed evenly, it will cause a banging noise and cause unusual vibration in your washer.
The washing cycle’s efficiency would be heavily interrupted because the washer is imbalanced due to improper laundry distribution.
Hence results in the UL error code on display.
Follow these steps to fix the uneven clothes distribution in the washer:
- While loading heavy clothes like bedsheets and towels, spread them equally around the agitator. If they are not spread around, consider loading some other clothes of the same weight to maintain the balance in the drum.
- If you have already loaded the clothes and your washer displays the UL error code; initially, the washer will try to auto-correct the off balance. Let the washer undisturbed for 2 to 3 minutes.
- If the UL error code persists and the light continues to flash, your washer fails to auto-correct the off balance. In such a case, consider following the below instructions.
- Power off the washer to pause the cycle and open the lid of your washer.
- Inspect if the clothes are threaded with each other.
- Manually spread the clothes around the agitator and start the wash cycle.
- Check if the vibration and the banging noise have stopped. If the noise and the vibrations persist, the chances are the UL error code still displays.
- If the UL error code continues to display, consider trying the below fixes.
Also read: 6 Reasons Your Washing Machine Is Off Balance (+Fix)
2. Avoid washing less or one cloth
While loading the washing machine, you must know the capacity of your drum to get an idea of how many clothes are appropriate to load.
Consider referring to the user manual to know the capacity of your drum.
As the drum size changes according to the model of your washer, it is hard to say how much is the right quantity of clothes to load in the washer.
The washer will be off-balanced if you load fewer clothes or only one cloth in the drum.
If you lost the user manual, you could follow the instruction to calculate your washer’s load capacity.
You can calculate the load capacity of your washer by using this formula:
Volume = pi * r * r * D
Where pi=~ 3.14
r=Radius
d=Depth (feet) refers to the height of the drum.
The result will be in cubic feet.
Follow these steps to calculate the load capacity of your washer.
3. Measure the size of the washer’s drum.
Measure the length between the center of the tub and the walls of the drum.
It is measured as a radius.
Also, you can measure the diameter and divide it by 2 to get the radius measurement.
Next, multiply the radius by the radius, which means deriving the value of the radius square.
Multiply the result by the pi value.
Now, multiply the answer with the d value.
You will get the capacity of the washer.
To fix the issue, consider loading the washer according to its capacity.
If you load fewer clothes than their capacity, it will cause a UL error on the washer.
4. Check if you are overloading the washer
Overloading the washer will also trigger the UL error code on the washer.
Overloading the washer is not the right option to make the laundry faster.
It affects the efficiency of the washing cycle.
It also results in dirty clothes at the end of the washing cycle.
To fix the error code, you must follow the formula we have already discussed to load the appropriate quantity of laundry.
If your washer displays the UL error code due to the overloaded drum, follow the instructions below:
- Pause the washing cycle and drain the water from the drum.
- Unplug it from the electric supply.
- Manually unload the heavy clothes from the washer.
- Spread the clothes evenly to balance the load.
- Start the washing cycle and check if the UL error has disappeared.
5. Check if the washer is placed on a leveled surface.
Placing the washer on a leveled surface is important to regulate the proper spinning of the drum.
A washer goes out of control due to the following issue:
- If the floors are rotted
- If the washer is placed on an extremely soft or slippery floor
- Height of the machine changes due to the vibrations
- Anti vibrations pads below the washer are loosened.
Follow these steps to get your washer back to a balanced condition:
- Start the leveling process only when the washer is empty. Drain the excess water from the drum.
- Disconnect the washer from the electricity and move it forward to see the floor where the washer is placed. Move the washer to a different place to make the floor entirely visible.
- Locate the four anti-vibration pads at the bottom of the washer. Replace them if they are damaged or loosened.
- Ensure that the floor where you placed your washer is solid and doesn’t have damage or cracks, and is not bumpy.
- It is advised to have the floor made of vinyl, wood, laminate, or tail. Change your flooring to any of these to prevent the washer from getting off-balanced. And avoid placing your washer on the slippery floor.
- Consider repairing the flooring if they are not smooth. You can hire a professional to repair the flooring surface.
- Check the legs of the washer. If they are uneven, adjust them using the piers to balance the washer.
- Using a block at the bottom of the washer, prop up it and adjust the front and back feet of the washer clockwise to adjust the height.
- Adjust the feet to make the washer leveled on a surface.
Run the washer and check if the UL error code has disappeared. If the error code persists, try the following fix.
6. Try resetting your Maytag washer
If your Maytag washer still displays the UL error code even after distributing the clothes and leveling the floor, try resetting your washer.
There is no dedicated reset button in the Maytag washer; still, you can reset it by the following methods.
You can reset your Maytag washer by two methods:
- Power/cancel method
- Standby mode reset
Power/cancel method
The power/cancel is a simple yet effective reset option to bring your balance back to balance.
- Press and hold power/cancel button for 3 seconds.ย
- Start a new cycle.
- Now, press the start/pause button to begin the reset process.
You have completed the reset process.
Run the washer and check if the UL error code has disappeared.
Standby mode reset
- Begin by pressing the start/pause for 3 seconds to bring the machine to standby mode.
- Check if the indicator lights are turned off. Locate the cycle selector knob and rotate it clockwise.
- Let the cycle selector knob be in the same position for 5 seconds.
- After 5 seconds, rotate the cycle selector knob to the right side and click it once.
- Wait for 3 seconds and rotate it clockwise to click it again.
- Locate the selection dial and rotate it towards the right.
- After this process, check if the LCD lights are blowing. If the lights are ON, follow the below process.
- Now turn on the washer by pressing the start button.
- Unplug the washer from the electric supply and let it be disconnected for the next 10 seconds.
- Plug in the washer. And check if the UL error code has disappeared.
7. Check the drain pump of the washer
A drain pump performs the function of draining the water from the drum during the spin cycle.
If the drain pump becomes loosened, water will start to leak through it, and the drum of the washer won’t spin.
When the drum of the washer is not spinning, it will trigger the UL code on display.
To fix this issue, you need to tighten the drain pump.
You can locate the drain pump at the bottom of the washer.
Follow these steps to tighten the drain pump:
- Unplug the washer from the electric supply.
- Place the thick towel or the mat at the side of the washer.
- With the help of the housemates, place the washer to lay on its side.
- Now, you can easily access the bottom of the washer.
- Disconnect the bottom panel by removing the screws attached to it.
- Access the drain pump at the right corner.
- Now check if the drain pump is loosened. In such a case, use a screwdriver to tighten it. Now fix the bottom panel and secure it with the screws.
- Bring the washer to the upright position.
Plug in the washer and check if the UL error code is solved.
8. Check the suspension rods
Suspension rods are responsible for keeping the washer balanced during the wash cycle.
They last only for 5 years.
In the long run, they may wear out.
If the suspension rods are faulty, a washer will become off balance and would trigger the UL error code.
In such a case, you must replace the suspension rods.
Follow these steps to replace the suspension rods:
- Start by unplugging the suspension rod from the electric supply.
- Disconnect the hoses and pull the washer to a comfortable position to replace the suspension rods.
- Disconnect the front panel by removing the screws attached to it.
- Lift the top panel and keep it aside.
- You can locate the suspension rod in the middle of the washer.
- Pull the internal tub of the washer and lift the faulty suspension rod.
- Replace it with the new one. Secure the suspension rod by tightening it.
- Make sure it fits with the other parts well.
- Reattach the front panel and secure it with the screws.
- Reattach the top panel and secure it with the screws.
- Plug in the washer with the electric supply.
Run the washer and check if the UL error code has disappeared.
How do you run a diagnostic on a washing machine?
A diagnostic mode helps troubleshoot the problems like error codes and minor software glitches.
Follow the steps below to run the diagnostic mode in the washer:
- Turn off the water supply valve.
- Power the machine on.
- Press the delay button until it reaches 17.
- Press the start button for 7 seconds.
- Turn on the tech mode of your washer.
- Press the self-clean button.
- Turn the knob clockwise.
- Now the washer will display the recent error code.
- Next, run the test cycle after turning on the water supply valves.
How much does it cost to fix an unbalanced washing machine?
The cost of fixing the unbalanced washer depends on the cause of the issue.
The average cost to fix the unbalanced washer ranges from $150 to $400.
It may vary according to the charges of the professional in case you hire one.
Final thoughts
The UL error is mainly caused due to overloading and underloading of clothes during the wash cycle. So, next time you load the washer, follow the instructions mentioned in the article to calculate the load capacity of your Maytag washer.
Reset your washer by following the two methods I mentioned in the article to solve the minor issues causing the UL error code. If the drain pump is faulty, you can tighten it by following the steps mentioned in the article.
Seek the help of a professional if you find it too technical.
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Reference: Maytag Front Load Washing Machine Official Troubleshooting Guide, Maytag Top Load Washing Machine Official Troubleshooting Guide.