Can You Add An Agitator To A Washing Machine?

By - Hs Saini

Updated -

If you are unfamiliar with the agitator, it has a screw-like shape, and its job is to agitate clothes. It works by twisting and making movements that clean your clothes.

For example, some agitators spray water soaking your clothes while washing. This action loosens the hard stains and specks of dirt. The rotation produces a current in the machine.

Although the rotation may cause wear and tear, it washes your clothes properly and removes stains easily. The agitator is found in the center of your washing machine drum.

It cleans clothes by moving them against each other. It moves swiftly in a clockwise and counterclockwise motion.

You cannot add an agitator to a machine that is not modeled to have one. To add an agitator, you must change the entire transmission to match the agitator. The manufacturer can do this, which is as expensive as getting a new one.

Can You Put an Agitator in a Washing Machine?

Add an Agitator to a Washing Machine

An agitator and impeller washer will clean your clothes properly. Washing machines with no agitators are more spacious than those with agitators.

Impellers are designed to wash large loads, and they still get rid of soil on your clothes. However, agitator washers are less efficient than impeller washers because they consume more water.

You cannot put an agitator in a washing machine that was not designed to have one. Only the manufacturers can do this, and it is expensive.

Many modern machines have impellers instead of agitators.

When the impeller rotates during a wash cycle, it forms currents that move the clothes in the washer, making them rub against each other. Impellers spin faster, and your clothes would not take so long to get dried.

Why Is There No Agitator in Washing Machines?

Modern machines have technologies that minimize the amount of energy and water used while washing. These machines use less amount of water compared to the top load washers.

As a result, they wash more clothes at a time and save energy and water. 

Top load washers with agitators consume more water and energy to clean clothes. In addition, due to their aggressive washing, agitators can damage your fabric and require more detergent to remove stains.

Washers without an agitator save up to 60% energy and minor wear and tear. Your clothes would be in good condition since your clothes do not always come in contact with the appliance.

Agitators take a lot of space and would not clean pillows and other bulky materials properly as fitting in would be difficult.

They also produce noise sometimes and require a large space for installation. They are not stackable. They require a side-by-side installation, and you might be unable to add a folding space.

Front-load washers are better for cleaning, use less water and energy, and do not damage your fabrics.

Due to these reasons, you rarely find agitators in most washing machines.

Are Washers With Agitators Better Than Those Without? 

Getting either a washer with an agitator or a washer without an agitator can be a difficult choice to make. First, you might be wondering how a washer without an agitator works.

Washers without agitators have impellers. The impeller rotates and makes the clothes run against themselves, and this action makes your clothes clean in a wash cycle.

In washers with agitators, the agitator moves back and forth against your clothes to eliminate stains.

Washers without agitators use a lesser amount of water. They are designed to use less water to increase friction. This friction is more when there is a low level of water.

They do not clean clothes aggressively. The impeller in the machine rotates gently, unlike agitator machines where clothes are cleaned aggressively.

There is enough space in washers without agitators. Large items fit in easily, unlike machines with agitators where the agitator takes more space.

Also, agitator-less machines take shorter periods to dry clothes as it completely extracts moisture from clothes.

However, there are a few disadvantages of washers without an agitator. Washers without agitators do not clean extremely dirty. Both machines will wash clothes properly if you follow the proper procedures.

I highly recommend washers without an agitator because they are gentle on clothes, spacious, use less water, and are energy efficient.

How to Add an Agitator to a Washing Machine?

If your machine is designed without an agitator, you cannot add one to it because it would not function properly.

However, if it is a top load agitator washer and the agitator is faulty, you will need to replace it. Different factors can be responsible for this.

  • Obstruction at the base of the agitator
  • Broken agitator
  • Damaged agitator coupler
  • Broken lid switch
  • Faulty transmission

Before adding a new agitator, inspect the base to see if there is an obstruction. Secondly, check the agitator to see if it’s broken.

Finally, open the lid, remove the top cap of the agitator, and check for any damages, especially on the part that attaches to the transmission shaft. Call a professional if it is damaged.

Check other parts like the lid switch, the directional cogs, the agitator coupler, the drive belt, the test timer, the drive motor, and the transmission for any damages.

If you find any, call an expert to have it fixed.

Can You Add an Agitator to a Samsung Washing Machine? 

A Samsung machine that comes with an agitator can be replaced if faulty. To replace it,

  • Unplug the machine from the outlet before taking it off.
  • Remove the top and inner agitator cap. Below the top cap is the inner cap. You can do this using a flathead screwdriver. 
  • Take off the bolt. If it is rusty, do not use oil to remove it.
  • Please get to the bottom of the washing machine, take off the tip of the agitator with your hands, and pull it up to remove it from the drum.

To add the agitator, reverse the steps you used in removing it. Attach the agitator top and the base and put it back into the machine.

Can You Add an Agitator to a Maytag Washing Machine? 

You cannot add an agitator to a Maytag machine that does not come with one. However, in your top-loading washing machine, You can replace the agitator.

If the washer does not agitate, the assembly might be faulty and may require a replacement. To add a new one,

  • Disconnect the appliance. Although replacing does not require electrical components, it is safe to unplug the appliance from the power source.
  • Lift the lid, take the fabric softener dispenser off, rotate it to loosen, and put it aside.
  • Remove the agitator, lose the bolt inside the agitator shaft that holds the assembly together and rotate the agitator to eradicate it. Then, lift it and take it out of the machine.
  • Place the bolt back in its position before adding the new agitator to the machine.
  • Keep rotating the agitator until it aligns with the shaft and is in the correct position. Then, ensure you tighten the bolt properly and put the dispenser back in its place.

Can You Add an Agitator to a Whirlpool Washing Machine?

The Whirlpool brand has a 2-in-1 removable agitator. It can serve both as an agitator and impeller washer. You can add the agitator whenever you want to use it.

You can also remove it to have enough space for washing bulky items. In addition, this washer has different washer motions that clean clothes thoroughly.

This washer has impressive features like the Prewash option, deep water wash, and built-in water faucet. The built-in water faucet lets you pre-wash your clothes in the washer to help remove hard stains.

The deep water wash allows you to add more water during a wash cycle for satisfactory cleaning. The pre-wash option can soak clothes automatically for 30 minutes before washing.

How to Load Clothes in a Washer Without an Agitator 

After sorting your dirty clothes and emptying your pockets, loading your washer is the next thing to do. The process of loading clothes differs depending on the type of washer you have.

If you load your washer correctly, it will be balanced and will not vibrate.

#1. Sort Your Laundry

Separate white clothes from colored clothes; also remove darker reds, yellows, and oranges from darker blues, purples, and greens.

Wash bright colors separately. Also, wash heavy fabrics together to prevent damage.

#2. Inspect Your Clothes Properly

Check the pocket of every piece of clothing before you load them into the washer to protect your clothes and your washer.

Fasten all hooks, zip all zippers up, and ensure you turn every dark clothing inside out to reduce fading.

Some clothes have specific washing instructions on the tags. Make sure to read the instructions before you put your clothes in.

 The best loading order is adding detergent first, your laundry items second, and water lastly.

Then, start the machine after loading. The risk of fabric damage is reduced if you use the correct order for loading.

#3. Avoid Overloading Your Washer

If you put too many clothes in the machine, the water circulation rate will reduce, and your clothes will be partially clean and wrinkled.

Put the garments loosely. For front load washers, do not pile them higher than the last row of holes in the front. Constantly overloading will damage your machine, and you must repair or replace it.

Ensure you add detergent before loading your clothes. Always check the machine’s instructions so that you do not add more than the required amount of detergent.

So, using more detergent than required can lead to residue build-up in the tub. This residue can cause fading. And the growth of bacteria.

Conclusion

You cannot add an agitator to a washing machine, except it is designed to have one. Washers without agitators save more energy and water and do not damage your clothes as much as washes with agitators.

In addition, they wash larger items with enough space in their drums. Ensure you follow the proper procedures for loading your washer to get satisfactory results.

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