Pictures this: after waiting for your laundry to finish, you’re surprised to find your Maytag Bravos washer has been stuck on sensing all this time and didn’t wash at all!
It’s normal to feel frustrated about this because I did too! Having experienced this, let me share what I know and help you understand why your washer is stuck on water level sensing and how to fix it.
Why is my Maytag washer stuck on sensing?
When Maytag washers are stuck on sensing, it’s commonly caused by jammed or stuck keypads, clogged drains, and malfunctioning components.
These technical and mechanical issues prevent your washer from transitioning to a wash cycle.
Fortunately, there are ways to get your Maytag washer to move past sensing mode. Learn what they are below.
6 Reasons Why Your Maytag Washer Is Stuck on Sensing and How to Fix Them
You can trace your washer’s sensing back to faulty components. Whether they’re damaged or just dirty, you can fix each problem with these detailed solutions.
| Reason: | Solution: |
| Malfunctioning control board | • Unplug your washer from the power outlet. • Pull the control knob off from the washer’s control panel. • Remove the screws of the control panel at the back of the washer and take off its cover. • Using a putty knife, lift the control panel and flip it forward to access the control board. • The control board is the big square component to which most wires are attached. • Remove the locking tabs to access the wires. • Remember the wires’ placements before disconnecting them from the control board. • Next, pull the air hose off the control board. It’s a white or semi-transparent plastic tube. • Unscrew the control board and remove it from the panel. Replace it with your new control board. • You can purchase a new control board from Maytag’s official store or appliance centers. • Screw the new control board in place then connect the air hose. • Next, connect the wires to the new control board and close the locking tabs. • Flip the control panel upright and snap it in place. Put its back cover and screw it securely. • Plug the washer into the power source. |
| Jammed keypads | • Turn the washer off. • Look at your control panel and inspect each button or keypad. • See if there are any keypads that are pressed down and stuck in that position. • Lift the stuck keypads or buttons up by pressing them again. • You can also use a screwdriver or any tool to lift the buttons or keypads from the side. • Turn your washer on again and start a new cycle. |
| Clogged drain hose | • Switch off your Maytag washer and disconnect it from its power outlet. • Unscrew the back cover of your washer to access the drain hose. • Prepare a bucket to catch the excess water still inside the washer and the drain hose. • Once the hose is emptied out, detach it from the washer. • Inspect the inside of the hose for any debris clogging it. • Using a long brush, clean the drain hose’s interior to remove the dirt, lint, and residue clogging it. • Rinse the drain hose. Observe if the water is able to run through the hose freely from end to end. • Reattach the drain hose to the washer. Put the cover back and screw it in place. • Plug your washer into the power source. |
| Damaged water valve | • Disconnect your washer from its power outlet. • Next, switch off the water supply source. • Prepare a bucket to catch water leaks during disassembly. • Move the washer away from the wall and disconnect the water supply hose. • Unscrew the control panel cover at the back of the washer and take it off. • Lift the control panel using a putty knife and flip it forward to access the water inlet valves. • Remove the screws securing the water inlet valve, then remove said component for testing. • Get a multimeter, which can be bought from hardware stores and appliance centers. • Set the multimeter to the lowest ohms setting. • Let the multimeter’s probes touch the water inlet valve’s terminals to get a reading. • The reading should show 500 – 1500 ohms. If not, the water inlet valves must be replaced. • Purchase a new valve from Maytag’s store or nearby appliance centers. • Attach the new valve to its respective position in the washer. • Secure it in place by tightening its screws. • Put the control panel back and snap it in place. Next, screw its cover back. • Connect the water supply hoses to the new water inlet valve. • Reposition your washer against the wall. • Turn your water supply source on then plug the washer into its power source. |
| Damaged lid switch | • Make sure the washer is turned off and unplugged from the power source. • Unscrew and remove the control panel’s back cover. • To access the lid switch assembly, flip the control panel using a putty knife. • If there are screws securing the control panel, remove them using a screwdriver. • Locate the lid switch assembly at the washer’s main body. • The lid switch is a black square component with wires, located beneath the control board. • Take note of the wires’ position on the lid switch assembly before removing them from it. • Once the wires are gone, unscrew the lid switch assembly to remove it. • Get your new lid switch assembly, which can be purchased from • Maytag’s store or appliance stores. • Connect the washer’s wires to the new lid switch then screw the new component on the washer. • Reposition the control panel. Snap or screw it in place. • Return the control panel’s cover. Tighten its screws. • Plug your Maytag washer into the power outlet. |
| Incorrect wash cycle setting | • Stop the current cycle by pressing the stop or pause button. • Check the current wash setting and see if it’s correct. • See if the knob is set properly and positioned on a single-wash setting. • If not, restart the cycle. Turn the washer off and then on again. • Reposition the knob properly on the wash setting you like. |
Your washer can get stuck on sensing for a number of reasons. Let’s run through each problem and solve it by following this guide.
Malfunctioning Control Board
A damaged and malfunctioning control board will affect the entire washer’s operation, starting from water level sensing.
To solve the sensing issue and avoid future malfunctioning of your machine’s other parts, the control board must be replaced.
Solution: First, unplug your Maytag washer from the power source to avoid any accidents during disassembly.
Remove the control knob from the washer’s control panel by pulling it off. Unscrew the control panel’s cover and remove it.
Lift the control panel using a putty knife and flip it forward to access the control board.
Find the control board. It’s the big square component to which most wires are attached.
Unlock the tabs to access the wires. Note where the wires are attached to before pulling them off from the control board.
Next, remove the air hose from the control board. The hose is a white or semi-transparent plastic tube.
Remove the screws of the old control board and detach it from the panel.
Replace it with your new control board. If you don’t have a new control board yet, you can buy one from Maytag’s official store or nearby appliance centers.
Secure the new control board in place with its screws. Then, attach the air hose.
Connect the wires to the new control board. Close the locking tabs.
Flip the control panel back in its proper position. Put the back cover and screw it.
Plug the washer into the power outlet.
Jammed Keypads
If your keypads are jammed, then your washer can detect the same command for hours until you fix it. No wonder it’s been stuck in sensing mode the entire time!
Solution: Turn your washer off then inspect the control panel’s keypads.
Look for any keypads that are pressed down and stuck in that position. This is usually a result of strong or forceful presses.
Lift the stuck keypads or buttons up by pressing them again. If they’re not budging, use a screwdriver or any tool to lift the buttons or keypads from the side.
Turn your washer on again. You’re now ready to start a new cycle.
Clogged Drain Hose
Water can’t exit your washer if the drain hose is clogged. With the water also stuck inside the tub, the machine will continue to sense it until it’s drained.
Solution: Switch off your washer then disconnect it from its power source.
Unscrew and remove the back cover of your washer to access the drain hose.
Get a bucket or basin to catch the excess water still inside the washer and the drain hose.
Wait for the hose to be emptied out before detaching it from the washer. Check the inside of the hose for anything clogging it.
Get a long brush and use it to clean the drain hose’s interior. Brush away the dirt, lint, and residue obstructing the water flow.
Rinse the drain hose. While doing so, observe if the water is able to run through the hose freely from end to end.
Once you’re sure that the drain hose is not obstructed, reattach it to the washer. Put the machine’s cover back and screw it tightly in place.
Plug your washer into the power outlet.
Damaged Water Inlet Valve
Your washer’s water inlet valve can get damaged over time and will eventually need replacing. The sensing issue is one of the signs that you need a new water inlet valve.
Solution: Disconnect your washer from its power outlet and then turn off the water supply source.
Get a bucket to catch water leaks during disassembly.
If your washer’s back is against the wall, reposition it until you can access and disconnect the water supply hose from the machine’s back.
Unscrew and remove the control panel cover at the back of the washer.
Lift the control panel with a putty knife then flip it forward to access the water inlet valves.
Using a screwdriver, remove the screws securing the water inlet valve. Grab the old valve for testing.
Get your multimeter. If you don’t have one, it can be bought from hardware stores and appliance centers.
Set your multimeter to the lowest ohms setting.
Put the multimeter’s probes on the water inlet valve’s terminals to get a reading.
If it’s your first time using a multimeter for testing, refer to this video for a quick demonstration.
The reading should hit between 500 – 1500 ohms. Otherwise, the water inlet valves are dead and must be replaced.
Purchase a new valve from Maytag’s store or nearby appliance centers.
Attach the new valves to the washer and screw them tightly in place.
Flip the control panel back and snap it in place. Return and screw its back cover.
Connect the water supply hoses to the new water inlet valves. Make sure they’re attached properly to avoid any leaks.
Move your washer back against the wall. Turn your water supply source on then plug the washer into its power source.
Quick tip:
Don’t attempt to fix your old water inlet valve because it has higher risks of part failure. Instead, purchase a new valve and replace your washer’s faulty one.
Damaged Lid Switch
Maytag washers are sensitive when it comes to their lid switch. If this component is broken, the washer will sense that the machine isn’t securely closed and thus won’t move on to a wash cycle.
Solution: Before inspecting the interior, ensure that the washer is turned off and disconnected from the power source.
Unscrew the control panel’s back cover and remove it. Flip the control panel using a putty knife to access the lid switch assembly.
If there are screws securing the control panel, remove them using a screwdriver.
Find the lid switch assembly at the washer’s main body. It’s the black square component beneath the control board.
Remember the wires’ positions on the lid switch assembly before detaching them from it. Once the wires are removed, unscrew and remove the lid switch assembly.
Get your new lid switch assembly. You can buy one from Maytag’s store or appliance stores.
Connect the washer’s wires to the new lid switch in their proper positions. Then, screw the new assembly in place.
Flip the control panel back and return its cover. Tighten the screws.
Plug your Maytag washer into the power outlet.
Have a closer look at how to replace the lid switch here:
Incorrect Wash Cycle Setting
Often, the sensing issue happens when the wash cycle knob is not properly placed and pointed to a specific wash setting.
This will confuse the machine, causing your Maytag Bravos washer to be stuck on sensing.
Solution: If there’s an ongoing wash, stop the current cycle by pressing the stop or pause button.
See if the knob is pointing to a single wash setting. If not, restart the cycle by turning the washer off and then on again.
Position the knob properly on the wash setting you need.
Learning how to troubleshoot your washer’s many problems is a must-have skill. But sometimes, what your washing machine really needs is just a fresh start.
How do you let your Maytag washer start anew? Simple! You just need to reset it.
How to Reset Your Maytag Bravos Washer
To reset your Maytag washer, disconnect it from its power source and let it rest for up to 15 minutes. Plug it back in and turn the knob clockwise and counterclockwise repeatedly.
Continue until the Rinse option lights up. Press the start button after and the machine will start recalibrating.
To help you understand the steps better, here’s a detailed breakdown.
Step 1: Turn your washer off and unplug it from its power outlet.
Step 2: Let it rest for up to 15 minutes to ensure that it’s completely drained of energy.
Step 3: Reconnect the washer to the power source and turn it on.
Step 4: Turn the wash cycle knob clockwise with three pauses during the turn. This means that you won’t turn the knob all the way.
Instead, count three clicks or beats during the turn. (Turn-click-turn-click-turn-click)
Step 5: Turn the knob counterclockwise with just one click or one pause.
Step 6: Repeatedly turn the knob clockwise and counterclockwise with a click in between until the Rinse button lights up.
Step 7: Once the Rinse button lights up, press the start button. Your washer will automatically recalibrate after.
Step 8: Wait for it to finish resetting before using it.
Just because your washer is stuck doesn’t mean that you should be stuck too.
By learning how to identify and fix your washer’s sensing problem, you can bravely advance forward and continue enjoying uninterrupted washing.
Learning from experts is not a bad idea either! If you’re unsure about troubleshooting your Maytag Bravos on your own, call a skilled technician to help you.
