If a Kenmore 110 washer does not spin, Kenmore's top-loader guide lists the causes: the load is too small (add more laundry), large items became entangled, a low spin cycle was used (Drain Spin removes extra water), the load is tightly packed or unbalanced, the drain hose is not properly installed (more than 4.5 inches into the standpipe or higher than 96 inches, or clogged) and too much detergent is making suds. The front-loader's Dynamic Balance redistributes clothes when it detects an off-balance load. Whirlpool's own guidance adds Low or No Spin left selected from the last run, delicate cycles that spin slowly by design, and F7 E1, a motor speed sensing error caused by shipping bolts left in or an overload.
Differential
Likely causes of “Kenmore 110-series front-load washer will not spin or leaves clothes soaking wet”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Low or No Spin selected
What separates it The load is wet at the end because Low or No Spin was selected
How to confirm Choose Drain Spin or a higher spin speed
- 2
An unbalanced or tightly packed load
What separates it The spin is slow because the load is unbalanced or tightly packed
How to confirm Rearrange and reduce the load, and run the spin again
- 3
A drain problem or suds
What separates it There is water left in the tub because of a drain problem or suds
How to confirm Check the hose, and run Rinse and Spin
- 4
Shipping bolts or an overload (F7 E1)
What separates it The motor cannot reach speed because of shipping bolts or an overload, shown as F7 E1
How to confirm Remove the bolts and reduce the load, and then run the spin
- 5
Top-loader (110-series HE, Water Level knob): an unbalanced or tightly packed load
What separates it The load is still wet or the spin does not reach speed
How to confirm Redistribute the wet load evenly and use the Drain Spin cycle to remove water
- 6
Top-loader (110-series HE, Water Level knob): a cycle with a low spin speed
What separates it Clothes come out wetter than usual after a gentle cycle
How to confirm Choose the recommended spin speed for the garment or run Drain Spin
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The spin setting that you chose
- How full the drum was when it was loaded
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the spin setting
ReversibleCheck the spin setting, since there are up to six spin speeds on the front loader, and No Spin leaves it saturated.
Balance the load
ReversibleBalance the load, and do not pack it tightly, and avoid single items, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check the drain
ReversibleCheck the drain, since the hose should be not more than 4.5 inches in the pipe and not clogged.
Reduce suds
ReversibleReduce suds, by using HE detergent only, and measure it, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Clear F7 E1
ReversibleClear F7 E1, by pressing Pause or Cancel twice and Power once, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Balance the load
ReversibleTightly packed or unbalanced loads may not allow the washer to spin correctly, leaving the load wetter than normal. Evenly arrange the wet load for balanced spinning and select the Drain Spin cycle to remove excess water.
Pick the right spin speed
ReversibleCycles with lower spin speeds remove less water than cycles with high spin speeds. Use the recommended cycle spin speed for your garment; for a delicate load a lower speed is normal and the load will be wetter than after a high-speed spin.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Dry spots and high spins
- On the top-loader Kenmore notes that high-speed spins extract more moisture than earlier washers and that airflow during the final spin can leave dry spots on items near the top of the load, which is normal. It also says the washer is less efficient at rinsing and cleaning when tightly packed, and that Rinse & Spin is the answer for sand, pet hair and lint.
- Balancing
- Kenmore's advice is to load dry items in loose heaps evenly around the basket wall, that adding wet items or extra water can unbalance the washer, to wash smaller loads to reduce imbalance, to avoid single items, and to use the Bulky Bedding cycle for oversized non-absorbent items such as comforters or poly-filled jackets.
- Front-loader guide: loads that come out too wet
- Kenmore's own 110.4996x guide says a load that comes out too wet may need a cycle with a higher spin speed, and that a single item, bulky items or an overloaded drum can cause an imbalance. Add items or spread the wet laundry evenly and run Drain & Spin; if the laundry is still wet, take half the load out and try again. Check too that the drain hose is not clogged and is not higher than 96 inches (2.4 m) above the floor, and that household voltage is not low.
- Common causes of a washer that will not spin
- An unbalanced load, a clogged drain pump, a worn drive belt or a faulty lid or door lock can stop a spin. Redistribute the load, clear the pump filter and check that the door latches. A machine that fills but will not drain will not spin.
- Clearing the drain filter
- Switch off and unplug the washer, place a towel and a shallow tray, open the drain filter cover and remove the filter slowly. Clear coins, lint and socks, refit it firmly and run a drain and spin cycle.
- Spin notes
- The Lid Locked feature allows higher spin speeds, so the lid stays locked during the spin. The washer may still be spinning when you press START/PAUSE/Unlock Lid, and the lid will not unlock until the basket stops, which can take several minutes for large loads.
- Parts for this problem on the FRONT (RepairClinic, 2026-09-21)
- v-belt, part number 93-7381, at $32.28.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the 110-series top-load washer.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If F7 E1 returns with the bolts removed and a normal load, call Kenmore on 1-800-4-MY-HOME
- !If the drum will not turn, call service
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Kenmore's own guide for the 110 front-loader in full: the pages that carry the troubleshooting, care and cleaning sections are images, so they were read by text recognition and checked against the printed page.
Whirlpool's own table of front-load washer codes, used for the builder's front-load platform.
Parts and list prices as shown on RepairClinic's parts search for this model number on 2026-09-21.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why is my Kenmore 110 load wet?+
A low spin setting, an unbalanced or packed load, suds or a drain fault.
How many spin speeds?+
The front-loader offers up to six.
Do delicates spin slowly?+
Yes, delicates spin slowly by design, so that is normal.
Why does my washer drain but not spin?+
The belt, motor or lid switch may have failed.
Can an unbalanced load stop the spin?+
Yes, redistribute the load.
Why is my load wetter after Delicates?+
Delicates use a lower spin speed that removes less water.
What helps an unbalanced spin?+
Rearrange the load and run Drain Spin.