A washing machine that pauses for several minutes can feel like it has stalled or broken down.
In most cases, it hasn’t.
Long pauses are a normal control behaviour in modern machines — even when nothing appears to be happening.
What a “pause” actually means now
On older machines, stopping usually meant a problem.
On modern machines, a pause usually means the machine is checking conditions before it continues.
During a pause, the machine may be:
- redistributing the load
- waiting for water temperature to stabilise
- checking water level or drainage
- protecting the motor from strain
- preventing excessive vibration
None of this is visible from the outside.
So it feels like nothing is happening, even though the cycle hasn’t failed.
The most common reasons for long pauses
1. Load imbalance
If clothes bunch up on one side of the drum, the machine will:
- stop spinning
- gently rotate back and forth
- wait before trying again
This prevents:
- loud banging
- bearing damage
- machine movement
Heavy items (towels, jeans, bedding) make this more likely.
2. Water heating delays
Modern machines often heat water inside the drum, not from a fixed supply.
If the machine is:
- heating slowly
- maintaining a low-temperature wash
- waiting for sensors to confirm temperature
…it may pause longer than expected.
This is especially common on eco or low-temperature programs.
3. Drainage checks
Between stages, the machine may wait to confirm:
- water has fully drained
- no blockage is detected
- the pump isn’t under strain
If drainage is slow (but not faulty), the machine simply waits.
Waiting feels wrong.
Flooding the motor would be worse.
4. Energy-saving logic
Many machines deliberately pause to:
- reduce peak power draw
- comply with efficiency rules
- spread energy use over time
This is one reason modern cycles feel slower and less “decisive” than older ones.
Why pauses feel longer than they really are
People tend to notice pauses because:
- movement has stopped
- noise has stopped
- progress feels unclear
A pause that lasts 5–10 minutes often feels much longer when you’re waiting for it.
Especially if:
- the display hasn’t updated
- the door is locked
- you expected the cycle to be finished
When a long pause is usually normal
A pause is generally normal if:
- the machine eventually continues
- the cycle still completes
- no error code appears
- there’s no burning smell
- the machine isn’t stuck permanently
Long pauses can happen:
- mid-wash
- before spinning
- between rinse stages
- near the end of a cycle
All of these can be intentional.
When a pause might indicate a problem
A pause is not normal if:
- the machine never resumes
- it repeatedly stops at the same point
- an error code appears
- water is left standing indefinitely
- the door remains locked for hours after the cycle ends
Those situations are covered separately, because they cross from control behaviour into failure.
The key thing to remember
A modern washing machine doesn’t run continuously.
It:
- checks
- waits
- adjusts
- protects itself
A pause is often the machine preventing a problem, not causing one.
If the cycle completes, the pause was part of the design — even if it felt unnecessary.