How to Reset a Speed Queen Washer

Quick Answer

To reset a Speed Queen washer: press Power to turn off, unplug from the wall outlet, wait 60 seconds, then plug back in and press Power. For a deeper reset on TC5 and TR5 models, lift and lower the lid 6 times within 12 seconds with the washer powered on - this clears the control board's cycle memory.

Look, most of the time a reset is all you need. Speed Queen builds tanks, but the control board on these things is still just a computer, and computers get confused. Usually it's a power blip or a sensor hiccup that scared the board into locking up. The lid-lift trick on TC5 and TR5 models is honestly kind of brilliant once you know it exists. Ignore a stuck cycle too long and you'll end up with a mildew mess or a flooded floor if water's sitting in there.

Speed-queenWasher35% DIY Success

How to Reset Your Speed-queen Washer

Here's the thing about Speed Queen washers: the control board remembers everything. Every fault, every interrupted cycle, every weird voltage spike. So when your washer freezes up or throws a code after a power blip, it's not necessarily broken. It's just got bad info stuck in memory. I've seen this a dozen times in the past month alone. The fix is almost always under five minutes, and it costs you nothing.

Most Likely Causes

Based on aggregated repair data, here is the probability breakdown for this error code:

Error code from a transient power fluctuation40%

Washer stuck mid-cycle after a power outage24%

Control board locked up after sensor spike22%

Cycle memory not clearing after a previous fault repair14%

Symptoms You May Notice

There's an error code flashing on the display that appeared right after the power came back on or right after you thought you fixed something else.
The washer gets to the same exact point in the cycle every single time and just stops. Doesn't drain, doesn't advance, just sits there.
You press Start and nothing happens. The panel lights up fine, but the washer won't begin a cycle. Sometimes it'll beep once and quit.
All the buttons feel completely dead. You're pressing things and the display isn't responding at all, like the whole control board checked out.
Washer finished a cycle but now won't start a new one, just sits at the end of the last cycle with the display frozen.

Tools Required for Diagnosis

No tools required for a reset procedure

Diagnostic Checklist

Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.

Did the reset not work?

If the problem comes back after following these steps, a component has permanently failed and needs replacement. Check the specific error code your washer is showing:

HUB Error →NF Error →

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Speed Queen washer error code come back after a reset?

Because a reset doesn't fix anything, it just clears the memory. Think of it like dismissing a check engine light without fixing the car. The code comes back because whatever caused it, a failing lid switch, a clogged pump, a bad inlet valve, is still broken. If the same code shows up immediately or within the first cycle, you've got a hardware fault that needs actual diagnosis. Use the error code to look up the specific component and go from there.

Does resetting a Speed Queen washer clear all my settings?

Nope. The power-cycle reset clears the fault memory and the current cycle state, but your preferences and calibration data live in EEPROM and don't get touched. Everything you had set before will still be there when you power back on. Only a full factory reset, which is a different procedure entirely and usually requires a service tech, would wipe your settings.

How do I reset a Speed Queen commercial washer?

Same basic idea. Press Power to turn it off, unplug for 60 seconds, power back on. Some HC and SC series commercial models also have a physical Reset button behind the coin box door or on the control board itself. Pull your service manual for the exact location on your specific model number. If you don't have the manual, the model number is usually on a sticker inside the door frame and Speed Queen's commercial support line can pull it up.

What's the lid-lift reset actually doing on a TC5 or TR5?

The lid switch sends a signal to the control board every time you open and lower the lid. When you do 6 of those in rapid succession, the board interprets that sequence as a reset command and clears the cycle state register. It's basically a hardware handshake that tells the board to exit whatever suspended state it's stuck in and return to idle. It's not the same as a power-cycle, it doesn't touch fault memory, it just unsticks a frozen cycle. Speed Queen techs use it constantly because it's faster than unplugging the machine.

My Speed Queen washer is stuck mid-cycle with water in the tub. Can I reset it?

You can try the lid-lift sequence first since that doesn't require unplugging. If that doesn't work, you'll need to drain the tub before pulling power. Most Speed Queens have a drain hose you can lower below the tub level to gravity-drain it, or you can run a drain-only cycle if the control panel is still partially responsive. Don't leave water sitting in there for hours, especially warm water. That's how you end up with mold and a bigger problem than the original error code.

How long should I unplug my Speed Queen washer for a reset?

60 seconds minimum. I know everyone says just unplug and plug back in but if you do it in 5 seconds the capacitors on the board haven't fully discharged and the volatile memory might not fully clear. A full minute is what Speed Queen's own service documentation specifies. Set a timer on your phone and just wait. It's annoying but it's the difference between a reset that actually works and one that doesn't.

Related Speed-queen Washer Error Codes

Code: HUBSpeed Queen Washer Error Codes: Full List Code: NFSpeed Queen Washer NF Error: No Fill

Same Fix on Other Brands

Whirlpool washerHow to Reset a Whirlpool Washer Maytag washerHow to Reset a Maytag Washer

Models Known to Experience RESET Errors

This repair applies to most Speed-queen washers with this error code. Common model numbers include:

TC5000WN, TC5003WN, TR5000WN, TR5003WN, TR7000WN, TR7003WN, AWNE82SP113TW01, AFNE9BSP113TW01, HC27CS2, SC18BC2

Written by

Mike Sullivan

Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 20 years experience

Last verified for technical accuracy on March 14, 2026