Noisy Washing Machine

When your washing machine shakes so aggressively that it sounds and looks like it's about to blast into orbit - you will need to identify the cause. A very common cause is that your wash load could be too heavy and are unevenly balanced within the drum.

To best test your machine:

• Empty the drum and run a spin cycle
• If when empty the problem does not occur - you can suspect a balance problem

If the machine operates as normal then the fault originally lies with the appliance being loaded with one or two heavy weighing items. To help counter this problem, separate your heavy garments and perform a “heavy wash”

Balancing heavy garments by adding further items of a similar size and weight will help the load to distributed evenly in your machine during the cycle. This will then allow the drum to spin more efficiently.

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One of the main culprits for a washing machine ringing out of tune is failed drum bearings; known to be a common fault and is one that will require your full attention. If the three statements below are true, you can suspect the bearings being the reason for your washer creating a thunder.

Safety First! Please make sure that you've switched off your appliance and disconnected it from the mains before beginning any repair.

• Bearings are likely to get worn or damaged while spinning if the machine has had a lot of use or had repeated loads that are out of balance.
• Open the door and spin the drum by hand, if it makes a loud rumbling noise it is likely to be due to worn bearings.
• Check for movement between the drum lip and the door seal, if the gap changes when you apply a little upward pressure at the top edge; it indicates worn bearings and they are likely to require replacement.

eSpares Top Tip: You can avoid unbalanced loads by washing your heavy items such as towels and blankets separately and balancing out the load in the drum itself.

If you require a replacement set of bearings to replace your existing set see our extensive range of drum bearings to restore your washing machine.

For our guide on how to replace bearing in a washing machine watch our video for further details.

The drain pump in your washing machine channels water out of the appliance before a spin cycle starts. So, if you hear loud noises at certain intervals during the spin cycle or when the machine is emptying out the water, it may be that the drain pump is blocked or damaged. Fortunately, we have a couple of articles to help you fix this issue.

Safety First! Please make sure that you have switched your appliance off at the mains before starting your repair.

It's always a good idea to make sure your drain pump is faulty before going ahead and replacing it. That's why we have a guide on how to use a multimeter to test a washing machine drain pump, which will help you determine whether or not the pump is actually faulty before removing it and fitting a new one.

If a replacement is needed, head over to our extensive range of spare washing machine pumps to get the replacement you need. We also have articles showing you how to replace the drain pump on an LG washer and an Indesit washer to help get your appliance back in working order. If you've got a Bosch washer click the how to link below. 

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We’ve all been there, treasure hunting trying to find hair grips and loose change in our washers which you accidentally missed in your pocket. After taking out a clean load of clothes, the last thing you want is having to dig out coins and socks soaked in sticky grease and grime that have got caught around or behind the drum. Luckily, we have a few tips and tricks on how to maintain your washing machine so that it doesn’t screech with each cycle.

Safety First! Please make sure that you've switched off your appliance and disconnected it from the mains before beginning any repair.

• If your machine is noisy and the drum is stiff to turn when moving or appears to catch, it may be due to something stuck in the machine.
• If there is a scratching noise when the drum turns, open the door and carefully look at all the drum holes to see if you can see a bra wire or similar poking through one of the holes.
• If you find something - carefully remove it and check the hole has not been damaged leaving a sharp edge, use a cross head screwdriver to remove any sharp edges.

Hopefully, these easy fixes have helped you diagnose the cause of your washing machine being noisy.

For other items stuck between the drum and the tub please see our video giving you a full guide on removing them.

Typically the user manual (your manual may be located here) for your washing machine will specify how to install your appliance. But if you’ve lost it and have questions, we’ve got the answers below:

• Make sure all the transit bolts are removed and the feet are adjusted correctly according to your floor level to ensure the washer doesn’t rock when pushed from side to side.
• Check the washing machine does not make contact with any kitchen cabinets as the unwanted noise and vibration will only get louder.
• If you’re placing your washing machine on a wooden suspended floor, you may need to reinforce the floor by using a marine ply board.
• Fitting a washer in an old building or garage may require a paving slab to increase the mass and lower the amount of noise emitted.

For further information on installing a washing machine, see our video below.

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If your washing machine is making loud banging noises during cycles, it will likely be because the shock absorbers (also known as the washing machine suspension legs or washing machine dampers) are faulty and need to be replaced.

If this is the case, you can purchase new washing machine shock absorbers on our online shop.

We also have a step-by-step guide demonstrating how to replace shock absorbers, so click the button below to learn how to carry out this replacement and get your washing machine stable once more.

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