Washer Making Loud Noise

Matching the sound to the likely area

What different noises may indicate

• Banging or thumping during spin: an unbalanced load, worn suspension rods or shock absorbers, or a machine that is not level.
• Grinding or rumbling that rises with drum speed: drum bearings are a common possibility.
• Squealing: a worn belt on belt-driven machines, or a bearing beginning to fail.
• Rattling or clinking: a coin, button or underwire loose in the drum, the filter or the pump.
• A buzz or hum with no movement: the motor may be receiving power but unable to turn something.
• Clicking during fill or drain: often a valve or pump doing its job, and not always a fault.

Rule out the simple causes first

Before assuming a mechanical failure, check the two things that account for a surprising number of noise complaints. First, load balance: run the same cycle with a smaller, evenly distributed load and see whether the noise persists. Second, levelling: push each top corner of the machine and see whether it rocks.

A washer that rocks on an uneven floor or on loose feet will bang during spin regardless of how healthy its internals are. Tightening the feet and levelling the machine is a legitimate fix, not a workaround.

Objects in the drum

A rattle that appears intermittently and changes with drum speed is often a small object — a coin, a hairpin, an underwire from a bra — that has escaped the drum. It may sit between the drum and the outer tub, or work its way toward the pump.

Small objects can scratch the drum or damage the pump if left, so this is worth resolving even though it sounds trivial. Retrieving it usually means partial disassembly, which is a technician's task rather than an owner's.

Noises to stop for immediately

Stop using the machine and call if you hear grinding metal, if the noise is accompanied by a burning smell, or if the drum is visibly moving or striking the cabinet. Those indicate something that will get worse quickly.

A mild new hum or occasional click is less urgent, but still worth mentioning at your next service call.

Describing the noise when you call

Tell us at what point in the cycle the noise happens — fill, wash, drain or spin — whether it changes with drum speed, whether it is constant or intermittent, and whether anything has changed recently such as a move, a new floor or a much heavier load than usual.