If your washing machine is making loud noises and shaking violently, you might be able to fix it yourself with these simple tips before calling a technician, saving you money and hassle.
1. Balance the feet of your washing machine
Firstly, make sure to turn off and unplug your washing machine before starting any maintenance.
If your machine starts acting up mid-cycle, refer to your instruction manual for advice on safely stopping and draining it.
Check the feet of the machine; they should be in firm contact with the floor.
To adjust the feet, you need to undo the locking nuts, then unscrew the feet. Use a spirit level to make sure the machine is perfectly level, adjusting as necessary until you’re satisfied.
Remember to screw the locking nuts back into place against the housing before starting your next wash.
2. Avoid unbalanced loads
Problems can arise if you wash a heavy item, like a towel, by itself or only with light garments.
The towel absorbs water and gets heavy. If it sticks to one side of the drum, it causes an unbalanced load.
Modern machines can sometimes detect this and will try to re-balance the load or avoid entering the spin cycle.
If your washer spins with an unbalanced load, it can shake noisily and violently, potentially causing damage or cutting off the cycle.
To avoid this, wash heavy items like towels or dressing gowns together to balance the load.
3. Check around the drum for coins or bra wires
Small items that get into the drum can cause strange noises and other issues.
Common culprits include coins and bra wires.
Tests have shown that a coin can make rattling noises early in the cycle before being drowned out by the wash sound.
Bra wires, on the other hand, tend to make a scratching noise.
4. Check the seal
Regularly cleaning the seal is a good idea, as it can trap items and harbor mold and bacteria.
A thorough scrub can prevent build-up. If mold penetrates the rubber seal, it can be impossible to remove and may require replacement.
5. Clean out the filter on the front
Loose items in the machine can work their way to the filter, usually located at the front, near the floor, or on the side on some models.
Refer to your manual for instructions on checking and cleaning the filter.
Place a tray or dish to catch water when you remove the cap, as trapped water could spill onto the floor.
6. Find out if items are stuck in the outer drum
Items not washed down to the filter may get lodged in the outer plastic tub surrounding the metal drum.
These can be violently flung around by the drum, especially during the spin cycle.
In some cases, such force can cause them to penetrate the outer tub, potentially leading to floods or a damaged machine.
If something is stuck here, it will make a very loud noise during operation. In such cases, stop the machine and call for professional repair.
