Noisy washing machine: causes and solutions
Does your washing machine sound like a jet taking off on the spin cycle, or bang its way across the laundry room? That is alarming, but it does not always mean the end of your appliance.
Check these first
Why is my washing machine so noisy?
A washing machine that makes an abnormal amount of noise or vibrates heavily often has a simple cause: an imbalance, a machine that is not level, or a worn part that can be replaced. Below you can read what you can check yourself in five minutes and when you need a technician.
Is the machine level and the laundry well distributed, but the noise stays? Then the cause is usually in the suspension or the bearings, and you know what to book.
How it works, in 3 steps
Prices
How much does washing machine repair cost?
Whether your washing machine won't drain, leaks or shows an error code: you pay the same fixed price, whatever the brand.
A technician finds out at your home why your washing machine isn't working properly. If you don't go ahead with the repair, you only pay for the diagnosis.
If the technician can repair your washing machine, you pay €110. No time limit: even if it takes long or a second visit is needed.
Spare parts are not included. The technician tells you in advance if a part is needed and what it costs.
Chrono surcharge for a visit in the evening, at the weekend or just a few hours after your request.
Second appliance during the same visit? The technician can check and repair it too for €80.
Maintenance as well? The technician can also clean and check your appliance thoroughly, for €50 per appliance on top of the diagnosis and repair.
Prefer remote help first? A video repair costs €49. See all our prices →
What can you check yourself first?
Sometimes the solution is surprisingly simple. Check these three things before you book a repair.
Are the transport bolts still in?
Just bought the machine or recently moved? At the back there are large bolts that secure the drum during transport. If you forget to remove them, the drum cannot move and slams against the casing with brute force. Take the bolts out, keep them safe and test again.
Is the washing machine level?
At high speeds, a millimetre of wobble turns into a heavy vibration. Place a spirit level on top, from left to right and from front to back. Turn the feet at the bottom in or out until the machine is perfectly stable, then tighten the locking nuts firmly.
Is there a heavy imbalance in the wash?
One large bath mat or a thick duvet that has soaked up all the water throws the drum off balance. Pause the machine, separate the wet lump of laundry and add a few towels if needed to spread the weight.
When do you need a technician?
Is the machine level, is the laundry well distributed, and do you still hear a loud, metallic or banging noise? Then the suspension or the bearings are probably worn. These are the four usual causes.
Worn shock absorbers
This is the most common cause. At the bottom of the tub there are two, sometimes three shock absorbers that take up the vibrations. Over the years they lose their resistance, just like in a car, and the tub bangs back and forth uncontrolled. This is an affordable and quick repair.
Broken suspension springs
The whole drum hangs from sturdy springs at the top. If one spring breaks, the drum hangs unevenly and bangs against the casing.
Broken drum bearings
Do you hear a screeching or grinding noise on top of the banging, like a plane flying over? Then the bearings are worn. Test it yourself: turn the empty drum by hand. Does it sound gritty or stiff, or is there play when you try to lift the drum? Then it is the bearings.
Detached counterweight
Heavy concrete blocks surround the tub to keep the machine on the floor. Sometimes the bolts of these blocks work loose, and the concrete itself starts to bang.
What does the error code on your washing machine display mean?
A banging noise usually does not show an error code, except when the machine stops the spin cycle for safety because of an imbalance. Do you see one of these messages? Then the machine knows the drum is swinging too wildly.
| Brand | Error code for an unbalanced load |
|---|---|
| Samsung | UE or Ub (Unbalanced Error) |
| LG | UE or uE |
| AEG and Bosch | Often no code: the machine will not move to high speed and stops early, or a light flashes at the spin indicator |
Is your code not listed? Check the manual for your brand or book a diagnosis, and the technician reads the fault on site.
How does a washing machine stay in place?
A steel drum with 8 kilos of soaking wet laundry spinning at 1400 revolutions per minute does not fly through the wall. That is thanks to the way the tub is suspended.
- The springs at the top keep the tub in the air and let it move freely.
- The shock absorbers at the bottom take the impacts, like driving over a speed bump.
- The concrete counterweights, sometimes up to 25 kilos, make the whole assembly so heavy and slow that wild vibrations become impossible.
When one of these parts wears out, the balance is gone and you hear it straight away.
Repair or replace: what does a technician advise?
A banging noise sounds dramatic, but the costs are often manageable.
Shock absorbers or springs broken?
Have them repaired. The parts are cheap and your washing machine can then last for years.
Drum bearings worn?
We are honest here: replacing bearings is very labour-intensive, because the whole machine has to be taken apart. Our technicians therefore do not carry out this repair and will then advise replacing the appliance.
How do you find out which it is?
After the diagnosis at your home you know the cause and whether your appliance can be repaired at a reasonable cost. You then pay a maximum of €179 for diagnosis and repair together, parts extra. A new washing machine costs €400 to €800.
How do you stop your washing machine from banging?
Shock absorbers and suspension springs wear out faster through wrong use. These five habits spare your machine.
Never wash large or heavy items alone
A duvet, a heavy bath mat or a winter coat turns into a lead-heavy ball when wet. It sticks to one side of the drum and causes a massive imbalance. Always add a few dry towels to spread the weight.
Distribute the laundry when filling the drum
Do not stuff your whole laundry basket into the machine as one ball. Separate trousers and jumpers and place them loosely in the drum. Bedding that crawls into a duvet cover pulls the drum off balance.
Wash shoes with a cushion
Two loose, heavy sneakers flying around at 1000 RPM bang against the drum. Put them in a laundry bag or an old pillowcase and fill the rest with old towels.
Check once a year that it is still level
Constant vibration can make the adjustable feet turn in or come loose without you noticing. Once a year, press firmly on the four corners to feel whether the machine wobbles, and adjust if needed.
Be careful with thick anti-vibration mats
On a very soft or springy surface the whole appliance starts to rock and the shock absorbers have to work harder. Place the machine on its own feet on a hard floor if you can.
Where do we repair washing machines at home?
Our technicians work in Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region, East Flanders, West Flanders, Flemish Brabant, Limburg, Liège, Namur, Hainaut and Walloon Brabant.
Do your technicians have to travel from Vilvoorde every morning?
No. Our technicians live all over Belgium and set off every morning from their own municipality. The parts they need are delivered straight to their homes. That way we get to you quickly, without long drives and often as soon as the next working day.
Is your washing machine broken?
Our washing machine repair page covers all symptoms, error codes and brands. Machine not draining? Read washing machine not draining. The diagnosis at your home costs €69, a repair €179 in total at most, parts extra. See also all our prices.
Frequently asked questions about a noisy washing machine
Better not. If the shock absorbers are broken and you keep washing, the loose tub can damage the electronics, the motor or the water pipes. What was a small repair can then turn into a write-off.
That is a classic sign of worn shock absorbers. They rub dry against each other and leave black plastic or rubber dust on the floor. If you see it, the shock absorbers most likely need replacing.
Wooden floors, especially old plank floors, flex invisibly. Even if the machine is level, it can start to dance. A thick, solid wooden board such as plywood under the machine often solves this.
Turn the empty drum by hand. If it sounds gritty or stiff, or there is play, it is the bearings. If the machine mainly bangs on the spin cycle while the drum turns freely, it is usually the shock absorbers.
The diagnosis at your home costs €69. If the technician can repair it, you pay €179 in total at most, parts extra, with a 3-month warranty on the repair. Our technicians do not replace bearings; in that case they advise a new appliance.
No. If your washing machine is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, contact the manufacturer or the shop where you bought it.
Use the button on this page to choose a day and a time slot yourself. You can also call 02 615 45 20. Give the brand, the model number and what you hear or see.