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Why Is My Washer Shaking
I see this issue quite often from someone who probably hears it first.
Something is about to hit the next room in the laundry room.
The thump.
Another thump.
Maybe the washer itself is walking across the floor, or the cabinets are rattling.
Sometimes the homeowner will tell me they heard the washer from the next
room, and already know it's a spin cycle.
The first thing they ask is "is it supposed to move this much?"
A slight movement during a high-speed spin is understandable.
But a washer that bangs, walks, or shakes itself out of place is not something I would just overlook.
At times it's simply the contents of the drum that is the culprit, or the machine's
out of level or some of the washer's suspension is wearing out.
It's important to understand if this is an occasional load or every washing day.
The First Thing I Ask Is What Is Washing
Before I get into the parts, I ask what is washing.
A normal amount of shirts is going to be very different from one thick comforter.
Bath mats are another good example.
A thick, plush bath mat is capable of holding a surprising amount of water.
During the spin cycle, all this water may cause the mat to shift its center of gravity
on one side of the basket.
Now the washer has to spin several hundred RPM, with the majority of the load
sitting on one side.
That's when you hear the banging.
Towels can sometimes do the same thing.
And yes, so can jeans.
If the washer only shakes during large or heavy items, I'll always try redistributing
the load first, before I start to think that the machine is faulty.
Whirlpool points out an uneven load can cause vibration, increased noise,
extended cycles, and reduced spin speed. Washer vibration guidance
Pause the washer if your model allows for this, let the drum stop all the way, and
redistribute the items more evenly.
Sometimes that's all it takes.
Too Much Laundry Can Cause The Same Problem
There is a temptation to stuff as much laundry as possible into the washer.
I get it.
Nobody wants to spend the entire day doing laundry.
But the washer needs space for the clothes to move.
When packed in too tightly, everything can shift into a heavy mass once the spin
cycle begins.
The washer may have to work to balance the load.
Some machines slow down, add water to the load, and shake it up, and give it
another try at the spin cycle.
This could make the cycle seem unusually long.
If you've noticed the washer is stopping and starting several times before it spins,
the machine may be trying to find its balance.
Try taking some things out of the load.
If the washer is running quietly, with a smaller amount of laundry, that tells me a
lot.
Then I Check Whether The Washer Is Level
The washer needs to have a solid foundation, and all four feet should make firm
contact with the floor.
If one corner is slightly higher than the rest, the machine can rock during the spin
cycle.
At slow speeds there is typically not much, but at high speed that slight
movement in one corner can create a loud vibration.
I'll usually test by applying some pressure on the washer's opposite corners.
If it rocks, I want to look at the leveling feet.
GE Appliances also recommends checking if the washer is level and sitting on a
solid floor when a machine starts walking or vibrating. Washer vibration guidance
The floor is also important.
A washer sitting on a weak or flexible floor can move more than it would sitting on
solid concrete.
Laundry rooms upstairs sometimes make the vibration more noticeable because
the floor is transferring the motion through the house.
This does not necessarily mean that something inside the washer has failed.
New Washer Shaking? I Ask Who Installed It
If the washer is new, and is shaking from the first load, installation moves high on
my list.
Front load washers typically have shipping bolts or other hardware to secure the
drum during transportation.
Those pieces need to be removed during installation.
Left in place, and the washer may shake off the floor during the spin cycle.
Top load machines can also have shipping materials that need to be removed.
This is one reason I always ask who installed the washer.
GE specifically notes shipping materials left in can cause a washer to vibrate or
If your washer is new, check the installation instructions for your exact model
before running another heavy load.
Sometimes The Suspension Is Wearing Out
Once we rule out the load, leveling, and installation, I start to look elsewhere.
A washer has components that are designed to control the movement of the
basket, or drum.
Depending on the machine, they can be suspension rods, springs, shock
absorbers, dampers, or other supports.
They take a beating over the years.
Every spin cycle puts weight and force on them.
And eventually one can weaken.
When this happens, the washer may function well, but the issue surfaces during
the spin.
You may notice the basket bouncing more than it used to, or hitting the cabinet
during a heavy load.
Whirlpool notes worn shock absorbers or drum support components can
contribute to excessive shaking, especially as a washer gets older.
This is usually where I stop asking the homeowner to troubleshoot, and start
testing the machine.
A Drain Problem Can Also Make The Washer Shake
This one surprises people.
If the washer is not draining properly, the clothes can remain a heavier than they
should be.
This causes the clothes to have more weight, making the load harder to balance
during the spin.
A partially blocked pump filter can sometimes contribute to this.
You may notice the washer takes longer to drain, clothes come out wetter, and
the spin cycle was rough.
Factory Appliance Service has already covered what to check when a washer will
If the shaking started at the same time the clothes started coming out wetter, I'd
look at both problems together.
They may be related.
What About A Washer That Smells And Shakes?
That combination can also tell us a lot.
If the water is not draining completely, moisture and detergent residue can
remain in the machine.
This can eventually lead to the musty smell people notice when they open the
door.
Factory Appliance Service has a separate guide on why washers smell like mildew in Houston.
When a washer smells, drains slowly, and shakes during the spin, I'm less
interested in treating those as three separate problems.
I want to know what the machine is doing during the entire cycle.
A Small Noise Is Different From A Hard Bang
Washers make noise.
That is normal.
A fast spin can create a steady hum.
The water moving through the pump makes its own sound.
What gets my attention is a new banging, knocking, grinding, or scraping sound.
A repeated thump may come from an unbalanced load.
Grinding can lead to bearings, or another internal component.
Metal scraping against the cabinet is not something I would keep testing with
more laundry.
If the sound is getting worse from one week to the next, you should have it
checked before the machine causes more damage.
What I Would Check Before Calling
I would start simple.
Run a normal size load instead of packing the washer full.
Avoid washing a single heavy item.
Make sure the machine is not rocking when pressed on the corners.
Check that nothing is stuck between the washer and the wall.
If the machine was recently installed, check that the shipping materials were
removed according to the manual.
Pay attention if the clothes are unusually wet at the end of the cycle.
Listen for grinding, scraping, or hard banging.
Then stop.
I would not remove the cabinet, or start taking apart the suspension system
unless you know what you're working with.
When I Would Schedule Washer Repair
If the washer shakes during almost every load, or is walking across the floor, or
banging against the cabinet during the spin, it's time to have it checked.
The same goes for grinding noises, repeated balance errors, or a drum that look
like it is out of place.
Factory Appliance Service provides washer repair in Houston for spin problems,
drainage issues, strange noises, leaks, error codes, and washers that are no
longer operating normally.
The company serves Houston, Sugar Land, Katy, The Woodlands, and surrounding
communities with factory trained technicians.
A washer that shakes once because of a heavy blanket is one thing.
A washer that tries to walk across the laundry room every Tuesday is telling you
something is wrong.
Start with the load.
Check the level.
Pay attention to drainage.
Then listen to what the washer does when it reaches full spin.
If the shaking keeps coming back, there is usually a reason.
You can schedule washer service with Factory Appliance Service or call 713 270 8879.
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