If you notice your washing machine vibrating, shaking, or making loud noises during the spin cycle, there are a few potential causes to be aware of. The good news is that washing machine shaking problems can often be resolved with simple troubleshooting and repairs.
Imbalanced Loads
One of the most common reasons a washer vibrates and shakes is an unevenly distributed load. When clothes are loaded unevenly, it can prevent the drum from spinning properly. This causes it to wobble around, resulting in loud noises and vibrations.
To fix this, open the washing machine and redistribute the clothes so they are spread evenly around the drum. Try to spread bulky items around the drum rather than bunching them all up on one side. This allows the drum to spin smoothly without the imbalance issue.
Worn Out Shock Absorbers
Washing machines are equipped with shock absorbers to dampen vibrations and absorb excess movement from the drum spinning. Over time, these shocks can wear out and lose their dampening abilities.
When shocks become too worn, they allow more vibration and motion to transfer through from the drum to the body of the washer. This results in loud rattling noises and shaking as the machine tries to spin unbalanced or heavy loads.
Replacing old shock absorbers is often an easy fix to stop washing machine shaking problems related to dampening issues. New shocks realign the drum and prevent excess vibrations.
Loose or Broken Counterweights
The counterweights on a washing machine drum serve an important purpose. Their job is to offset and balance out vibrations from the rotation of the drum. This helps keep the spinning smooth and controlled.
Over time, counterweights can become loose or even break apart entirely. When this happens, drums become dangerously off balance. Rather than smoothly rotating, an off-balance drum will aggressively shake, rattle, and vibrate the machine in a very violent manner.
If your washing machine is violently shaking accompanied by loud banging noises, it likely indicates broken counterweight problems. Counterweights will need to be realigned, tightened, or fully replaced to stop this intense shaking motion.
Problems With the Drive Pulley or Motor
Issues with the motor or drive pulley can also lead to washing machine vibration. The drive pulley is responsible for spinning the drum via the motor and transmission. If either component develops faults, it can cause the drum to spin unevenly and shake the machine.
Excess buildup, worn belts and bearings, motor issues, and broken drive pulley brackets are all potential causes. A repair technician can determine the exact problem and recommend repairs for faulty drive components causing shaking problems.
How to Prevent a Shaking Washing Machine
While washing machine shaking is common, there are ways you can prevent and reduce the likelihood of these frustrating vibrations:
- Distribute loads evenly – Don’t overload or unevenly pack the drum. This avoids imbalance.
- Leave space for items to move freely – Overstuffing drums restricts motion and spinning.
- Clean the drum and run maintenance cycles – This prevents buildup throwing off balance over time.
- Replace shocks and counterweights routinely – Old dampeners and counterweights should be updated.
With proper care and maintenance, washing machine shaking problems can be avoided more often than not. But when they do arise, the common causes above are usually the issues to blame. With simple troubleshooting and repairs, rattling washers can get back to smoothly cleaning clothes in no time!
References
Appliance Technician Network. “Washing Machine Shaking and Walking”. Retrieved January 22, 2024 from https://www.appliancetechnician.net/washing-machine-shaking-and-walking/
Mr. Appliance. “My Washing Machine is Too Noisy and Won’t Stop Shaking”. Retrieved January 22, 2024 from https://mrappliance.com/blog/washing-machines/my-washing-machine-is-too-noisy-and-wont-stop-
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.