Why Is My Washing Machine Shaking?

Common Causes of a Washing Machine Shaking

When your washing machine goes into the spin cycle, and it begins to shake, rattle and thump; either the machine isn’t properly leveled, the clothes have gone out of balance, there is part failure or excessive wear. Paul’s Washer and Dryer Repair has some Helpful Tips to use when dealing with a shaking washing machine.

5 Helpful Tips on Excessive Washing Machine Vibration:

• The first step to determine the cause of the shaking is to see if the load has become out of balance. The washing machine does not need to be overloaded for this to happen. In our years of experience it can be a combination of garments that lead to a load going out of balance, such as washing towels and t-shirts together.Inspect the washer basket to ensure that the garments have not moved to one side. Balance the load of clothes by opening the lid, and looking to see if there is a lot more on one side of the agitator than the other, and if this is the problem, move them around, close the lid, restart the spin cycle, and observe the results. You may try repositioning the clothes in the tub slightly more if you original efforts helped significantly.
• The second step is to determine if the machine is properly leveled. When the washer was installed, the leveling feet should have been adjusted properly to provide for uneven floor areas. Some washers have self-leveling feet, however, on occasion these also need a slight manual adjustment. Once adjusted, that should remedy the washer vibration problem. We have seen after plumbing or painting work has been completed improper leveling can and often frequently occurs.
• Third, is your floor solid? In our diagnostic evaluation of your washing machine, Paul’s Washer and Dryer Repair inspects the floor to make sure that it is not the source of the excessive vibration.Often times we see homes built in the 1940 and floors often are too soft to tolerate today’s high efficiency washing machines. When a washer is installed on a basement cement floor, there is a very stable platform. But a second or third floor installation however, could have insufficient floor bracing, which can cause the washer to bounce or vibrate when on the spin cycle. There are options to remedy this situation such as add more bracing, or use an anti-vibration washer pad.
• You should not continue to use a washer that vibrates, but should investigate the probable cause and seek a suitable solution. A vibrating washer could literally ‘walk’ away from its installed space, causing damage to neighboring cabinets or pulling on its water connections. Shaking could also cause some problems with its electronic components. The problems could be more serious when the vibrating washer is part of a stacking washer/dryer set.
• Last but not least is part failure. Depending on the type of washing machine, top-loading or front-loading, you will need a skilled professional to give you a proper diagnosis and estimate.Go to our Paul’s Washer and Dryer Repair contact page – here.