If you hear a loud noise in washing machine, you need to understand the causes of this problem. Of course, there are no absolutely silent washing machines. During operation, the machine produces a certain level of sound and vibration. It is important to be able to distinguish normal noise levels from strong ones and understand what to do next.
Normal noise levels are contained in the instructions, measured in decibels and depend on the type of drive. Most existing washing machines use a belt drive, which produces noise levels ranging from 60 to 72 dB. Since 2005, direct drive units have appeared on the market. This development from LG has a reduced noise threshold of 52–70 dB.
Measuring the noise level without special equipment is, of course, difficult. For ease of perception, you can use a comparison with familiar sounds. For example, the noise of a train in the subway is 95 dB, and the sound of a working hood in the kitchen is about 50–55 dB. In any case, the sound produced by the washing machine should not cause the owner a feeling of discomfort or anxiety.
If you find that the machine makes too much noise when washing, you need to understand the causes of the problem.
Reasons for the hum of a washing machine
The washing machine can make an unnatural sound in different operating modes: when washing or draining water, while spinning or rinsing clothes. You need to listen to this sound and try to determine its characteristics as accurately as possible. This will help determine the cause of the problem with the washer.
There are 6 reasons why a washing machine hums when washing:
- incorrect installation of the washing machine;
- foreign objects;
- wear of parts;
- weakening of the pulley;
- malfunction of counterweights;
- drain pump malfunction.
Let's take a closer look at the characteristics and causes of noise in a washing machine.
Incorrect installation of the washing machine
If the washing machine vibrates and rattles too much, wobbles, bounces and moves out of place at the end of the wash, it is most likely not installed level.
- Adjust the legs of the machine so that it is level and horizontal. Use a level to ensure accurate measurements.
- To minimize the noise level, place a soft cloth or special anti-vibration stands under the machine’s legs.
A common mistake of incorrect installation is also unscrewed transport bolts. They are needed to secure the washing machine drum during transportation. During installation, they had to be removed and replaced with plastic plugs included in the kit.
- Look at the back of the car. If you find shipping bolts, unscrew them and replace them with plugs.
Foreign objects
If a working washing machine begins to knock, crackle and squeak, the reason may be simple: the sound of foreign objects.
The unit can hum from parts of clothing with buttons and hooks that knock on the glass of the washing machine and the walls of the drum. In this case, it will be easy to solve the problem. Remove the item of clothing making the sound from the drum, place it in a special perforated washing container and return it back. The knocking will stop.
Sometimes the contents of clothing pockets get into the machine: lighters, keys, wire, coins and other foreign objects. They can get stuck in a variety of places. To remove rattling items caught in the sealing collar or inside the drum, simply stop the wash and open the lid to eliminate the source of the problem.
When washing, the machine hums if a foreign object is stuck at the bottom of the tank or gets under the heating element. You need to pull out the heating element, remove the interference and install the part back.
ATTENTION! FOR SAFETY PURPOSES, DISCONNECT THE WASHING MACHINE FROM THE POWER BEFORE DISASSEMBLYING AND DRAIN THE WATER!
Inspect carefully back cover washing machine. If it is large, the heating element is located behind the lid at the bottom. Unscrew the cover, remove the terminals to turn off the power to the heating element, loosen the fastening nut on the hairpin, press on the hairpin, carefully remove the heating element and fix the problem: remove the stuck object with tweezers. To restore the functionality of the washing machine, follow the same steps in reverse order.
Wear of parts
The reason why the machine makes a whistling, grinding or rustling sound when washing may be the end of the service life of its individual elements, for example, metal bearings. These parts perform a very important function in the operation of the machine: they support the drum during rotation and swing and evenly distribute the load.
The warranty that the manufacturer gives for the washing machine applies mainly to the engine. Parts such as bearings and shock absorbers tend to fail faster. The service life of parts depends on the quality of the components and operating conditions of the washing machine.
To protect the bearings in the machine, there is a rubber seal, which over time becomes hard and begins to crumble. A damaged oil seal does not provide proper sealing; it allows water to enter the bearings, and they rust.
Thus, if the washer whistles during washing, the problem is wear of the bearings. There is a way to check this even when the machine is turned off.
- Try pushing the drum and spinning it. If the movement is uneven, the root of the problem has been found correctly. If there is no opportunity or desire to use the services of a specialist, you can replace the bearings yourself. The whistling sound during washing will disappear.
- Remove the front panel, unfasten the control panel and the bottom panel. Then remove the back panel and remove the heating element (using the method described in the section on removing foreign objects). The engine is located behind the heating element; it also needs to be removed from the machine body. Afterwards, disassemble the tank, which consists of two parts connected by bolts. Finally, knock out the old bearings and install new ones. Then collect washing machine, performing the steps in reverse order.
Pulley loosening
If the machine makes abrupt clicks during operation, the pulley may have become loose. This is a round part, similar to a bicycle wheel. It is attached to the washing machine drum with a large bolt at the back and ensures smooth and uniform movement of the drum in a circle. Over time, the fastening weakens, and the drum becomes loose and its rotation becomes uneven. The solution is simple:
- Unscrew the bolt located in the center of the pulley, lubricate it with sealant and firmly screw it back to the base.
Counterweight malfunction
The machine may hum loudly when washing, and when spinning, jump to the sides due to strong vibration if the counterweights are broken.
These parts provide balance and stability to the tank. Without this condition, the spin function cannot be performed correctly. Counterweights are weights that balance the position of the washing machine tank and soften the force of its vibrations.
During operation, the mounting points of the counterweight bolts may become loose.
- To strengthen them, feel for the bolts on the outside of the washer tank with your hand, take a flashlight and tighten the bolts more tightly.
Drain pump malfunction
If you hear a hum in the washing machine when the water drains, but the water does not drain, the problem is most likely in the drain pump. Small items forgotten in clothing pockets can damage the part.
Experts consider this detail consumables and it is recommended to change it every five years, subject to careful use. In some cases, the pump does not require replacement. You just need to clean the filter, which is located behind the door on the front wall of the washing machine. Then check the hose to the pump and the pump itself.
- Open the door with a screwdriver, place the bowl under the flowing water, unscrew the filter to clean it and remove all excess from there.
- Check the pipe for blockages inside.
- Remove the tube from the pump, unscrew the fasteners and pull out the pump.
As practice shows, some causes of washing machine noise can be prevented.
Here are three simple advice, compliance with which will avoid the buzzing of the washing machine:
- Check the contents of your clothing pockets before putting things into the machine so that you don’t have to remove foreign objects later.
- Clean the washer filter every 10 washes: you will save the drain pump.
- Use a water softener to extend the life of the heating element and wash without extraneous sounds.
Some causes of the unpleasant sound made by a washing machine can be eliminated yourself at home. For example, solve the problem of incorrect installation or remove foreign objects.
If we are talking about wear of individual parts or their malfunction, it is easier to contact a specialist.
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Modern washing machines are distinguished not only by the excellent quality of washing things, but also by such a pleasant “bonus” as low level noise during operation. And this is really very important: you can start doing laundry at any time, even at night. Unfortunately, in some cases, washing machines begin to make noise. Sometimes due to breakdowns, sometimes due to not entirely correct operation. Most often, owners turn to service center"RemBytTech" with complaints about the following noises:
- The washing machine makes a lot of noise when spinning, vibrates or even “jumps,” thereby creating additional noise.
- When draining water from the machine, the drain pump makes loud noises.
- The machine makes noise whenever the drum rotates: during washing, rinsing, spinning, and even if you simply turn the drum by hand.
- Heard loud noise when collecting water.
Does this always indicate a breakdown? Let's figure it out.
Equipment may make sounds - this is normal.
It is worth understanding that a washing machine, like any unit, still creates some sounds during operation. In particular, you may hear:
- the sound of water pouring as it is drawn;
- the noise of a running drain pump (pump) when draining water;
- the sound of the engine when the drum rotates;
- drum noise at high speeds during spinning;
- clicks if the machine switches modes, for example, moves from the washing phase to rinsing mode, etc.;
- the noise of water heating, like in a kettle, during the washing process.
Don't worry, these sounds are not a malfunction.
Washing machine noise level in decibels
It is indicated in the characteristics of the machine and may differ slightly depending on the brand and model of the equipment. In most modern washing machines permissible level noise does not exceed 55 dB (decibel) during washing and 70 dB during spinning.
What is 50-55 dB? This is loud human speech or sounds background music. The noise level is 80 dB - the noise of a large highway. Thus, there is no need to talk about the machines being completely silent. But if you close the door to the room where such a machine is working, the sounds really won’t bother you.
When noise is a reason to think
You should start looking for the reasons why your automatic washing machine is noisy if:
- extraneous sounds appeared that were not there before: crackling, roaring, creaking, whistling, grinding and others;
- the noise has increased compared to what it was before;
- There are other signs of a malfunction of the washing machine, in addition to increased noise, for example, the machine has stopped spinning or draining water.
The washing machine is noisy due to improper use
Overloading, underloading or uneven distribution of things in the SMA can lead to loud noise during the spin cycle. Be careful to read the washing machine instructions and follow the rules regarding the weight and size of the laundry you load. This will not only save you from increased noise, but will also extend the life of the equipment.
Note! Underloading the washing machine or washing one large and one small item is no less dangerous than overloading it. Since in these cases the washer cannot distribute the load evenly throughout the drum, it “dangles” during the spin cycle more than necessary and creates loud sounds.
If your new washing machine is noisy
This means the reason is due to incorrect installation. The following situations must be excluded:
- The transport bolts are not unscrewed. When you start a new washing machine, from which you forgot to remove the transport bolts, you will hear a loud noise even during the wash. If you do not interrupt the cycle, the machine will make a lot of noise during the spin cycle and “jump” on the floor, and after washing the drum will be damaged.
- The machine is installed on an uneven surface. Check if the washer is level. If not, set it according to the level.
- The machine comes into contact with a wall or other piece of furniture. There are no uniform standards on this issue: some manufacturers say that the minimum gap between the machine and the wall should be at least 5 cm, others - at least 1 cm. RemBytTech experts recommend leaving at least 2 cm.
- Wobbly floor under the machine. An insufficiently stable floor leads to increased vibrations of the machine. If it is not possible to change the location of the unit, local reinforcement of the floor is required.
*The table shows prices for repairs of washing machines without taking into account spare parts. Accessories are paid separately!
As you can see, the reasons why the washing machine is noisy can be very diverse. It is quite difficult to independently determine the source of the sound and fix the problem. If your SMA is noisy, call the professionals at RemBytTech:
Or call a specialist. A specialist will come to your home on the same day or the next and repair a machine of any make and year.
"RemBytTech" - we work conscientiously with a guarantee of up to 2 years!
What to do if the next wash is accompanied by strange sounds that are not typical for the normal operation of the equipment? Where to look for faults and what could be causing the grinding, humming or squeaking of the washing machine? These and many other questions are of great interest to most users of automatic washing units.
The first occurs due to foreign objects entering the machine drum. This is the most common and at the same time the most optimistic problem that can arise in this situation. Foreign objects fall into the unit drum from the pockets of things. Keys, coins, torn buttons and much more are stored in our pockets, and when washing we forget to put them out. Fasteners, rivets, metal buttons, etc. can also cause extraneous sounds, since any metal or plastic parts will hit the walls of the machine drum and the glass of the loading hatch during washing. But even if the problem of extraneous sounds in the machine is connected precisely with this, then from now on you should be more meticulous about loading laundry into the machine, since often any small object becomes the main cause of more complex problems, for example, breaking the tank or glass of the loading hatch. Repairing a Siemens, Ardo or Asco washing machine in this situation will be expensive.
The second moment when strange sound in the washing machine“hurts” the ear, is the failure of the drum bearings. Here, the noise level increases at the moment of spinning the laundry, since the speed of the drum increases, and at the same time the friction of the bearings on the drum shaft increases. In this case, repairs should not be neglected because, during long-term operation of a machine with a damaged bearing assembly, it can lead to complex problems, for example, breaking through a tank. It is also possible for the drum to become jammed. Fixing this breakdown is not difficult, especially for service workshops, since a simple replacement of the drum bearings in the washing machine is required. An additional sign of drum bearing failure is strong vibration during the spin process.
The third point, if extraneous sounds occur, is the loosening of the counterweight, shock absorber or motor of the washing unit. In this case, it is necessary to tighten the loose fastening further, as a result of which extraneous sounds during operation of the unit will disappear. But here it is worth remembering that partial dismantling of the car body will be required, which will allow you to get close to the engine, shock absorber or counterweight mounts.
In any case, the occurrence of extraneous sounds in the washing machine is an obvious problem that requires timely elimination in order to prevent the most complex breakdowns. Therefore, if you cannot trace the cause of various sounds on your own, then you need to seek professional help immediately.
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Remember that if you do not repair the washing machine “with your own hands,” you can aggravate the problem, up to the impossibility of further repairs.
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