Why is my washing machine noisy while spinning?

While we would want our washing machines to be utterly silent. They can, however, be quite noisy when they’re washing clothes, which is why we tend to relegate them to kitchen balconies and other such places.

That said, there could be several possible reasons for your washing machine creating a racket while spinning. Read on to find out just what they are.

A high-speed drum

A washing machine’s drum is a large, heavy structure that spins at about 500 rpm. This is about the same speed as that of the tyre of a car doing 60kph, so it is fast. Some newer washing machines now come with high-speed drums which are nearly three times as fast, hitting in excess of 1400rpm.

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To top it off, these drums are usually packed to the brim with wet, heavy clothes, which are not always evenly distributed. This eccentric loading makes the machine unstable, which makes it vibrate and shake vigorously when it’s spinning at full speed. The weight distribution of the clothes will slowly balance out in most machines so the noise will die down over time.

To minimise the noise from a fast-spinning drum, do ensure that the washing machine is installed on a flat surface and that all four feet are stable.

Damaged bearings

The drum is usually mounted on bearings and connected to a motor via a belt system. The bearings on the pulleys and drum can wear down over time, leading to a lot of grinding noise while the machine is in operation. If you find that the noise has changed significantly since the time you bought the machine, we’d recommend getting it inspected once to ensure that the bearings are fine. Damaged bearings increase the load on the motor, leading to higher power consumption, and the increased heat from the load can cause more damage.

Scraping noises

If you hear scraping noises, stop the machine immediately and have someone look at it. The moving parts of the machine are normally isolated from the rest of the machine. Any scraping is a result of some part coming loose internally, or the drum and motor apparatus itself being damaged. Scraping noise could indicate severe structural issues on the inside of the machine, which can lead to more serious consequences down the road.

Squeaking noises

Squeaking noises when the drum is spinning could indicate damage to the springs of the shock absorbers that are used to isolate the drum and motor from the rest of the machine. The issue can be minor, only requiring lubrication, or quite serious and require replacement shock absorbers. Small squeaks are not very serious, but you should get the machine checked if they get loud.

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As a rule of thumb, if your washing machine is excessively loud or making noises that are very unusual, it’s best to get it checked immediately. Washing machines are complex mechanical devices with a large, fast-moving drum forming the core. This high speed leads to vibrations and other issues, which can lead to long-term damage if not addressed quickly.