Common washing machine problem
Noisy washing machine? What the noise means
With a noisy washing machine, the kind of noise is the best clue. A deep rumble or roar on spin usually means worn bearings. A bang on every turn of the drum is often the bearings too, or a damaged drum. A metallic racket on spin that goes quiet on wash is often a coin or bra wire trapped between the drum and the tub. Grinding while it drains usually means debris in the pump.
- £75 fixed labour fee, plus parts
- Usually repaired the same or next working day
- Parts and labour guaranteed
What you might be seeing
- It sounds like a jet taking off on spin.
- A bang, bang, bang as the drum turns.
- A metallic rattle or scraping on spin only.
- A grinding noise at the end of the cycle while it empties.
Checks that are safe to do at home
If you are happy to have a look yourself, these are the checks that are safe to do. Unplug the machine first. If you would rather not, just give us a call. We're always happy to help.
- Empty the pockets of whatever's in there, and check the drum for coins, hair grips and bra wires. Run a finger round the holes of the drum and under the seal.
- Unplug the machine and turn the drum by hand. A drum that rumbles or feels gritty, or one that moves up and down when you lift it, usually means the bearings have worn.
- Check the load. One heavy item on its own, or an overloaded drum, makes most machines bang and shake on spin.
- Check the machine is level and the four feet are locked. A machine that rocks will often bang on spin even when nothing is wrong with it.
- If it is a new machine, check the transit bolts at the back and any packaging inside have been removed. Left in, they make a terrible noise and can damage the machine.
Electrical Safety First has general advice on using a washing machine safely.
Rather we had a look?
That is fine too. Ring us with the make and what the machine is doing, and we will give you the price before anyone comes out. Most of these are done the same or next working day.
Still not working? The likely causes
Most common first, and how we tell them apart on the day.
Worn drum bearings
A rumble or roar on spin, and a drum that moves up and down when lifted. A repetitive bang on spin can be the bearings too.
An unbalanced or overloaded load, or a machine that is not level
Banging and shaking on spin, and sometimes the machine moving across the floor.
A coin or object trapped between drum and tub
A racket on spin, quiet on wash.
Debris in the pump
Grinding while draining.
A bra wire caught between drum and tub
A light scraping.
Worn shock absorbers or suspension
Thumping and walking on spin.
A damaged drum, or the door seal rubbing the drum
Less common. A bang on every turn, or a rubbing noise as the drum turns.
What the repair costs, and whether it is worth it
Our labour is a fixed £75 for a freestanding machine or £85 for a built-in one, including VAT, whatever the fault. Parts are extra and quoted first. The part prices below are based on Hotpoint parts when we last checked. Other makes can cost more or less.
| Repair | Typical part price | Typical total | Worth it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove a trapped object | No part | £75 (£85 built-in) | Usually yes |
| New shock absorbers | £6 to £56 | £81 to £131 | Usually yes |
| New drum bearings (splittable tub) 2 to 3 hours | £17 to £77 | £92 to £152 | Depends |
| Bearings on a sealed tub | Whole drum and tub, £150 to £400+ | usually not worth it | Usually not |
Bearings are the one fault where a repair often does not make sense. On a sealed drum, or a machine over about ten years old, a new machine is usually better value, if that is an option. We will tell you which type you have before anyone visits.
What repairs usually cost, part by part · Is it worth repairing your washing machine?
Error codes that mean this fault
If your machine shows a code, it is telling you which circuit failed its check. These are the ones that point to this fault.
| Make | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | UB / UE (unbalanced) | What it means → |
| LG | UE | What it means → |
| Beko | E11 | What it means → |
Related problems: Leaking · Not spinning · all common problems
Questions people ask
Is it worth repairing a washing machine if the bearings have gone?
It depends on the tub. On a splittable tub a bearing kit costs £17 to £77 and the job takes two to three hours. On a sealed tub the whole drum and tub have to be replaced, which can be £150 to £400 or more, and on a machine over about ten years old that rarely makes sense. Tell us the make and model and we will tell you which you have.
Why is my washing machine so loud when spinning?
Loud on spin and quiet on wash usually points to something mechanical, such as worn bearings if it is a rumble, a trapped coin if it is a metallic racket, or the shock absorbers if it is a thump. An unbalanced load or a machine that is not level makes the same noises, so it is worth checking those first.
Can a noisy machine be dangerous?
Mostly it is just noise, but a trapped object can damage the drum or the tub, and worn bearings get worse the longer the machine is used. If it is getting worse, stop using it and ring us.
Ring us and describe the noise, and we will tell you what it probably is.
- 1
Ring or book online. A photo of any error code helps.
- 2
We tell you the likely fault and the price before anyone comes out.
- 3
We come the same or next working day, fix it and run a wash with you.
Open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5.30pm