LG washing machine makes noise when spinning

LG direct drive washing machines are very well known to consumers living in the CIS countries. They are inexpensive, reliable and wash clothes well. True, these washing machines have one serious drawback - they make quite a lot of noise and vibrate during the spin cycle. This is typical even for completely new and working machines that were installed according to all the rules. We'll talk about why an LG washing machine may make noise and vibrate during the spin cycle and how to deal with this problem in this article.

Causes of increased noise

One of the main reasons for the increased noise of the LG washing machine is its design, we have already said this, then we will clarify what we mean by the phrase “flaw in design”. In the meantime, let's talk about other causes of noise, which, by the way, are also many.

• Installing the washing machine on an uneven surface that is not level.
• Operating the washing machine with the transport bolts not removed.
• A foreign object gets into the tank, which jams the rotating drum, causing the latter to make loud noises.
• Deformation or complete destruction of bearings.
• Damage or complete destruction of one of the counterweights.
• Damage to shock absorbers or springs.
• Incorrect placement of laundry inside the drum, as well as underloading or overloading of the latter.

Structural problems and their solutions

The vibration of the LG washing machine during the spin cycle irritates many of its owners, but most of them tolerate this inconvenience and get used to it over time. Why does this happen, where the Korean manufacturers made such a mistake in their calculations that we now have to listen in every detail to the rattling and hum that the LG wringer makes?

The culprit for everything, oddly enough, is direct drive technology , which is used in all LG brand washing machines. Understand correctly, the technology itself is good and our specialists have no complaints about it, but the way it is implemented and the way the load is distributed inside the washing machine body raises questions. The fact is that in a conventional washing machine with a drive belt and a commutator motor, the motor is installed under the tank. The engine itself weighs quite a bit, so it plays the role of another counterweight, which weighs down the lower part of the body.

What about the LG washing machine? But with such washing machines, the space under the tank is left almost empty; except for a light pump and a pipe, you will not find any parts there. The inverter motor weighs less and is located in the middle of the body, in the center of the rear wall of the tank. This leads to the fact that all the heavy parts, including counterweights, are located either in the middle of the body or in its upper part, and this, to put it mildly, is not at all good.

If the manufacturer could not or did not want to make the washing machine more stable, the user himself can do it. You will be surprised, but this is not difficult to do, you just need to place a counterweight under the bottom of the tank. We do the following:

• We purchase a standard lower counterweight from the Indesit washing machine,
• Straighten it a little with a hammer and chisel so that it fits under the bottom of the tank of the LG washing machine,
• Place the washing machine on its left side,
• Unscrew the pump and drain pipe so that they do not interfere,
• Under the bottom of the tank of the LG washing machine there are fastenings that apparently were previously intended for the engine, but now they remain there, we need to bolt the counterweight to these fastenings.

You need to screw it on conscientiously so that the counterweight does not inadvertently come off and damage the pipe with the pump. Place steel washers with wide brims between the bolt head and the nut so that the counterweight does not become loose or break due to vibration. After the counterweight is secured, you can test the washing machine - it will make less noise when spinning.

Breakdowns causing noise

One of the main breakdowns that cause noise during spinning is the destruction of bearings. It’s not that the bearings are the weak point of the LG washing machine, however, in a number of cases the bearings “suffer” and have to be replaced. You can read about how to change bearings in a washing machine in the article of the same name; we will not dwell on this in detail now. Remember just one thing - LG washing machines, unlike many others, have inverter motors, which must be handled with care.

The noise may be caused by a broken shock absorber or spring. The fact is that when the washing machine operates at low speeds, the shock absorbers hardly have to work, since the centrifugal force is small and there is no need to compensate for it. But during spinning, when the drum rotation speed reaches 1000 or more revolutions per minute, the shock absorbers and springs begin to work under heavy load. And as a result, they can break. A broken shock absorber will make itself felt during the next spin cycle with a strong squeak and rumble.

It is almost impossible to repair a shock absorber at home, and it is not advisable to do so. The problem is solved by replacing the broken part with a new one. How to do this is described in the article How to check and repair shock absorbers on a washing machine.

Which washing machines are noisier?

Not all LG washing machines make the same noise. Some models make more noise and vibrate, others less, and this all depends on the same load balance inside the case. Standard freestanding LG washing machines are the least noisy. Built-in models are considered a little noisier, and narrow washing machines of this brand can rightfully be considered the noisiest. So, if you are sensitive to noise, it is better not to choose a narrow model of an LG washing machine - you will be disappointed.

In conclusion, we note that LG washing equipment has many advantages, but it also has disadvantages - it is quite noisy. Noise can also be caused by various breakdowns, but there are no problems that skilled users cannot solve, although not without the help of specialists. We hope you will sort out your noisy LG washing machine, good luck!