Why does the washing machine jump during the spin cycle and what should I do?

What happens to a washing machine when it starts jumping and vibrating for no apparent reason? The first thing that comes to mind is that the legs of the machine are out of alignment; it is not level. Many will consider this frivolous and leave the problem without a solution. However, it needs to be solved, because this is not just a shaking of the car, it can be a symptom of a serious technical breakdown. And if measures are not taken in time, then everything can worsen. That is why it is worth understanding in detail why the washing machine jumps during the spin cycle, so much so that sometimes the neighbors hear the noise.

Reasons causing vibration

There are many reasons why a washing machine can vibrate. Some of them are very simple and can be identified quickly and easily. Others, on the contrary, require careful study and further repair of the machine. “Unhealthy” vibration can be caused by:

• Improper installation of the machine on supports, its unstable position,
• Imbalance of laundry in the machine drum,
• Transportation bolts that were not removed before installing the machine,
• Small objects stuck between the tub and the drum, such as coins, pins, buttons, or metal bra wires,
• Failure of springs and shock absorbers,
• Bearing failure,
• Loose fastening or destruction of the counterweight,
• Breakdown of the electric motor.

Troubleshooting

As you can see, the reasons are completely different, and in order to understand what happened, you need to understand this issue at least a little. Where to start troubleshooting when the washing machine jumps during the spin cycle, what should I do? First, we exclude the simplest reasons.

One of them lies in the imbalance of the machine drum, namely:

• During the spinning process, the laundry gathered in a lump, for example, small items got stuck in the duvet cover,
• The weight of the laundry exceeds the maximum permissible value for the selected washing mode,
• Exceeding the drum load in volume, when things fill the drum by more than 2/3.

If you are washing on a new machine and there is strong vibration when the spinning process begins, then it is worth checking whether the transport bolts have been removed . They ensure safe transportation of the washing machine by securing the tank. The picture shows where these bolts are located. As a rule, there are four of them.

 

Another simple reason that is not difficult to detect is incorrect installation. Try rocking the car while it is turned off. If this was easily done and the machine moved from its place, then it is immediately clear that it was not placed stable. This is what causes her to shake and jump violently. In addition, you can use a level and see how level the car is.

To check if there are any foreign objects stuck between the tank and the drum, just shine a flashlight inside the drum. By moving the drum to different positions, you can notice such an object.

When the first four causes of strong vibration have been checked, but it still continues to shake, we move on to searching and identifying serious causes. If there is a breakdown of the shock absorbers or springs inside the car, then in addition to shaking, you will hear the drum knocking on the body. Weakening of the counterweight also causes a characteristic knocking noise. In the case of worn bearings, in addition to strong shaking, a grinding noise appears.

For more accurate self-diagnosis of faults, you will need to remove the top cover of the washing machine. If the above elements are in working order, then there are two reasons why the car shakes violently. This is either a breakdown of the electric motor, or there is a manufacturing defect in the car.

We fix the problem ourselves

Having found out the reason why the machine is shaking, we begin to eliminate it. If the reason is imbalance, then everything is simple:

• Turn off and de-energize the machine,
• Wait for the drum door to unlock,
• Open the drum,
• If the drum does not open, we perform an emergency drain of water,
• We take out things and straighten them, if there are a lot of things, then we remove some,
• Close the drum,
• We start the machine for spinning.

In case of incorrect installation, you need to:

• Level the floor or surface on which the machine is installed using a level,
• Adjust the legs,
• If necessary, place anti-vibration stands that will prevent the machine from sliding on the floor surface.

If the machine shakes during the spin cycle due to objects stuck under the drum, you will have to pull them out. The easiest way to pull out an underwire that is stuck in your bra is to try to pick it up with something. But, if this cannot be done, then you cannot do without removing the heating element and disassembling the washing machine. And it is better to entrust this work to a master.

Faulty shock absorbers and springs inside the machine will have to be replaced. They wear out over time and cannot be repaired. Even if one of the shock absorbers looks good, both of them need to be replaced to create an even load distribution. The process of replacing springs and shock absorbers is quite complicated and lengthy, so its full description can be read in the article How to change springs and shock absorbers.

 

What to do if the cause of vibration is counterbalance? First you need to open the top cover of the machine; for this you may need: pliers, a screwdriver, and keys. Under the lid there is a counterweight, which is a weighting agent made of cast iron or concrete. The same counterweight is located in the lower part of the machine body. We proceed like this:

• If the fasteners are loose, then try to tighten them,
• If the fasteners cannot be tightened, you will have to replace them with new ones,
• If the concrete counterweight is deformed, it must be replaced with a similar one.

A fairly common reason why a machine “jumps” is the failure of the bearings. The process of replacing bearings is quite complicated; it is better to entrust it to a specialist from the service center. And if you want to figure it out yourself, read the article about replacing bearings.

The most unpleasant and costly repair can be a breakdown of the electric motor. Only a few people can replace or repair this part of the washing machine at home. Therefore, in this case, consultation with a specialist cannot be avoided. After all, he will be the one who will be able to tell whether it is worth taking it in for repairs at all, or whether to think about buying a new machine.

This you need to know: which machines are subject to vibration

At the end of this article, I would like to say a few words about which washing machines can vibrate strongly. Machine vibration cannot be completely avoided. After all, at high speeds, even a well-installed machine will shake during the spin cycle; these are the laws of physics.

However, narrow washing machines vibrate more and make noise. This is explained by the fact that the support area of ​​such a machine is smaller than that of a wide machine. This means that its stability is poor, which inevitably leads to “jumps”. In addition, the miniature machine has a built-in narrow drum, in which the laundry often gets bunched up, and as a result, an imbalance occurs.

So, a washing machine is a complex electronically controlled appliance. And in order to fix a technical breakdown yourself, you need to have certain skills. Otherwise, if “unhealthy” vibration occurs, it is better to call a specialist and not risk an expensive item.