Quick answer: a washer vibrating is usually an uneven load, an unlevel foot or leftover shipping bolts
Start with the free causes. Samsung says a small shake at the start of a cycle is normal. The washer weighs the load before it spins. A hard shake that grows on spin is not normal.
- Bulky or tangled laundry bunched on one side of the drum.
- One of the four feet not touching the floor.
- Shipping bolts still in a front loader.
- A floor that flexes under the machine.
- Worn suspension parts inside the cabinet.
The first four you can check yourself in about ten minutes. The fifth is a technician's job.
Causes of a washing machine vibrating, from easiest to hardest to fix
| Cause | Telltale sign | Machine type | Who fixes it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uneven load | Thumping that changes with the clothes | Both | You |
| Unlevel feet | Cabinet rocks when pushed at the corners | Both | You |
| Shipping bolts left in | Violent shaking and walking, usually on a new or moved machine | Front load | You |
| Flexing floor or loose pedestal | Shaking that stays even with a level machine and a balanced load | Both | You, or a carpenter |
| Worn shock absorbers | Banging on spin, oil on the dampers | Front load | Technician |
| Worn suspension rods or springs | Tub bounces more than once when pushed down | Top load | Technician |
| Bearing or support arm failure | Grinding or a wobbling empty drum | Both | Technician |
iFixit lists the same set. It adds that front loaders typically use two to four shock absorbers. Top loaders rely on suspension rods and springs. Washer shaking during spin points first to the load and the feet.
Safe checks for a washer shaking during spin, in order
Stop the cycle and unplug the washer. Look for water on the floor, pinched hoses and strain on the power cord. Do this before you touch anything else.
- Open the door or lid and spread the load evenly. If one bulky piece is alone, add a few small items.
- Grip the top of the washer and rock it front to back and side to side.
- Turn the leveling feet until all four touch the floor. The cabinet should no longer rock. Then tighten the jam nuts.
- On a front loader, push the drum and feel for spring-like give. This shows the shipping bolts are out.
- Leave at least one inch of space between the washer, the dryer and any wall.
- Check that any pedestal sits level and its screws are tight.
- Run a small test load on rinse and spin and watch the first spin.
Washer unbalanced load: how to rebalance mid-cycle
Pause the cycle and open the door or lid once the drum stops. Whirlpool says to avoid washing one bulky item alone, such as a rug or jean jacket. Add a few items to balance it. Samsung adds that small loads can bunch to one side. That bedding should be untangled and spread out. Lower the spin speed for blankets.
Washer walking across floor: check the shipping bolts first
Whirlpool says a front loader may still have its shipping bolts. The sign is violent vibration and a washer that appears to walk. It has four on the rear. Loosen them with a 5/8 inch wrench. Slide them to the center and pull them out through the back. Samsung says bolt counts vary by model, with three, four or, on FlexWash models, seven. Top loaders have none. Keep the bolts for future moves.
Floors, pedestals and plywood bases in older Anchorage houses
Alaska Public Media reports that 53% of Anchorage homes were built from 1970 to 1980. Many of those are split-levels with living space on an upper level. If your laundry is upstairs on a wood floor, expect more shake. Lee Company suggests a 3/4 inch plywood base on soft subfloors. But Whirlpool says not to install a washer on a raised wooden stand. Follow your manual, and check the floor for flexing or sagging.
Signs the problem is inside the machine, so stop and call
If the washer is level, balanced and free of shipping bolts and still shakes, the cause is probably internal.
- Banging on every spin, even with a small balanced load.
- Grinding or rumbling with an empty drum.
- A drum that wobbles or clicks when you turn it by hand.
- Oil on the shock absorbers is a sign. So is a top load tub that bounces more than once when pushed down.
- A burning smell, sparks or a cabinet that moves enough to pull on the hoses.
iFixit's wear test for a top loader is a bounce test. Press the tub down and release. More than one bounce points to worn suspension. Unplug before you try it.
What a technician checks on a washer that shakes
A technician works from the cheapest cause to the costliest, with the power off.
- The shock absorbers on a front loader. iFixit says to replace all of them if any fail. They wear together.
- Suspension springs for stretch, corrosion or breakage.
- Suspension rods and wear pads on a top loader.
- The spider support arm and drum bearings, by turning the drum by hand and listening.
- The balance ring or other balancing parts on models that have one.
Most of these repairs involve opening the cabinet. That is why we do not suggest it at home.
Repair or replace a washer that shakes on every spin
A shaking washer that traces to the load, the feet or the floor needs no parts at all. Worn shock absorbers or a suspension rod are a contained repair. That holds on a machine that is otherwise sound. A failed bearing or cracked tub on an old washer often is not worth it. Our local technicians for washer repair in Anchorage tell you which side yours is on. We say so if a replacement is the better call. Washer shock absorbers are a contained repair when the rest of the machine is sound.
Prevent a vibrating washer with the right load size and a seasonal feet check
Samsung defines a small load as about 3 to 5 pounds, roughly a third full. A large load as about 6 to 16 pounds, roughly three-quarters full. One pair of jeans weighs about a pound. Tangled bedding is a vibration cause Samsung names. Do not wash floor mats, pillows or dog beds, which Samsung says to skip.
Lee Company recommends re-checking the leveling feet each season. Keep slack in hoses and the cord. In Anchorage, the January average low is 11°F and the floor can shift with the freeze. A quick rock test each spring and fall is worth the minute.
Washing Machine Repair Anchorage serves Anchorage AK when your washer keeps shaking after the checks
Suppose you have leveled the feet, balanced the load and removed the bolts. Then the washer needs a technician. Washing Machine Repair Anchorage serves homes across Anchorage. We take calls only and give a free estimate. You can read how a repair works on our Anchorage washer repair page. A door that will not open after a violent spin is covered in our locked washer door guide.
Call (907) 560-2682. A person answers. You can describe the noise, the model and what you already checked.
A 2005 Maytag recall shows what an overloaded, violently spinning washer can do
On September 27, 2005, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Maytag announced a recall. It covered about 5,000 washing machines. If the washer was operated at maximum load capacity, the spinner could malfunction. It could break apart. Maytag had no reports of injury. Owners were told to avoid exceeding the listed capacity. They were to call for a free in-home service call. That call replaced the control board.
That recall is a national notice, not a local one. It concerned a control board fault. It matters here because a washer working hard at full load is the one most likely to shake. A shake that never settles is a signal, not a quirk. The lesson: load to the manual and stop a washer that will not calm down.
Washer shaking questions Anchorage households ask
Is it normal for a washer to vibrate a little?
Yes. A small vibration at the start of a cycle is normal. Samsung says the washer senses the weight of the load before it spins. A heavy shake, banging or walking across the floor is not normal. Stop the washer and check the load, the level and the shipping bolts.
Why is my washer shaking violently on spin?
The usual causes are an uneven load and an unlevel machine. Leftover shipping bolts and a weak floor are the others. Stop the cycle, rebalance the clothes and rock the cabinet to test the feet. If it still shakes, worn shock absorbers or suspension are likely and need a technician.
How do I stop my washer walking across the floor?
To stop a washer walking across the floor, level all four feet. Rebalance the load. On a front loader, confirm the shipping bolts are removed. Whirlpool says leftover bolts can make a washer violently vibrate and walk. Keep an inch of space around the cabinet. Tighten the jam nuts once the washer is steady.
Do all washers have shipping bolts?
No. Front loaders do, top loaders do not. Whirlpool's front loaders have four on the rear. Samsung says some models have three, four or seven. Check your manual for the count and the wrench size. Keep the bolts for future moves.
How do I level a washer?
Rock the top front to back and side to side. Then turn the leveling feet until all four touch the floor and nothing moves. Tighten the jam nuts against the cabinet. Samsung says to keep the legs as short as possible. Test with a small load afterward.
Can a vibrating washer damage my home?
Yes, over time. A washer that keeps shaking can pull on the hoses and the power cord. It can also loosen connections. It wears the machine's own suspension. Stop it and check for water on the floor. Fix the cause before you run another full load.
How can I tell if the shock absorbers are bad?
Look for oil leaking from them. Test resistance by pushing the plunger in and out, as iFixit describes. Weak resistance or any oil means they have failed. iFixit says to replace all of them together. Unplug the washer first, and expect to open the cabinet.
Who repairs a shaking washer in Anchorage?
Washing Machine Repair Anchorage repairs shaking washers in Anchorage AK. Call (907) 560-2682, describe the noise and when it happens, give the brand and model. Ask for the free estimate. We also tell you honestly if the washer is not worth fixing. Have the brand ready.
Call when the washer shaking violently won't stop after every check
Tell us the brand, when the shaking starts and what you already tried. Call (907) 560-2682: the estimate is free and a person answers.
Call (907) 560-2682