Your washing machine isn’t exactly the quietest appliance in your house, but when you toss in a load of dirty laundry, you probably don’t expect to hear it banging, rattling, and grinding. Whether it’s a lot of towels or you need to run a small load through the washer, you shouldn’t be able to hear loud noises throughout your house. Let’s take a look at some of the most common noises that washers make when they need professional attention, along with what they mean.
Banging Noises Usually Mean an Unbalanced Load
It’s not uncommon to hear a banging or thumping noise, especially when your washing machine goes into its spin cycle. It’s usually caused by the load being unbalanced, which is a relatively easy problem to fix. Instead of putting all of the clothes on one side of the washer’s drum, try to spread them out evenly. Some machines will let you pause them during the spin cycle so you can do this once the load has started spinning, but if yours doesn’t, you should aim for balance when loading the washer. Continually subjecting your washing machine to unbalanced loads can lead to wear and tear on internal parts.
Rattling Might Mean That Something is Trapped
Rattling sounds, which can also be described as a clanging noise, usually mean that something is trapped somewhere in the washer. That spare change that you forgot in the pocket of your favorite jeans? That button that fell off your sweater before you put it in the pocket? Those things can fall out into the washer’s drum, where they start banging around and making all kinds of annoying sounds. These loose pieces of debris might be harmless when they’re rolling around in the drum, but if they get into your washing machine’s internal components, they can wreak havoc. It’s best to check your pockets before you put anything in the washer, just to make sure that there’s nothing you forgot about.
Grinding Sounds Point to Wear and Tear
If there’s one sound you don’t want to hear, it’s grinding. It can indicate that a component isn’t moving properly or that a bearing, motor, or other mechanical part is beginning to wear out. Since your washer has so many moving parts that all have to work together, it’s almost impossible to determine where the noise is coming from, so you may need to bring in a professional.
The only noises you want to hear from your washer are the sound of running water and a low hum while it’s cleaning your clothes. Other noises can point to serious problems. If you have concerns or require washing machine services, contact Signature Appliance in Chattanooga, TN.
