Washing machine making a loud banging noise? Causes and solutions

What you can check yourself first 🛠️

Sometimes the solution is surprisingly simple. Check these three things before scheduling a repair:

1. The transport bolts are still in (After moving or new appliance)

Have you just bought the washing machine or recently moved? At the back of the machine, there are large bolts that secure the drum during transport. If you forget to remove these before washing, the drum cannot move and will slam against the casing with brute force.

• The solution: Check the back. Are there still large bolts in? Remove these immediately (keep them safe!) and test again.

2. The washing machine is not level

A washing machine spins at high speeds. If the appliance wobbles even a millimetre, this turns into a huge vibration and a banging noise during the spin cycle.

• The solution: Place a spirit level on top of the machine (both from left to right and from front to back). You can adjust the feet at the bottom of the machine in or out until it is perfectly stable. Then tighten the locking nuts securely.

3. A heavy imbalance in the wash

Is there one large, heavy bath mat in the drum, or a thick duvet that has soaked up all the water? This creates a huge imbalance. The drum then spins wildly and bangs against the sides.

• The solution: Pause the washing machine, separate the wet lump of laundry, and possibly add a few towels to better distribute the weight in the drum.

When do you need a We.repair technician? 🔧

Is the machine level, is the laundry well distributed, and do you still hear a loud, metallic or banging noise? Then the suspension or bearings are likely worn out. Our experts are happy to assist you with this.

• Worn shock absorbers (Most common): At the bottom of the tub, there are two (sometimes three) shock absorbers that absorb the vibrations. Over the years, these lose their resistance, just like in a car. The tub then bangs uncontrollably back and forth.This is a very affordable and quick repair!

• Broken suspension springs: The entire washing drum is secured at the top with sturdy springs. If one spring breaks or tears, the drum hangs unevenly and bangs against the casing.

• Broken drum bearings (Screeching/grinding noise): Do you hear a noise that sounds like a flying airplane or a grinding train in addition to the banging? Then the bearings are worn out.Test this yourself: Turn the empty drum with your hand. Does it sound gritty or stiff, or is there play in the drum when you try to lift it? Then it is the bearings.

• Detached counterweight: Heavy concrete blocks surround the drum to keep the machine on the ground. Sometimes the bolts of these blocks vibrate loose, causing the concrete itself to start banging.

Is your washing machine shaking the tiles off the wall? Prevent the machine from damaging itself. Our local technicians often have the right parts, such as shock absorbers, already in their vans.Schedule a repair with We.repair now.

Behind the scenes: How does such a machine actually stay still? 💡

Have you ever wondered how it is possible that a steel drum full of 8 kilos of soaking wet laundry and spinning at 1400 revolutions per minute does not fly straight through the wall?

This is thanks to a brilliant piece of physics and engineering. Inside the machine, the drum (where the water is) hangs separately from the outside.

1. The springs at the top keep everything in the air and allow the drum to move freely.

2. The shock absorbers at the bottom absorb the aggressive impacts, just like when driving over a speed bump.

3. The counterweights (concrete): To counteract the enormous G-forces, manufacturers mount heavy blocks of concrete (sometimes up to 25 kilos!) on top of and against the drum. This makes the whole thing so heavy and slow that fast, wild vibrations become impossible.

What does the error code on your display mean? (By brand) ⚠️

Usually, a banging sound does not immediately result in an error code, except when the machine decides to stop the spin cycle for safety reasons due to an imbalance. Do you see one of these codes? Then the machine knows that the drum is swinging too wildly:

• Samsung: UE, Ub or E4 (Unbalanced Error).

• LG: UE or uE.

• AEG / Bosch: Often no code, the machine simply refuses to switch to high speeds and stops prematurely, or a light flashes on the spin indicator.

Repair or replace? (Honest advice) 💰

A banging noise sounds dramatic, but the costs are often quite manageable.

• Shock absorbers or springs broken? This is an absoluteno-brainerto have repaired. The parts are cheap and a We.repair technician replaces them quickly. Your washing machine can then last for years again.

• Drum bearings worn? We need to be honest here: replacing bearings is a very labour-intensive and therefore expensive job, as the whole machine has to be taken apart. Our technicians therefore do not carry out these repairs and will advise replacing the appliance instead.

• Hence an Analysis visit! After analysis by the We.repair technician, it will become clear what the cause is and whether your appliance can be repaired (relatively cheaply) or needs to be replaced.

Prevention is better than cure: 5 tips to avoid banging 🛡️

Once peace has returned to your laundry area, you naturally want to keep it that way. Shock absorbers and suspension springs wear out much faster due to improper use. With these simple habits, you can save your washing machine from a lot of unnecessary blows and significantly extend its lifespan:

1. Never wash large or heavy items alone This is the most common mistake! Were you washing one large duvet, a heavy bath mat, or a winter coat? Once this gets wet, it turns into a lead-heavy, compact ball. During the spin cycle, it sticks to one side of the drum, causing a massive imbalance (and thus severe banging). Tip: Always add a few extra (dry) towels to better distribute the weight around the drum.

2. Distribute the laundry when filling the drum Don't stuff your entire laundry basket into one large rolled-up ball in the machine. Separate trousers and jumpers and place them loosely in the drum. If items become heavily entangled during washing (for example, bedding that crawls into a duvet cover), it creates a heavy lump that throws the drum off balance.

3. Always wash shoes with a 'cushion' Washing sneakers? Two loose, heavy shoes flying around at 1000 RPM literally bang against the side of your drum and put immense strain on the shock absorbers. Place them in a laundry bag or an old pillowcase, and fill the rest of the machine with old towels or bath mats. These act as a cushion and absorb the impacts.

4. Check annually if it is still level A washing machine always vibrates a little. Due to those constant micro-vibrations, the adjustable feet (the legs at the bottom) can gradually twist or come loose over time. Once a year, take your spirit level, press firmly on the four corners of the machine to see if it wobbles, and adjust it if necessary.

5. Be careful with thick anti-vibration mats Many people immediately buy thick, soft rubber mats from the hardware store to dampen vibrations. Attention: Our technicians often advise against this! If your washing machine is on a very soft or springy surface, the entire appliance can start to 'rock' too much. This means the internal shock absorbers have to work much harder to keep the drum in place, causing them to wear out more quickly. It is best to place your appliance firmly on its own, non-slip feet on a hard floor.