how to fix an unbalanced washer

How to Repair a Washing Machine that is Unbalanced

When a washing machine gets off balance during a cycle, the thumping noise can leave you feeling like you're about to receive a visit from a monster that has crawled up the drain. While we're not best qualified to deal with monsters (try looking up Mulder & Scully), we can tell you that if your washing machine is jumping around like it's at a heavy metal concert, it's likely because it's off balance.

An off-balance washing machine, like our attempts at humour, is no laughing matter. It can range from your machine either being a noisy nuisance to causing some proper damage when it spins. Thankfully, an off-balance washing machine isn't necessarily indicative of a failure within the machine itself – rather, it's something you should be able to fix without the need for a repair company such as our team at Repair Aid.

So let's look at some of the reasons that cause washing machines to be off-balance, and some solutions to help counteract this issue.

Not Properly Levelled

Levelling Feet

Cause: This is a common one. When a machine is installed, the washer needs to have all four feet touching the ground, and it has to be completely level across its dimensions. This stops the machine from being off-balance and violently vibrating. But if one of the feet isn't secure, or is broken, then that's exactly what will happen. To test this out, try and give your machine a bit of a push. If it moves back and forth in anyway, or feels a bit unstable, then your machine may not be level.

Solution: While some washing machines may have self-levelling legs, many need to be manually adjusted. You can do this either by hand, or with a wrench. To ensure that the machine and its feet are level, make sure to use a carpenter's level to help.

Pedestal Problems

washing machine on a pedestal

Cause: If your washing machine is sat on a pedestal, then that may well be the source of the problem. If the washer is slightly off-balance, then your pedestal may begin to vibrate. This is due to the pedestal's legs likely flexing due to the rapidly changing load created by a spin cycle.

Solution: When some washing machines are placed on a pedestal, they want the best – which includes the best 'throne'. If adjusting the position of the current pedestal doesn't work, then you may need to invest in a tougher pedestal or fit a stiffening kit onto the current pedestal to help it stay stable during a cycle.

Incorrectly Loading

Incorrectly loading: overloading

Cause: We know, we know – how can you load a washing machine incorrectly? You just stick the clothes into the drum and voilà, right? For some washing machines, sure; for others, not quite. If the items have been loaded in a way that doesn't sit well with the machine, it can cause the internal basket to move in an uneven manner, causing the basket to bang against the outer drum. This can also be a result of the machine being overloaded with clothes. If the clothes can't move freely, the collective load of the clothes will settle on one area of the basket, causing it to become uneven.

Solution: Thankfully, no fancy doodahs required here – this can be resolved be either re-loading your clothes into the basket in a more distributed manner, or by reducing the weight of the load to take strain off the basket.

Leftover Packaging

shipping bolt

Cause: This may seem really silly and pretty hard to believe, but your off-balance washing machine could be the result of some leftover packaging materials from when the washing machine was delivered and installed. As you can imagine, this is more likely to be apparent on newly installed machines. Before you go and start peeling that small bit of tape off the underside of the machine, we should explain what we mean. Models are generally secured during packaging and shipping to ensure they aren't damaged during the delivery process. This can either by in the form of a straps or bolts. If these constraints aren't removed before the machine is used, then your washer won't be able to properly spin and could cause significant damage to itself and the surrounding area.

Solution: Check and see if you can identify any straps or shipping bolts attached to the washing machine and simply remove them to stop the issue.

So there you have it. These four causes of an off-balance machine have four simple solutions that should save you the expense of calling out a washing machine repair company. But if the problem persists despite your efforts, you may need to call in a professional to have a look.

We hope that you find this article informative and helpful. Read on to learn more about how to soundproof your washing machine.