I just moved to a new house, and after setting up my washing machine it now shakes a lot while running, like it moves itself 3 or 4 inches sometimes. It seems to really shake for a 5-15 seconds then runs normal for a while. No real discernible pattern.
I’ve already tried leveling it and making sure the feet all hold some weight, but it’s still happening. It’s an older style top loader with an agitator.
Any ideas on how to stop the shaking?
If it is a new washing machine there are breaks screwed into the back of the machine.
They are put there so the drum does not move during shipping from the factory to the customer, maybe they were also put in when you moved. If they remain in the washing machine motor is fighting against the break pads and the machine will shake violently. Please look at the manual or search on the internet how to take them out.
Thanks, I’ll take a look. It’s not new and I doubt the movers put them in but could be
It’s recommended to put them in when you move the washing machine.
Sounds to me like the drum might be floating really loosely inside the machine. It not spinning dead center is gonna cause the weight to be thrown around and move everything.
Thanks for the idea! Is that something I can go in, recenter, and tighten?
You might want to also replace the springs that hold the drum center. They may have weakened.
Depending on how the machine is made it could be a couple of components on the fritz. At a guess I’d say either the belt that turns the drum is stretched from use, or the frame the drum glides on might need replacement.
Are the feet set properly? They usually screw in and out. Try rocking it and see if you can adjust the feet lengths so it doesn’t rock when shaking it.
Yeah I’ve adjusted all the feet and made sure the top is level as best as I can with a 48” bubble level with all feet carrying some weight
I can’t really solve your shaking problem but my washer shakes a bit (not crazy but it does vibrate the upstairs) so I bought pucks on Amazon and they stop the washer from shaking heavily.
Is it a side loader? The drum has springs that connect the drum to a weight in the back. Check if all of the springs are connected. If one is loose, the machine will vibrate like crazy.
Was gonna say, sounds like the transport screws are still in.
Nope, it’s a top loader. Someone else mentioned springs though so I’ll look into that
Top-loaders can be suspended with springs too. The springs connect to metal anchors on the base, and the anchors may each have a plastic insert with multiple notches allowing for different levels of spring tightness. A plastic insert could actually have broken and need to be replaced.
I have a top loaded Samsung washer, and just replaced its four spring rods, which really helped with the shaking and bouncing issues.
I’ll look into that, this is an Amana machine. Not particularly fancy but about 7 years old at this point and has worked great until now
I had the same issue with the same solution after I moved my washer.
I didn’t previously know that it’s important to clamp the springs when moving a washer, otherwise the springs experience years of wear during one truck ride.
I replaced the springs and had a like-new washer again.
What if you carefully distribute the weight of your laundry evenly? Mine doesn’t have an agitator but whenever I’m loading laundry, I make sure to do it in the shape of a donut, evenly distributed around the drum so that it doesn’t get thrown off
I’ve tried that, it all ends up floating around anyway. Small items vs big items don’t seem to matter either
A load will go through multiple fills. This presents the opportunity to get off balance each time. It should tend to naturally settle in a pretty evenly distributed fashion. If your machine only does the violent shaking every so often, it could be an off balanced load. If it’s shaking for most of the loads, there’s likely something more wrong.
It’s a new washing machine?
No, it’s about 7 years old. It’s worked great until this move. The moving company jammed foam in between the drum and the frame. I’m thinking they may have screwed something up
Some washing machines have springs to help dampen rocking. They may have disconnected one or more
i had the same problem with a front-load machine. Feet seemed to be even, but the machine pivots clockwise about left front foot causing it to screw in (and shorten), which then worsens as it goes. My fix was to lengthen that foot more so that it seems to bear more load than the other three feet. I don’t consider it a permanent fix because that leg still manages to eventually get shorter anyway, but takes much longer.
I guess my next move is to drill a hole in a circular piece of wood giving a donut-like shape, and use that as a spacer to stop that foot from shortening under vibration.
You’re filling it with too much…or not enough
-Chief Wiggum
