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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Washing machine making awful banging noise when its spinning. Is it about to die on me?

32 replies

tortoise · 30/10/2007 20:06

It bangs and clonks and shakes on spin. Awful noise! Is it the end of my machine? I really can't afford for it to die this time of year.

OP posts:
SenoraGruesomeCatastrophe · 30/10/2007 20:08

it could just be that it needs levelling properly- you know, setting the little feet so that it sits dead level on the floor. it makes a huge difference. I suppose the banging could mean one of the little feet has fallen off though.

EmsMum · 30/10/2007 20:09

Afraid so. Ours did that - the bearings had gone. Sorry.

The death of ours coincided with DD's stopping-bedwetting treatment which of course involved ditching PJ pants and having loads of bedding to wash. They never go at a convenient time.

Original poster
tortoise · 30/10/2007 20:12

SenoraGruesomeCatastrophe Its a much worse noise than that.

Emsmum Thats what i was worried about. Is it even worth paying anyone to look at it?

OP posts:
SenoraGruesomeCatastrophe · 30/10/2007 20:14

right, yes, bearings.

depends on the make. have you googled fix bearings and the make of the machine?

Original poster
tortoise · 30/10/2007 20:20

I looked on one but it had more than one type of bearing and they are cheap. I thought bearing were expensive. Also i can't buy online. No card to pay with!

OP posts:
SenoraGruesomeCatastrophe · 30/10/2007 20:21

I just meant that the availability and price should give you an idea of what a washing machine repair person might charge. if they are available separately then it probably is worth getting fixed, but don't use it in the meantime.

southeastastra · 30/10/2007 20:24

i've always got mine fixed when the bearings went. it wasn't that expensive (iirc!)

ParanoidPetra · 30/10/2007 20:24

sounds like i had a similar problem to you it went mental on the fast spin cycle.Thankfully it wasnt broken just over loaded(ooppss)and the wet washing had got unbalanced in the drum which made it bang like mad.It even moved across the floor!Have you tried another (smaller)load in case that the problem with yours?

Original poster
tortoise · 30/10/2007 20:25

I will ask in local electrical shop in the morning.
Thanks for dvice.

OP posts:
Psychobabble · 30/10/2007 20:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
tortoise · 30/10/2007 20:40

Lol Psychobabble!

OP posts:
popsycal · 30/10/2007 20:55

drum dropping....do you tend to overload it?

popsycal · 30/10/2007 20:56

psycho - at least it wasn;t washable sanitary wear

tatt · 30/10/2007 21:06

if its fitted under a work surface it may have come off its plinth. They do make a terrible racket if they are lopsided.

Also check ths out

www.washerhelp.co.uk/diy-repair-help_2.html#cl_q4

nannyL · 31/10/2007 09:48

It may be that it is unbalanced... does it only happen for for eg you just have a few towels there...

IE heavy things but the drum isnt full? that can cause it to bang

Original poster
tortoise · 31/10/2007 14:09

I probably do overload it sometimes.
NannyL It only does it on spin. Last time was on a normal size load.

Asked in local electrical shop and was told £95 to fix it if its the model he is thinking of. If not it could be more like £150!!

No way i can find £95 this time of year. i need that for kids christmas pressies.

Tatt i will look at that link now. Thanks.

OP posts:
ludaghoul · 01/11/2007 07:59

Tort...it might not be the bearings...we bought our washing machine last year..only had it a while and it did just the same as you discribe. It banged and shook something awful when it spun. All it was, was as it was spinning it had loosened a bolt on a bracket which holds the drum central. Inside the washing machine...just under the drum is a huge slab of concrete...which acts as a weight. The bracket had come loose and the huge slab of concrete was literally swinging against the drum. DH opened the back of...tightened the bolt...and it has been fine ever since.

ludaghoul · 01/11/2007 08:00

Or....it could also be an underwire....our old washing machine had a strange knocking noise...which turned out to be an underwire from my bra

lailasmum · 01/11/2007 08:14

ours did this and it was the bearings, that only cost £40 to get fixed-so much cheaper than your quote. It can also be a bit noisy if you put in an uneven load, like a really heavy jumper amongst a load of small light things.

jalopy · 01/11/2007 20:27

One of the brackets that holds the drum might have broken.

Original poster
tortoise · 01/11/2007 21:02

By the sounds of it i need someone to look at it and find out whats wrong with it lol.
Bet that won't be cheap either!

Thanks for advice.

OP posts:
nickToD · 01/11/2007 21:16

My washing machine did the exact same thing 3 weeks ago. Drum bearing went. Very reliable washing machine man told me £90 for the part (I looked it up on line and he was spot on) and £50 for labour (he did not charge me to come out either.) New washing machine (Bosch) cost me £270 including delivery (Co-op electricals would highly recommend them £70 cheaper than anywhere else and delivered when they said they would)

Original poster
tortoise · 04/11/2007 13:00

Well, i now know what the problem was!
There is(was) a counter balance brick on the bottom of the drum. It has totally snapped off. Have been assured it will be ok without it but to use lighter/smaller loads.

OP posts:
edam · 04/11/2007 13:02

Something similar happened to ours - think whatever it was that holds the breeze block in place had snapped. We got it fixed and it is a. fine and b. much quieter.

MrsGokWan · 04/11/2007 13:09

Don't forget to checkout www.freecycle.org if it really does look as if it is going to give up the ghost.

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