Today, the washing machine has become an indispensable assistant for many people. It contains many washing programs that allow you to wash any type of fabric. But any household appliance can break down over time. For example, a knocking sound may appear in the washing machine when spinning clothes. This article will help you troubleshoot this problem.
Determining the cause of knocking
There are a number of reasons why extraneous sounds may appear during the washing or spinning process. It is important to note that the appearance of a knock does not always mean that the machine is malfunctioning.
A strange sound during operation of the washing machine may appear for the following reasons:
- things are unevenly distributed in the drum of the machine;
- the washing machine was installed incorrectly;
- the spring or shock absorber is broken;
- There is a problem with the counterweight.
The unit was installed incorrectly
If the machine was installed incorrectly, the drum will hit the walls of the unit. If you do not take action, a more serious malfunction may occur that will require professional help to resolve.
If the machine was installed incorrectly, then during the process of spinning clothes at high speeds it will bounce, knock and sway. To eliminate this, you need to place the machine on a flat surface, and then calibrate the installation using a level.
After proper installation, washing clothes will not be accompanied by strong rocking.
Laundry is not distributed evenly
Owners of older models of washing equipment usually face this problem. Modern machines, when installed correctly and in good condition, make almost no noise.
Centering is ensured by electronics, which evenly distributes the washed items in the drum. Therefore, there is no imbalance of laundry in the drum.
The spring is broken
If a shock absorber or spring fails, the drum may tilt to one side. To more accurately determine the cause, you will need to disassemble the washing machine.
It should be noted that the spring is a part that experiences a high load. Therefore, they tend to fail during intensive use.
The shock absorber has failed
Signs of a damaged shock absorber are similar to the symptoms of a faulty spring:
- The washing drum is tilted to one side;
- Poor alignment of the laundry in the machine;
- Constant imbalance.
Also, in addition to the shock absorber, the mount may come out of alignment or the fixing bolt may become loose. To find out the cause of the extraneous sound, you will have to disassemble the machine. But first, it’s better to call a specialist who will diagnose your “home assistant”.
The counterweight is loose
Counterweights are located at the bottom and top of the machine tank. They are necessary to weigh down a fairly light tank. These details reduce the likelihood of swaying during the washing process.
However, over the years, the counterweight may become loose, which will create a knocking noise when spinning clothes.
This problem can be resolved as follows:
- First you need to disassemble the washing machine;
- Then find out which counterweight is hanging out;
- Tighten the fasteners on the counterweight.
It should be noted that the counterweight may break or fly off if it is not tightened. In this case, a knock will be made during the spin cycle, since the drum will touch the walls of the washer.
Other reasons
Washing equipment can knock not only for the reasons listed above. There are other situations. Perhaps you forgot to turn out the pockets of your clothes before washing them. Small objects can get inside the machine and create noise when it operates.
Getting rid of this problem is not difficult. To do this you need:
- Remove the back or front panel;
- Remove the heating element;
- Take out the trash;
- Reassemble the machine in reverse order.
If you hear a creaking noise when the washing machine is operating, but there is no knocking noise, you can try to fix the problem by lubricating the bearings.
