<p>This is the first time I had HE cloth washer. After two years, this washer makes sharp squeaking noise in the washing cycle, it is otherwise working. How do I diagnose the problem and perhaps to fix it myself?</p>
<p>There’s usually a technical paper stashed away in the back of the washer or inside the washer in the “control” section. It gives schematics of the device, and parts numbers, so you may be able to locate the source of the squeak. Or internet search for your model because usually it’s not just you with the problem. Or call the manufacturer, of course, especially if its under warranty.</p>
<p>You might want to check Fixya for possible threads on this subject. This used to be Mr B’s first go to site when one of our appliances misbehaved. </p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.repairclinic.com/RepairHelp/How-To-Fix-A-Washing-Machine/39---/Washer-is-making-loud-noise]Here[/url”>http://www.repairclinic.com/RepairHelp/How-To-Fix-A-Washing-Machine/39---/Washer-is-making-loud-noise]Here[/url</a>] is a link to the site I’ve had great luck with. With their symptom list, I have, for example, replaced the door lock mechanism, which took less than 5 minutes total, rather than wait for a repair person. </p>
<p>BUT, as much as the offhand guess would be something like a belt or spring, it could be a model (like some GE’s) where I’ve read metal can touch metal and it needs a specific repair kit. You can probably take the bottom panel off and look to see if there’s a possibility of metal touching metal. </p>
<p>There are so many sounds. Some squeaks are raspy and probably indicate the springs the drum hangs on. Others are more plasticy and tend to mean the belt is either slipping or worn. (You can look below and see some of that.) Metal on metal sounds like metal on metal.</p>
<p>Our front loader is the only thing we maintain a longterm repair plan on. Yes, I know we could have bought a new machine by now but … they’ve replaced the drum, the main control board, the springs, the bearings, etc. One thing I can tell you to avoid is simple: don’t use too much detergent, especially powder, because it will not completely dissolve each time, especially if you don’t use hot water or if your water doesn’t get all that hot and this will build up within the drum until the seal starts to leak. Then they have to take the thing apart, which is a royal pain, and put in a new drum. </p>
<p>Looks like I need to call professional help, nothing in the link you gave is DIY, I don’t even know where to start.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>If it’s an HE Top Loader, check the top of the drum. Mine began making a weird noise when it was just a few months old and it turns out that is a common problem with those types of machines. They have to be absolutely LEVEL or the washing drum can rise up and rub along the material at the top of the washer, scraping the drum and creating friction. It only take a cycle to ruin the drum and have to have it replaced.</p>
<p>ok that is it HE top loader! Thanks, I will check level. however, if the contents are not evenly distributed, it will shake violently and almost “walk” out of the room.</p>
<p>Yep, that’s the problem- you have to constantly check the level of those washers. I actually keep a 30" level in my laundry room just for that purpose! Look around the top of the drum inside and make sure that it is smooth and that there is plenty of clearance between the drum and the ring that sits above it. If it’s worn or uneven, you’ll have to have quite a bit replaced.</p>
<p>Thanks MM, but where did you get that information? Its not in the manual. </p>
<p>MM
I level the washer, the sound diminished a lot, thank you. But the violent shake during the spin cycle still persists. What can we do with that?</p>
<p>Violent shaking suggests a spring that holds the drum is caught or gone. That means you take the top of the washer off, if you can. There are generally 4 springs, one in each corner. They simply hook into the thing that holds the drum. This can be really hard or easy depending on the make. </p>
<p>Now I need further help on load balancing. It seems that we need to separate large, heavy items from lighter items. When we mix towels and clothing, the spin cycle will violently shake and make large noise. </p>
<p>My top loading HE machine spins violently if I have too many heavy things (sheets, big towels, that kind of thing). I think this is because there is no spindle in the middle and the clothes tend to lump together on one side of the drum. </p>
<p>Thank you
Mine as well. How do you fix the problem?</p>
<p>Three quick responses:</p>
<ol>
<li>My experience with this is similar to advice at top: it’s often a spring loose or fallen off inside the top. </li>
<li>If not, there can be a worst case scenario, that the bearings at the back where it spins are gerflecked. </li>
<li>The washers are supposed to spin gently at first so the load distributes evenly. This may not happen if something in there absorbs way more water. For example, some fleece throws don’t seem to absorb at all but I have one that has needed to be wrung out by hand so wash it separately. If you identify what is holding a ton of water, you should consider washing that kind of thing with a lot more attention to the load. If the thing is going through the whole cycle with just banging, then it may well be hiding the problem from your eyes and hands unless you check the load just before it starts to spin up. </li>
</ol>
I spent one week to diagnose my problem. GE Washer GTWN4950Lows.
First, the washer shake violently during the spin cycle to the extend it “walked” about 6" off from the normal location, I found the front two legs were all worn and uneven, the legs are made of plastic.
Second, I ordered new legs and found that the washer body had a defect, the right leg cannot be screwed on properly, you need to force it on, therefore it is easily damaged. Solution, a stack of newspapers to replace the leg.
Third, I found my HE washer should not be totally level sitting on the floor, the front has to be about 1/4 inch higher than the rear, so the tub is slightly tilted to the rear. Otherwise there will be metal grinding sound.
I have since washed two loads, the washer did a very good job, no noise, no vibration.
Is it under or over the 2 year mark? If you used a credit card you might have a double warranty benefit that should get you 2 years of warranty. Mine has never squeaked much. I have an HE top loader, Whirlpool Cabrio. Last week it stopped squirting water over the clothes while washing and we (with google) figured out it was the pump. The recirculation and drain pumps are pretty diy projects. We got ours off and checked to see if it was plugged, it wasn’t so we put it on again. It still didn’t work, so we tipped it up again to double check the electrical connection, and discovered a penny was blocking the hole! The electric wasn’t connected so we tightened that (its a clip) and tried to get the penny out. Apparently there are 4 or more pennies in there and some sunflower seed shells, but they are off to the side and not clogging the hole anymore. The pump was fine. If we hadn’t noticed the penny we’d have bought a new pump!. Anyway, there are bunches of things that can go wrong. You need to creatively google until you hit the right words to get you an answer. Then, find a youtube video to help you fix it. I found a youtube video to help me diagnose the problem. A squeak might be harder.
Patsam, did you take all the pennies out? We have a Maytag Bravos and ignored the “penny sound” in ours for a while, and evetually the pennies (actually this was a dime) got stuck inside the pump and cracked it, causing it to leak. So now we are super-careful to empty our pockets, and if for some reason someone (darn college kids, lol) forgets, we take the basket apart immediately to get the coins out. NOT a fun or easy task (thanks, youtube!!) but it’s worth it.
I can’t believe that wasn’t considered during design…who doesn’t forget to empty their pockets once in a while!?
Unfortunately, it is 4 years old Feb 2nd.
Great word (or non word). Love it!