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Well, it’s more like a norm to see that your washing machine vibrates when it’s functioning. However, when it escalates from regular “low vibrations” to shaking your house walls, that’s when you need to act fast, or you’d be faced with more expensive repairs.
So, how do I stop my washing machine from shaking the house? You should start with adjusting the legs to ensure that they’re all at the same level on the floor. You could also get anti-vibration pads or remove the installation bolts at the back.
It is essential to fix washing machine vibrations as early as possible before your walls and floors start to crack.
Why Is My Washing Machine Shaking?
Typically, front-loading washing machines feature shock absorbers installed on the base frame. The function of these absorbers is to dampen the tub movement in the spin cycle.
When these shock absorbers go bad, your washing machine is likely to shake more intensely than ever (when spinning).
More so, if this issue is not fixed as early as possible, it could cause other damages to the machine.
For top-loading machines, the shaking could be a result of unbalanced load or leveling issues. Whatever the case may be, below are some useful tips on stopping washing machines from shaking the house.
How Do I Stop My Washing Machine From Shaking The House?
These DIY tips are easy to carry out, but if you feel it’s going to be a complicated task, get someone to assist you with them.
1. Distribute Load Evenly
One of the significant causes of washing machine vibrations or severe shaking is when the load (clothes) inside the washer is not evenly distributed. If the washer typically shakes when spinning, inspect the clothes inside.
The arrangement of clothes inside the machine goes a long way to determine the performance of your washer. When there’s an uneven pile, the chances are that the washer would bundle the clothes into an uneven ball.
To sort this out, always spread out your clothes inside the washer and start the washing process again.
More so, just as uneven distribution of load can cause a washing machine to shake, overloading the washer can also cause the same issue.
If you found out that it still shakes after distributing the load evenly inside the washer, maybe you should remove some of the clothes; you may have overloaded it.
2. Remove the Shipping Bolts
Basically, the shipping bolts do a good job – they help keep the drum firm during shipment and installation.
However, if they are left after installation, it implies that the drum would still be held firmly, and this can cause the machine to shake.
The drum ought not to be stiff during spinning. So, here is what to do:
- Look at all sides of the washer and look out for the plastic clamps (bolts) to tighten the drum. These bolts may be beneath the washer (just in case you didn’t find any on the sides
- After removing them all, start the washer again and let it spin. Watch closely and see if it still shakes severely
Note: Shipping bolts are typically made of plastics, and they are easy to remove with bare hands or a wrench.
3. Level Up and Fasten the Legs
Another common cause of washing machine shaking is loose legs. A typical washer would come with four legs, which support it on the floor where it is installed.
If these legs are not fastened properly, they will shake while the washer is spinning, and this can also cause the entire washing machine to shake too – gradually shifting in one direction.
You should inspect the legs to see if the nuts used in fastening them are already loose so you can tighten them back.
We mentioned, “leveling.” Yes, leveling simply means to ensure that all the washing machine’s legs are all balanced on the floor (at the same level).
The legs are entirely adjustable, so you can easily adjust the sides that are not leveled up.
If the rear legs are not adjustable, then you have to adjust the front legs to match the length of the rear ones.
The best way to check for leveling is to place a “spirit Level” instrument atop the washing machine and check if the leveling bubble stayed at the center.
4. Replace the Shock Absorbers
As mentioned earlier in this article, shock absorbers cans cause washing machines to shake or vibrate vigorously. Well, the shock absorbers won’t cause you any issue unless they are bad.
So, you need to inspect the shock absorbers and probably order some new ones. Depending on the washing machine you’re using in your home, the number of shock absorbers it may come with ranges from 2 to 5.
Installing a set of new shock absorbers can cause your washer to function as new. The absorbers help reduce vibrations and shaking. It works for many people and would possibly work for you too.
However, replacing shock absorbers is not something everyone could do. To find the shock absorbers’ location in your machine, you need to consult the manufacturer’s manual.
5. Use Anti-Vibration Pads
In most cases, by simply installing anti-vibration pads, you could significantly reduce the vibrations and shakes caused by your washing machine.
These pads can be bought in the same store where you bought the machine or check on other stores.
What More?
Hopefully, this article answers the question, “how do I stop my washing machine from shaking the house?” These suggested various homeowners have provided home DIY tips on different home improvement threads on forums.
However, if none of these tips worked for you, maybe you should report to the manufacturer or get a new unit if the one you’re using is already old.
One more thing, there are washing machines that come with anti-vibration technology, but they are typically more expensive than the regular ones that do not include the technology.