A washing machine making unusual noises is more than just an annoyance — it is usually a warning sign that something mechanical is wearing out or has failed inside the machine. Brisbane households contact us about noisy washing machines almost daily, and the type of noise your machine makes tells us a lot about what is going wrong before we even arrive.

Types of Washing Machine Noises and What They Mean

Banging or Thumping During Spin

A loud banging or thumping noise during the spin cycle is the most common complaint. In most cases, this is caused by an unbalanced load — a heavy item like a towel or doona cover has bunched on one side of the drum, causing it to swing off-centre at high speed. The drum hits the sides of the cabinet with each rotation, creating the banging sound.

However, if the banging happens regardless of load size and balance, the problem is almost certainly worn shock absorbers (front-loaders) or worn suspension springs (top-loaders). These components dampen drum movement during spinning. When they wear out — typically after 5-8 years of regular use — the drum bounces freely and hits the machine’s frame. Continued use with worn shock absorbers can cause serious secondary damage to the drum bearings, spider arm, and outer tub.

Grinding or Scraping Noise

A grinding or metal-on-metal scraping sound usually indicates worn drum bearings. The drum sits on a central bearing assembly that allows it to rotate smoothly. Over time, these bearings wear, lose lubrication, and develop rough spots. The grinding gets progressively louder over weeks or months. By the time you can clearly hear grinding, the bearings are usually beyond saving and need full replacement.

On some machines, a grinding noise during agitation (not spin) can indicate a worn drive coupling or gearbox, particularly on top-loader models from brands like Fisher & Paykel and LG.

Squealing or Screeching

A high-pitched squeal when the drum starts spinning typically points to a worn or slipping drive belt. The belt connects the motor to the drum — when it stretches, glazes, or partially shreds, it slips on the pulleys and produces a squealing sound, often worst during spin-up when the motor is working hardest.

Squealing can also come from worn pump bearings in the drain pump. This usually sounds like a high-pitched whine that occurs specifically when the machine is draining.

Clicking or Rattling

Clicking or rattling noises are often caused by foreign objects caught between the inner drum and outer tub, or inside the drain pump housing. Coins, bra underwires, buttons, and small stones are the usual culprits. A coin trapped between the drums will create a consistent clicking pattern that speeds up and slows down with the drum rotation. Objects in the pump will rattle when the drain pump activates.

Loud Humming or Buzzing

A loud humming noise, especially during the wash cycle, can indicate a failing drive motor or a motor that is struggling due to a seized bearing. If the humming is specifically during the drain phase, the drain pump motor may be stalling — often because the impeller is jammed by a foreign object.

Vibration and Walking

Excessive vibration that causes the machine to “walk” across the floor is not strictly a noise issue, but it creates significant noise from the machine bouncing against the floor and walls. This is usually caused by the machine not being level, worn anti-vibration pads, or an unbalanced load. On hard floors like tiles — common in Brisbane laundries — even small levelling issues amplify vibration dramatically.

Diagnosing the Problem

Pay attention to when the noise occurs — this narrows down the cause significantly:

During filling: Water inlet valve vibration (harmless buzzing) or pump issue.

During wash/agitation: Bearing wear, drive coupling, or foreign object between drums.

During spin only: Shock absorbers, suspension springs, unbalanced load, or belt slippage.

During draining: Drain pump blockage or pump motor failure.

All the time when drum moves: Drum bearings — the noise will be present in every phase that involves drum rotation.

When to Stop Using the Machine

Some noises are safe to monitor, while others warrant stopping the machine immediately:

Stop immediately if you hear loud grinding, metal scraping, or the machine is vibrating so violently it is moving across the floor. Continuing to run a machine with failed bearings or broken shock absorbers can cause the drum to punch through the outer tub — turning a $300-$500 repair into a machine replacement.

Monitor but book a repair for squealing belts, intermittent clicking, and gentle thumping. These issues will not cause immediate catastrophic failure but will get worse over time.

Professional Washing Machine Noise Repair

At Always Prompt Repairs, we diagnose and repair noisy washing machines across all major brands — Samsung, LG, Bosch, Miele, Fisher & Paykel, Electrolux, and Westinghouse. We carry common parts including shock absorbers, drive belts, drain pumps, and bearings on our service vans.

Our callout fee is $219 (includes the first 30 minutes of labour), with additional time at $45 per 15-minute block. $20 discount for seniors, pensioners, and students. All prices are estimates only and parts are additional.

Book Your Washing Machine Repair

Washing machine making a racket? Book your repair online — describe the noise in the booking notes and we will make sure our technician brings the right parts. Most appointments are available within 24-48 hours across Greater Brisbane, Ipswich, and the Northern Gold Coast.

Or call (07) 3062 2377 to book by phone.

Source: ACCC Consumer Guarantees — your rights regarding appliance faults and repairs.

Washing Machine Making Noise — Causes and Repairs Brisbane