Washer shaking excessively
Some movement during spin is normal; GE says up to about 6 mm on occasion when a load is uneven.
Soon Violent shaking can tear hoses, crack the cabinet or walk the machine into a wall, so it's worth stopping the cycle rather than letting it finish.
What this symptom usually means
Some movement during spin is normal; GE says up to about 6 mm on occasion when a load is uneven. What isn't normal is a machine that bangs, hops or walks. On a new or recently moved washer, the first thing to rule out is the shipping bolts. Front loaders ship with bolts that lock the drum for transport, and if they're left in, the machine will shake hard from the first spin. Whirlpool and GE both list this ahead of everything else. After that comes levelling: all four feet on the floor, the machine not rocking when you push the top corners, and the feet extended as little as possible. Then the load: one heavy item or a very small load throws the drum off balance, and most machines will try to redistribute and then finish slowly.
If the bolts are out, the feet are set and a well-balanced load still shakes, the suspension is the likely wear point. Top loaders hang the tub on suspension rods and springs; front loaders sit the tub on dampers (shock absorbers). Both wear, and the tub then swings further than the sensor allows. A bearing that is failing adds a rumble, and a clogged pump can also cause vibration according to GE. Floors matter too: a springy floor over a joist span, or a floor that isn't level, amplifies everything.
Checks you can do yourself
- Shipping boltsIf the washer is new or has been moved, look at the back for three or four large bolts with plastic spacers. If they're still there, unplug the machine and remove them as the installation guide shows. Push on the drum: if it doesn't move, the bolts are probably in.
- Rock test and feetGrip the top corners and push side to side and front to back. If it rocks, unplug it and adjust the feet until all four touch the floor and the machine doesn't move. Tighten any locknuts. Keep the feet as short as possible.
- LevelUse a bubble level or a phone app across the top, front to back and side to side. Adjust the feet, then repeat the rock test.
- LoadRun a rinse-and-spin with no load. If it's steady, the problem was the load; balance heavy items with lighter ones and avoid tiny loads. If it still shakes empty, the machine needs a visit.
- Floor and surroundingsCheck nothing is wedged under the washer, and that it isn't touching the dryer or a wall. On a springy wood floor, an anti-vibration mat can help, but it won't fix worn suspension.
- Pump filter (front loaders)GE notes a clogged pump can cause shaking. If your manual shows the pump filter as a user step, unplug the machine, put down towels and clean it.
Nothing above involves gas, wiring, refrigerant or removing panels.
What our technician checks
These need panels off, live electrical tests or a licensed trade, so they are left to the technician:
- Removing the cabinet to reach dampers, springs, weights or bearings
- Any work on the motor or drive
- Reinforcing or levelling the floor itself (a contractor)
Gas appliances, commercial equipment, and Thermador, Miele, Viking, Wolf and Fisher & Paykel appliances: $129 + tax.
Waived when you proceed with the repair. You get the cause, the price and our repair-or-replace verdict in writing before any work.
Repairs a technician may recommend
After inspection, not from the symptom alone.
Damper or shock absorber replacement
On front loaders where the tub swings and bangs with a balanced load. A common wear repair.
Suspension rod or spring replacement
On top loaders where the tub is loose or drops to one side.
Tub bearing and seal replacement
When shaking comes with a rumble or a roar in spin, and the drum has play at the shaft. A major repair; the finding compares it with replacement.
Drum weight or counterweight repair
When a concrete balance weight has loosened or cracked.
Drain pump clearing or replacement
When a jammed pump is stalling the drain and unbalancing the spin.
Levelling and re-installation
When the feet, locknuts or the machine's position are the real problem.
Brands we see with this problem
Codes, parts and access differ by brand; the brand pages cover where the model label is and what to expect.
Brand-specific repair and error-code guides
Cost, and whether to fix it
What the repair costs depends on the part, the labour and whether a second visit is needed for an ordered part; the written finding gives the total before any work. Our guides on what drives repair costs, washing machine repair costs and repair versus replacement explain how to weigh it.
Who to call
RepairWell diagnoses and repairs this in homes and businesses across Ottawa and Gatineau; the diagnostic ($89 + tax at home, $129 + tax for a business) is waived when you proceed with the repair. If the washing machine is still under the manufacturer's warranty, contact the manufacturer first: warranty repairs usually have to go through their authorized network.
Have an LG? See the LG error codes for this problem.
When to book
Book if the washer still shakes with the shipping bolts out, the feet set so it doesn't rock, and an empty rinse-and-spin; if you hear a rumble or grinding in spin; or if the machine has started walking despite having been fine in the same spot for years, which usually means suspension wear rather than installation. Tell us front or top loader and how old the machine is. On a front loader with a bearing rumble we'll be honest about whether the repair is worth it. The visit is $89 + tax with a written finding, waived if you proceed. Washing machine repair describes the diagnosis.
We handle this across Ottawa and Gatineau
Related problems
Washer shaking excessively: questions
My new front loader shakes hard. Is it faulty?
Check the shipping bolts first; leaving them in is the single most common reason a new washer shakes. Then level it and run an empty spin. If it still shakes, book a visit rather than living with it, because continued shaking can damage the machine.
Why does it only shake with towels or a duvet?
Single heavy items are the hardest to balance. Wash a duvet on its own on a bulky cycle, and mix towels with a few lighter items. If it happens with every load, the suspension is more likely.
Will an anti-vibration mat fix it?
It reduces noise transmitted to the floor and helps on springy floors. It doesn't fix worn dampers or a bearing, and it can't compensate for a machine that isn't level.
Is a rumble during spin serious?
A rumble that grows over months, especially with a wet or rusty patch under the machine, often means the tub bearing. It's a major repair, and on an older front loader it's often where replacement makes sense.
Sources
- Whirlpool Product Help: Washer is vibrating, walking or moving
- GE Appliances: Front load washer walking, vibrating, shaking or moving
Sources checked 2026-09-24.
From the repair blog
Repair stories and guides, with real photos from our work.
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- $89 + tax diagnostic$129 + tax for gas or commercial appliances and for Thermador, Miele, Viking, Wolf or Fisher & Paykel; waived when you proceed with the repair
- Written finding on every visitCause, price and our repair-or-replace verdict
- 90-day warrantyOn parts replaced; labour depends on the work done