Noise! Noise! Noise! You probably agree that nothing irks when doing laundry with an LG machine than a loud noise. Interestingly, an LG washing machine sound problem is fixable; it only takes knowing what to check.
An LG washing machine often suffers sound problems or noises during draining, agitation, spinning cycle, and when filling up with water. The causes range from load and washer imbalance to stuck objects and clogging.
Of course, other issues point to a defective washer component, which in the long run, you have to replace. But as you’ll learn, not all these issues are serious, and that’s where you put your DIY prowess into action.
Overall, the troubleshooting starts with identifying the type of sound problem. For example, what causes a grinding sound differs from what causes a vibration or squeaking sound. Once you understand that, stopping the noise and avoiding the frustration is easy.
Let’s jump in!
In a hurry? Consider the issues that cause sound problems when an LG washer is draining, agitating, spinning, and filling up in the table below.
LG Washing Machine Sound Problem Quick Troubleshooting Guide
| – | Sound Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
| 1. | Sound Problem During Draining | Excess slurping (low water level, blocked supply hose, or clogged drain pump) | Check the washer’s water supply, unkink the supply hose, and clean the drain pump |
| 2. | Sound Problem During Agitation | Rumbling sound (bad drum bearings, drive pulley, or motor coupling) | Replace the drum bearings, drive pulley, or motor coupling if defective |
| 3. | Sound Problem During Wash Cycle (When Spinning) | Thumping sound (laundry overload or imbalance, or defective suspension rods or shock absorbers) Vibration sound (uneven washer or load or an extra-long water supply tube or drain pipe) Banging sound (uneven load or washer, close-by shelves/cabinets or loose objects) Grinding sound (uneven washer or laundry, stuck objects, or worn-out tub bearing) Jet engine sound (drum overload, loose objects, too many suds, or debris clogging) | Thumping sound – Keep the laundry ¾ capacity and evenly spread and replace defective suspension rods or shock absorbers) Vibration sound – Ensure the washer and the load are even and reduce the supply tube-drain pipe’s height Banging sound – Evenly spread the load, level the washer and move it away from cabinets/shelves, and remove stuck objects Grinding sound – Level the washer and laundry, remove stuck objects and replace worn-out tub bearings Jet engine sound – Reduce the overload, remove loose objects, reduce detergent use, and clean the washer to get rid of debris |
| 4. | Sound Problem When Filling with Water | Squeaking or whistling sound (excess water pressure or bad inlet valve) Banging sound (plumbing issue – loose or rattling pipes) | Squeaking or whistling sound – Reduce the water pressure and replace a defective inlet valve Banging sound – Call a plumber |
Troubleshooting Different LG Washing Machine Sound Problems
Note that the LG washing machine may make weird during different situations. Let’s discuss the four commonest ones:
1. LG Washer Making Noise During Draining
While you expect the LG washing machine to make some noise when draining, the noise shouldn’t be too loud. Sometimes, however, the washer produces an excessive slurping noise, which could be a result of any of these reasons:
- Low water level – The washing machine may produce a loud slurping noise if the water is insufficient. That shows the washing machine is struggling to fill up.
- Blocked supply hose – If the water supply tube is kinked, less water will reach the washer. In most cases, the water will struggle to go through the supply line and is likely to produce a weird slurping sound.
- Clogged drain pump – If the drain pump is blocked, which may happen over time, it may struggle to pump out the wastewater. The result of the struggle is a slurping noise.
Fix
Check if the supply valve is open to ensure the washer receives enough water. If the supply line is kinked, straighten it to eliminate the kinks. And if the drain pump is clogged, clean it.
2. LG Washer Making Noise During Agitation
An LG may make a rumbling sound during agitation to indicate a malfunction. Often, a loud rumbling sound indicates a defective drum bearing, drive pulley, or motor coupling. So, you ought to inspect these components for wear or even breakage.
Fix
If the drum bearings, drive pulley, or motor coupling are worn out or damaged, consider replacing them.
3. LG Washing Machine Making Loud Noise When Spinning (During the Wash Cycle)
During the wash cycle, the machine may make weird sounds to indicate a malfunction. Below are the commonest sounds that the LG washer makes when spinning and the likely causes:
Thumping Sound
Your LG washing machine is likely to produce a thumping sound due to one of these reasons:
- Laundry overload – You shouldn’t overload the washer. Once you exceed its ¾ capacity, the extra load may rattle against the walls of the drum and produce a thumping sound.
- Laundry imbalance – If the dirty clothes are not even within the drum, they’ll hit against the walls and produce a thumping sound.
- Defective suspension rods – If you have a top loader, it could be that its suspension rods are worn out or damaged. If they are, they won’t be able to absorb the extra impact. So the washer may produce a thumping sound.
- Defective shock absorbers – Shock absorbers have the same impact on front loaders as suspension rods have on top loaders. If the shock absorbers are faulty, the washer will make some noise, often a thumping sound.
Fix
If the drum is more than three-quarters full, consider reducing it. And if it’s not evenly spread in the drum, spread it uniformly. Meanwhile, if the suspension rods or shock absorbers are worn out, replace them.
Vibration Sound
Another typical sound while the LG washer is spinning is the vibration sound. Expect the washer to vibrate due to these reasons:
- Uneven washer – If the washer is not stable, it’s likely to shake and may produce a vibrating sound. Sometimes the issue is having loose feet; at other times, it’s a case of positioning it on an unleveled surface.
- Uneven load – Expect the washer to vibrate if the clothes are not evenly spread. While this often relates to an unleveled washer, sometimes it’s a case of wrongly loading the clothes.
- Extra-long water supply tube or drain pipe – Also, check the size of the water supply tube and the drain pipe, as they could be extra long. If they are, they could be rattling against the washer, producing a vibrating sound.
Fix
Ensure the washer is stable and not shakily, and evenly redistribute the load if it’s uneven. And if the water supply tube or drain pipe is extra-long, consider resizing it or replacing it.
Banging Sound
It’s not normal for the washing machine to produce a banging sound. That often points to an issue that could be severe or just trivial.
Here are some of the triggers of the banging sound:
- Uneven load – If the clothes are irregular in the drum, they may bang against the wall. That will likely happen when you have bulky options, such as towels.
- Uneven washer – If the washer is unstable, the clothes will likely be thrown out of position and rattled against the walls. Once that’s the case, they may produce a banging sound.
- Close-by shelves/cabinets – If the washing machine is near shelves and cabinets, it may rattle against them and produce a banging sound.
- Loose objects – Sometimes, coins, buttons, pins, jewelry, and keys may fall off the clothes and get trapped in the drum. Once that happens, they may produce a banging sound when the washer spins.
Fix
Evenly spread the load in the washer if that’s not the case. Also, ensure the washer is leveled. Adjust its feet if necessary and ensure the surface is even.
If the washer is near cabinets and shelves, move it in a way to avoid direct contact.
Grinding Sound
Sometimes the LG washer produces a grinding sound when spinning. That’s more likely due to these issues:
- Uneven washer – Check the washer’s level. If it’s unstable, then that’s likely why it makes a grinding sound.
- Uneven laundry – Sometimes, uneven laundry can produce a grinding sound as the washer spins. So, equally, inspect the clothes leveling when inspecting the washer’s leveling.
- Stuck objects – If stuck things are in the drum, such as keys, coins, buttons, and broken zippers, they may grind when the washer runs.
- Worn-out tub bearing – Also, expect the washing machine to make a grinding sound when its tub bearing wears out or rusts.
Fix
Adjust the washer’s feet to ensure it is uniform, and redistribute the laundry evenly to ensure the washer runs smoothly. Remove stuck objects in the drum. If the tub bearing looks worn out or rusty, replace it.
Jet Engine Sound
Imagine your LG washing machine running and sounding like an airplane about to take off. That’s likely to happen due to these reasons:
- Drum overload – If the drum capacity exceeds ¾, that stresses the washer and may sound like an aircraft about to take off.
- Loose objects – Some loose objects, such as screws and other metal objects, may force the washer to sound like a jet engine.
- Too many suds – If there are so many suds, perhaps due to using excess detergent or the wrong type, such as non-HE, the washer may produce the jet engine sound when spinning.
- Debris clogging – Sometimes, the jet engine noise points to clogging by debris in the drum or tub.
Fix
Reduce the drum’s load if it’s excessive, and remove any loose objects in the drum. Meanwhile, avoid putting too much detergent, and if possible, use HE detergents as they don’t form too many suds.
Other LG Washing Machine Sound Problem Types During the Spin Cycle
The LG washer may also make these sounds during its spin cycle:
- Knocking sound – This may happen due to an extra-log supply tube or drain pipe or close-by shelves/cabinets
- Squealing sound – The washer may squeal due to high water pressure (above 100psi) or a broken belt
- Rattling sound – The rattling noise is often a product of an uneven washer, foreign objects in the drum, or a clogged drain
4. The LG Washing Machine Making Noise When Filling with Water
Yes, an LG washing machine should make some noise when filling up, but it should be a low-volume noise. If the noise is too loud, that points to an issue. Some of the weirdest noises when the washer fills up with water, include:
- Squeaking or whistling sound – Expect your LG washer to make a squeaking or whistling sound due to excess water pressure (above 100 psi) or a bad inlet valve
- Banging sound – If the washer is producing a banging sound when filling up with water, that’s often due to a plumbing issue, mainly loose or rattling pipes
Fix
Use a water pressure gauge to determine the pressure of your washer’s supplying water. If it exceeds 100psis, reduce it by partially closing the water main.
As for the inlet valve, use a multimeter to determine if the valve has continuity. If it doesn’t, replace it. And lastly, consider calling a plumber expert to check the piping in case of a banging sound.
LG Washing Machine Drum Sound Problem
Consider these sounds that could come from your washer’s drum and their likely reasons:
- Jet engine sound – This is most likely due to a drum overload, loose objects, too many suds, or debris clogging
- Grinding sound – The washer may produce a grinding sound due to a drum overload or worn-out bearing
- Whirring sound – Some of the issues that could cause the whirring sound are stuck objects or washer clogging
- Vibrating sound – If the drum is vibrating, it’s most likely due to an uneven surface, loose feet, or an unbalanced or bulky load
People Also Ask
1. But Why Is My LG Washing Machine Making Noise?
There are different reasons why your LG washing machine is making noise. If the noise is only low-level, it could be innocent since you don’t expect the washer to run silently.
However, if the washer sound is too loud or very annoying, it could point out any of these issues:
- Drum overload
- Uneven laundry
- Out-of-balance washer
- Stuck foreign items like pins, coins, and jewelry
- Extra-long water supply tube/drain pipe
- Close-by shelves and cabinets
- Clogged drain/tub
2. Why is My LG Top Load Washing Machine Making Noise When Spinning?
Your LG top-loading washing machine makes noise while spinning because of patchy clothes or the washer itself could be unstable. If not, it could be due to an extra-long drain pipe or water supply tube, close-by cabinets, and shelves, stuck objects in the drum, or defective suspension rods.
3. Why is My LG Front Load Washing Machine Making Noise When Spinning?
Your LG front loader may make some noise during its spin cycle because it’s unstable. That could be due to resting on uneven surfaces or having loose feet. If not, it could be that the clothes are askew or something such as an extra-long drain tube or a cabinet rattling against the washer.
In some cases, the shock absorbers could be worn out and thus cannot absorb the impact of their spin movements. If so, you’ll need to replace the shock absorbers.
Concluding Thoughts:
Now you have a guide to troubleshooting an LG washing machine sound problem. So, whether your LG washer makes noise when spinning, agitating, draining, or filling up with water, you can check the related issues and work on them accordingly. However, if you cannot stop the weird noise, talk to a washing machine expert or ask LG’s technical support.