Maytag Washer Buzzing Sound (Fixed!)

A Maytag washing machine will produce a variety of sounds throughout each cycle—humming, gurgling, whirring, and clicking. However, if you hear a loud buzzing noise, it could indicate a potential problem.

Before calling repair services, you should look for the cause of the unusually loud noise and resolve it to prevent any existing issues from getting worse. It could be a minor problem that can resolved in a matter of minutes.

Not to worry, we’ve made a little guide to help you determine the possible causes of your Maytag washer’s buzzing sound. We also offer tips and easy-to-follow solutions to help you resolve this problem.

Why is my Maytag washer buzzing?

Loud buzzing noises from a Maytag washer could indicate an obstructed drain pump, faulty basket drive hub, or faulty motor.

If the buzzing only appears when you do heavy loads, the bottom of the drum could be hitting the drain pan. In such cases, raising the leveling legs should solve your problem.

Causes and Solutions

To resolve the loud buzzing of your Maytag washer, look for the source of the sound. During a cycle, determine whether the sound appears throughout the wash cycle or only during draining.

Remove any obstructions and look for signs of wear. If a part has visible damage, replace it with a new one. 

Let’s take a closer look at the possible causes of the loud buzzing noises in your Maytag washing machine.

Causes	Solutions
Low Leveling Legs	Set the carpenter’s level on top of the top-load washer to check if it is leveled properly. If the model has a curved top, place the level between the cabinet’s seam and the unit’s top. Prop up the front of the washer using a block of wood or other similar items.  Use a 9/16” wrench to loosen the jam nuts on the metal leveling legs, then turn them clockwise for about half an inch from the washer cabinet.  Rotate the leveling legs counterclockwise to raise the height of the washer.  Then, tighten the jam nuts on the metal leveling legs using the 9/16” wrench and rotate them counterclockwise until fully secured. If your washer has plastic leveling legs, use adjustable pliers to rotate each leg clockwise to raise its height. After adjusting the legs, place the carpenter’s level on top of the washer to verify that it is level from side to side and from front to back.
Obstructed Drain Pump	Disconnect your washer from its power supply. Turn off the water supply, then detach the drain and the fill hoses. Carefully move the washer away from the wall and tilt it back to access the drain pump at the bottom of the unit. Take off the insulation and set it aside. Place a towel on the floor to absorb excess water from the pump. Locate the drain pump assembly. Check the user manual for reference, if needed. Disconnect the wire connections to the drain pump. Use a flathead screwdriver if the wires are hard to pull out. Loosen the clamps on the hoses using pliers. Disconnect the hoses from the pump.  Use the 5/16” nut driver to remove the screws mounting the pump to the washer. Check all the hoses and ports for lint, hair, and other foreign debris. Then, remove the gunk to unclog the pump. Use the 5/16” nut driver to reinstall the screws and secure the pump to the washer. Secure the clamps on the hoses using pliers. Reconnect the wires to the terminals on the pump. Reinstall the insulation. Keep your washer upright. Then, reconnect the drain and inlet hoses to the unit. Turn on the water supply and reconnect the washer to power. Run a test cycle to verify that the buzzing noise has disappeared.
Faulty Basket Drive Hub	Disconnect the washer from its power supply.  Open the washer’s lid. Remove the agitator cap or fabric softener dispenser. Use a 7/16” socket with ratchet and extension to remove the bolt in the agitator. Carefully lift the entire agitator assembly out of the washer. Locate the basket drive hub in the drum. Refer to your user manual, if needed. Pry the locking clip off using a flathead screwdriver. Remove the screws around the hub using a Phillips screwdriver.  Inspect the basket drive hub for signs of damage. Then, replace it if needed. Slip the part into the transmission shaft. Then, fasten all the screws and reinstall the clip to secure the part. Reinstall the wash plate. Attach the agitator to the wash plate. After, tighten the agitator bolt using the 7/16” socket with ratchet and extension. Put on the agitator cap or fabric softener dispenser. Run a test cycle to check if the buzzing noise has disappeared.
Faulty Drain Pump	Disconnect your washer from its power supply. Turn off the water supply, then detach the drain and the fill hoses. Move the washer away from the wall and tilt it back to access the drain pump. Or, lay it on its back. Remove the insulation underneath the washer, and lay a towel in case of accidental spills. Locate the drain pump assembly. Check the user manual for reference, if needed. Disconnect the wires on the drain pump. Use a flathead screwdriver if the wires are hard to pull out. Loosen the clamps, and detach the hoses from the pump.  Use a 5/16” nut driver to remove the screws mounting the pump to the washer. Remove the drain pump. Get the replacement and attach it to the hoses.  Use the 5/16” nut driver to reinstall the screws and secure the pump to the washer. Tighten the clamps on the hoses, and reconnect the wires to the right terminals. Reinstall the insulation and keep your washer upright. Then, reconnect the drain and inlet hoses to the unit. Turn on the water supply and reconnect the washer to power. Run a test cycle to confirm that the buzzing has disappeared.

Low Leveling Legs

Do you have a drain pan under the washer? If you do, the bottom of the tub might be rubbing against the pan, causing a loud vibrating or buzzing noise during operations.

The noise will be more noticeable when you’re cleaning heavy laundry loads. Simply raise the legs of your washer to prevent the bottom of the tub from hitting the drain pan.

What you’ll need:

• Carpenter’s level
• 9/16” open-end or adjustable wrench (metal leveling legs)
• Adjustable pliers (plastic leveling legs)

Solution: To raise the leveling legs of your washer, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Set the carpenter’s level on top of the top-load washer to check if it is leveled properly. If the model has a curved top, place the level between the cabinet’s seam and the unit’s top.
• Step 2: Prop up the front of the washer using a block of wood or other similar items. 
• Step 3: Use a 9/16” wrench to loosen the jam nuts on the metal leveling legs, then turn them clockwise for about half an inch from the washer cabinet. Rotate the leveling legs counterclockwise to raise the height of the washer.

Tighten the jam nuts on the metal leveling legs using the 9/16” wrench. Turn them counterclockwise until they are fully secured.

Skip to step 4 if your washer has plastic leveling legs.

• Step 4: Use adjustable pliers to rotate the plastic leveling legs of your washer. Turn each leg clockwise to raise its height.
• Step 5: Place the carpenter’s level on top of the washer to verify that it is level from side to side and from front to back.

Obstructed Drain Pump

Coins, buttons, and other small items can accumulate in your washing machine’s drain pump, which will cause a loud buzzing sound during cycles. You can verify this by isolating the drain pump from the washing machine.

The drain pump is located underneath the washer. You will have to tilt the washer or lay it on its back to access the pump.

What you’ll need:

• Flathead screwdriver
• Pliers
• Towels
• 5/16” nut driver

Solution: To remove an obstruction in your washer’s drain pump, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Disconnect your washer from its power supply.
• Step 2: Turn off the water supply, then detach the drain and the fill hoses.
• Step 3: Carefully move the washer away from the wall and tilt it back to access the drain pump at the bottom of the unit.
• Step 4: Take off the insulation and set it aside.
• Step 5: Place a towel on the floor to absorb excess water from the pump.
• Step 6: Locate the drain pump assembly. Check the user manual for reference, if needed.
• Step 7: Disconnect the wire connections to the drain pump. Use a flathead screwdriver if the wires are hard to pull out.
• Step 8: Loosen the clamps on the hoses using pliers. 
• Step 9: Disconnect the hoses from the pump. 
• Step 10: Use the 5/16” nut driver to remove the screws mounting the pump to the washer.
• Step 11: Check all the hoses and ports for lint, hair, and other foreign debris. Then, remove the gunk to unclog the pump.
• Step 12: Use the 5/16” nut driver to reinstall the screws and secure the pump to the washer.
• Step 13: Secure the clamps on the hoses using pliers.
• Step 14: Reconnect the wires to the terminals on the pump.
• Step 15: Reinstall the insulation.
• Step 16: Keep your washer upright. Then, reconnect the drain and inlet hoses to the unit.
• Step 17: Turn on the water supply and reconnect the washer to power.
• Step 18: Run a test cycle to verify that the buzzing noise has disappeared.

Faulty Basket Drive Hub

Image Ideas:

• Maytag washer illustration similar to the sample above. Only label the agitator, wash plate, and basket drive hub

Is your washing machine not spinning properly? If the buzzing noise comes with a spinning problem, you could have an issue with the agitator, specifically with its basket drive hub.

A basket drive hub is a small part of the drum that connects the spin basket to the shaft that rotates the basket. Due to constant use, it will wear out over time, preventing the agitator from rotating properly.

Consequently, it will also cause an unusual buzzing or humming noise.

What you’ll need:

• Flathead screwdriver
• Phillips screwdriver
• 7/16” socket with ratchet and extension
• New basket drive hub

Solution: To replace a Maytag washer’s basket drive hub, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Disconnect the washer from its power supply.
• Step 2: Open the washer’s lid.
• Step 3: Remove the agitator cap or fabric softener dispenser.
• Step 4: Use a 7/16” socket with ratchet and extension to remove the bolt in the agitator.
• Step 5: Carefully lift the entire agitator assembly out of the washer.
• Step 6: Locate the basket drive hub in the drum. Refer to your user manual, if needed.
• Step 7: Pry the locking clip off using a flathead screwdriver.
• Step 8: Remove the screws around the hub using a Phillips screwdriver.
• Step 9: Inspect the basket drive hub for signs of damage. Then, replace it if needed.
• Step 10: Slip the part into the transmission shaft. Then, fasten all the screws and reinstall the clip to secure the part.
• Step 11: Reinstall the wash plate.
• Step 12: Attach the agitator to the wash plate. After, tighten the agitator bolt using the 7/16” socket with ratchet and extension.
• Step 13: Put on the agitator cap or fabric softener dispenser
• Step 14: Run a test cycle to check if the buzzing noise has disappeared.

Faulty Drain Pump

Obstructions may put extra stress on the drain pump, causing premature failure. 

If the pump is no longer functioning properly, you must replace it with a new one to enable your washer to drain. With a new pump, it should also get rid of your loud buzzing problem.

What you’ll need:

• Flathead screwdriver
• Pliers
• Towels
• 5/16” nut driver
• Multimeter
• New drain pump assembly

Solution: First, remove the drain pump from the washer and test for continuity to confirm that it requires replacement.

• Step 1: Disconnect your washer from its power supply.
• Step 2: Turn off the water supply. Then, unplug the drain and fill the hoses.
• Step 3: Carefully pull the washer away from the wall and tilt it back to access the drain pump under the unit. Or, place a towel on the floor and lay the washer on its back.
• Step 4: Remove the insulation underneath the washer and set it aside.
• Step 5: Place a towel to absorb any excess water from the drain pump.
• Step 6: Locate the drain pump assembly. Check the user manual for reference, if needed.
• Step 7: Disconnect the wires from the drain pump. Use a flathead screwdriver if the wires are hard to pull out.
• Step 8: Loosen the clamps on the hoses using pliers.
• Step 9: Disconnect the hoses from the pump. 
• Step 10: Use the 5/16” nut driver to remove the screws mounting the pump to the washer.
• Step 11: Isolate the pump from the washer.
• Step 12: Spin the impeller on the pump. If it rotates without any resistance, your pump is most likely defective.
• Step 13: Get a multimeter and set it to 2 kilo ohms.
• Step 14: Touch both prongs on the multimeter to the electrical terminal on the drain pump assembly.

A functional pump will read 160 to 260 ohms with about 5% leeway. The lowest possible reading should be 152 ohms and anything less than that should indicate a defective pump.

To replace a drain pump on a top-load Maytag washer, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Disconnect your washer from its power supply.
• Step 2: Turn off the water supply, and disconnect the drain and the fill hoses.
• Step 3: Carefully move your unit away from the wall and tilt it back to access the drain pump. Or, place a towel on the floor and lay the washer on its back.
• Step 4: Remove the insulation and set it aside.
• Step 5: Prepare a towel or rag in case of accidental spills.
• Step 6: Locate the drain pump assembly. Check the user manual for reference, if needed.
• Step 7: Disconnect the wires on the drain pump. Use a flathead screwdriver if the wires are hard to pull out.
• Step 8: Loosen the clamps on the hoses using pliers.
• Step 9: Detach the hoses from the pump. 
• Step 10: Use the 5/16” nut driver to unfasten the mounting screws on the pump.
• Step 11: Remove the drain pump.
• Step 12: Get your replacement and attach it to the hoses. 
• Step 13: Use the 5/16” nut driver to reinstall the screws and secure the pump to the washer.
• Step 14: Use pliers to tighten the clamps on the hoses to secure the connections.
• Step 15: Reconnect the wires to the terminals on the pump.
• Step 16: Reattach the insulation.
• Step 17: Keep your washer upright. Then, reconnect the drain and the fill hoses.
• Step 18: Turn on the water supply and reconnect the washer to power.
• Step 19: Run a test cycle to confirm that the buzzing has disappeared.