Why is my Whirlpool washer making a humming noise? (ANSWERED!)

It’s tough when your Whirlpool washing machine suddenly stops working. Most of us don’t have the time to wash our clothes by hand and fix the washer.

Routine maintenance will always be the best way to prevent appliance breakdowns. But for natural wear and tear and other inevitable malfunctions, you can prevent them from getting worse by knowing the warning signs. 

Loud noises are some of the tell-tale signs of malfunctions. Understanding the difference between normal and unusual operating noises can help you resolve issues before they cause your washer to break down. 

Here, we’ll delve into the different humming noises that a Whirlpool washer makes and what causes them. 

Why is my Whirlpool washer making a humming noise?

A Whirlpool washer makes various noises as part of its normal operations, including humming. The motor produces a humming noise during the agitation or spin portions of the cycle.

During drain cycles, the drain pump will make a humming noise. It will be more noticeable when most of the water is gone.

Which cycles will produce humming noises on a Whirlpool washer?

Whirlpool washers can produce humming noises during various parts of wash cycles, including the start of the cycle, washing or spinning, and draining. The humming sounds are all part of your washer’s normal operations.

Newer Whirlpool washer models are equipped with modern parts and technologies that enable them to function efficiently. Often, these upgrades also enable washers to function more quietly.

If you upgraded your washer to a newer model, the normal operating sounds you’ll hear might be different from what you’re used to.

Below, we’ll help you identify the different kinds of humming noises that a Whirlpool washer produces at various stages of a wash cycle. Hopefully, this will help you determine if the humming you hear is normal.

Start of a Cycle

At the very beginning of a cycle, you might hear a click and a hum when your washer’s lid lock undergoes a self-test. 

Your washer will spin a couple of times to determine the size of the laundry load. As a result, you might hear soft humming or whirring noises before the appliance even begins to wash your clothes.

Not to worry, this is part of the washer’s normal operations. It doesn’t indicate that your appliance requires servicing.

Here’s a clip of the normal humming noises you’ll hear when your Whirlpool washing machine starts a cycle.

Wash or Spinning Cycle

Once the motor turns, it will rotate the washer basket to clean your laundry. You’ll hear mild humming noises when the motor runs, which is completely normal.

Depending on your settings, your washer might run at higher speeds, causing the motor to produce louder humming noises. Don’t be alarmed as this is all part of its regular operations.

Take a look at this clip to hear the normal humming noises during wash or spinning cycles on a Whirlpool washer.

Draining Cycle

During the drain cycle, the drain pump turns on to pump the water in the drum through the hose and into the drain system. When the pump is running continuously, you’ll hear humming noises, which may gradually become louder as the water continues to drain.

Here’s a clip of the sounds that the drain pump makes as part of its regular operations.

Why is my washer so loud when it spins?

Although humming is a normal part of a Whirlpool washer’s operations, excessively loud noises are always a red flag. It is often caused by improper leveling, overloading, or underloading.

The loud humming noises are caused when the washer shakes or when the drum hits the cabinet during spin cycles.

Take a look at the most common causes of loud noises on your Whirlpool washer.

Causes	Solutions
Improper Leveling	• Set the carpenter’s level along the gap between the cabinet and the top part of the unit. • Rotate the leveling leg clockwise to lower its height or rotate it counterclockwise to raise it. • Use the carpenter’s level again to check if the washer is balanced. If not, readjust the leveling legs until it is properly leveled. • Load the laundry properly. Make sure to add items that are only machine washable, then distribute them evenly around the drum. • Maintain at least a hand’s width of space between the top of the load and the top of the tub.
Overloading or Underloading	• Measure your laundry load to prevent underloading or overloading the drum.  • Distribute the clothes evenly around the drum to keep the washer balanced during cycles. • A small load should fill up ⅓ of the drum, while a medium load should fill up half of it. • Fill ¾ of the drum to do a full load.

Improper Leveling

Leveling is an important part of the installation process of your Whirlpool washer as it ensures long, reliable, and regular operations. 

A quick way to check if your washer is leveled properly is by rocking it from side to side and back and forth. If it’s swaying a lot, the leveling legs are uneven and require adjustment.

An improperly leveled washer can easily go off balance during the wash or spin cycles. It will shake violently and produce loud noises. 

Depending on the washer model, it might pause mid-cycle in an attempt to rebalance the load and resolve the problem. If the washer can’t fix the issue after a few attempts, it will automatically stop the cycle and flash an E9 error code.

In such cases, you’ll have to manually readjust the leveling legs to keep the washer stable and balanced.

What you’ll need:

• Carpenter’s level

Solution: To level a Whirlpool washing machine, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Set the carpenter’s level along the gap between the cabinet and the top part of the unit.

The bubble will stay in the middle if the washer is balanced. If it isn’t, it will move to the higher side.

• Step 2: Rotate the leveling leg clockwise to lower its height or rotate it counterclockwise to raise it.
• Step 3: Use the carpenter’s level again to check if the washer is balanced. If not, readjust the leveling legs until it is properly leveled.
• Step 4: Load the laundry properly. Make sure to add items that are only machine washable, then distribute them evenly around the drum.

Maintain at least a hand’s width of space between the top of the load and the top of the tub.

Overloading or Underloading

We recommend measuring your laundry size to prevent overloading or underloading the washer. Either way, you’re going to encounter a variety of problems, including excess suds(whirlpool cabrio sd code).

If you only add a few pieces of clothing in the wash, there won’t be enough weight to keep the drum stable while it spins. In some cases, your appliance will bang and shake violently during the wash cycle.

On the other hand, if you add too much, it will put a lot of pressure on your washer’s internal components. It will force your appliance to work harder, causing unusually loud humming noises.

An overloaded washer can also go out of balance. Due to the heavy load, the wash basket may hit the sides of the cabinet, producing loud noises and vibrations during operations.

Whatever the case may be, the humming noises are the least of your worries. If you continue overloading or underloading your washer, it can cause premature component failure, which will require replacements.

Solution: Always measure your laundry load to prevent underloading or overloading your Whirlpool washer.

Load-Size Recommendations
Small Load	A small load should fill up ⅓ of the drum. That’s a pound of laundry per cubic foot of the washing machine’s capacity.
Medium Load	A medium load should fill up half of the drum or two pounds of laundry per cubic foot of the unit’s capacity.
Large Load	An extra large load should occupy ¾ of the drum or three pounds per cubic foot of the washer’s capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions