LG Washer Making Noise: What to Check and What to Do Next

Use only checks that match the exact appliance or system and its official guide.

1. Stop the motion and classify the sound

   Press Pause or Power and wait until the drum or tub is completely still before touching laundry. Record whether the noise occurs during filling, washing, acceleration, high-speed spin, draining, or stopping, and describe it as clicking, splashing, rattling, thumping, squealing, scraping, grinding, or roaring. From a safe position, look for smoke, burning odor, a hot plug, arcing, a water leak, or a washer that walks into the wall.

   Expected result: The tub does not stop, the washer strikes the cabinet or walks violently, smoke or an electrical odor appears, a connection is hot, water reaches electrical equipment, or the breaker trips repeatedly.

   Next step: Stop immediately, keep clear, and isolate power only from a safe, dry location. Close the water supply only if it is safely reachable; arrange qualified appliance or electrical service, and use emergency help for smoke or fire.

   Stop if: Do not restart the washer, reach into the tub, or move it across connected hoses and power leads.

   Why this matters

   Why: This is an injury, fire, electrical, or water event rather than an ordinary noise check.

2. Separate normal wash sounds from new or persistent noise

   If the sound is only a soft falling or splashing sound during wash, or a light click from zippers and buttons, pause and check pockets, fasten closures, and use the exact model's normal-operation guidance. If the sound is new, loud, metallic, or present from the bottom of the product, keep the washer off while you continue only the safe external checks.

   Expected result: The sound matches clothing falling or fasteners tapping during wash and disappears with a suitable load, or it is persistent rattling, grinding, scraping, or roaring from the bottom.

   Next step: For a normal, repeatable sound with no other symptom, use suitable loads and secure fasteners. For continuous bottom noise, stop using the washer and request professional service.

   Stop if: Do not keep running cycles to see whether a persistent grinding or scraping noise clears.

   Why this matters

   Why: LG describes the first pattern as potentially normal operation. Persistent bottom rattling or grinding can indicate a motor-part abnormality and is not safely identified by sound alone.

3. Check for a tangled or unsuitable load

   After the tub stops, remove or spread laundry evenly around the drum. Look for a single bulky item, a blanket or rug, waterproof fabric, a very small load, or an overloaded drum that can collect on one side. Empty pockets and fasten zippers and buttons before the next suitable load; do not reach under a moving tub or add weight as a blind fix.

   Expected result: Laundry is gathered on one side, the load is bulky or waterproof, clothing was overloaded, or the load is evenly distributed but the same noise remains.

   Next step: Run at most one supervised cycle with a suitable, evenly distributed load if the washer is stable and there is no safety symptom. Stop for repeated imbalance, impact, or persistent noise.

   Stop if: Do not wash waterproof items or continue a cycle that causes violent movement or cabinet impact.

   Why this matters

   Why: A load that cannot balance can cause pounding, rattling, prolonged spin, or walking. A balanced, appropriate load with the same sound makes a floor, foreign-object, installation, drain, or mechanical path more likely.

4. Check the washer for rocking and an unstable floor

   With the washer off and empty or safely unloaded, press opposing diagonal corners to see whether the cabinet rocks. Check that all feet contact a solid, level floor and that the washer has not shifted away from its installed position. Use only the model-documented leveling procedure; do not drag the washer while hoses or the power lead are connected.

   Expected result: The cabinet rocks, one foot is loose or off the floor, the floor is soft or damaged, the washer was recently moved, or the cabinet is stable but noise remains.

   Next step: Correct leveling only as the exact model instructions allow, tighten any model-specified foot lock, and verify all feet remain in firm contact. If the floor or feet cannot be made stable safely, arrange service or installation help.

   Stop if: Do not compensate for a damaged floor, broken foot, or heavy movement by placing loose objects under the washer.

   Why this matters

   Why: LG links an unlevel or unstable installation to rocking sound and spin vibration. Stability with continuing noise makes a load-independent or mechanical issue more likely.

5. Verify shipping bolts and packing after installation or moving

   If the noise began after delivery, installation, or a move, compare the rear of the washer with the exact LG installation instructions to confirm that all shipping bolts and packing materials were removed. For an applicable front-load model, the empty tub should have the movement described by LG when checked safely through the open door. Do not force a bolt, tilt a heavy washer alone, or remove hardware that is inaccessible.

   Expected result: Shipping hardware or packing is still present, the empty tub does not move as the model guidance describes, or the hardware was removed but excessive noise continues.

   Next step: Keep the washer off and have the installer or qualified service remove retained shipping hardware safely. If hardware is confirmed removed, continue only the load and level checks once; request service if the noise remains.

   Stop if: Do not operate the washer with shipping bolts or packing materials still installed.

   Why this matters

   Why: Retained shipping hardware can hold the tub and cause excessive noise and vibration. Persistent noise after correct installation points to load, leveling, foreign-object, drain, or mechanical diagnosis.

6. Inspect the empty drum for foreign objects

   When the washer is off, unplugged only from a safe, dry location, and fully stopped, remove laundry and look inside the drum for coins, keys, wires, buttons, or other loose objects. For an empty front-load drum, rotate it gently by hand only if the exact LG guidance permits and there is no damaged seal or electrical concern. Do not reach into gaps, remove panels, or use a tool where an object is trapped beyond the user-accessible opening.

   Expected result: A loose object is visible and can be removed without force, the drum makes the same noise while empty, or an object is trapped in a gap or pump area.

   Next step: Remove only a loose, visible object without forcing it. If the object is trapped, the drum scrapes, or the empty drum still rattles or grinds, leave the washer off and arrange service.

   Stop if: Do not dismantle the tub, pump, cabinet, or drive system to retrieve an object.

   Why this matters

   Why: Fasteners and foreign objects can rattle against the tub; noise that continues with an empty drum or an inaccessible object needs service diagnosis.

7. Check drain and fill noise only at visible connections

   If the sound occurs only while filling or draining, listen from a safe distance and inspect the visible inlet and drain hoses for rubbing against the cabinet, a kink, loose support, or a hose striking the washer. Confirm that the hose routing matches the exact installation instructions. Do not loosen a pressurized water connection or put a hand into a pump or drain opening.

   Expected result: A hose visibly strikes the cabinet, is kinked or unsupported, the household drain backs up, or the hose path is correct but a loud clicking, grinding, or repeated noise continues.

   Next step: Correct only a safe, visible routing or support issue documented for the model. Stop for a leak, backup, loud grinding, or a returning code and arrange appliance or plumbing service as appropriate.

   Stop if: Do not open the pump or cabinet to identify a drain or motor noise.

   Why this matters

   Why: A hose can transmit a filling or draining vibration to the cabinet, while a persistent internal pump or motor sound cannot be diagnosed safely by listening alone.

8. Use one supervised test only after safe checks

   After the load, level, installation, and visible foreign-object checks are complete, and only if the floor and electrical area are dry, run one model-appropriate rinse or spin test while staying nearby. Watch for renewed walking, impact, abnormal sound, leaks, a code, or failure to drain. Stop the test immediately if any of these occurs.

   Expected result: The washer is quiet and stable with a suitable load, the sound returns with an empty or balanced drum, or the washer vibrates, strikes, leaks, shows a code, or makes continuous bottom grinding.

   Next step: If the test is normal, use the suitable load and installation settings. If the sound returns or any abnormal symptom appears, leave the washer off and give service the exact sound, cycle stage, model, and test result.

   Stop if: Do not repeat spin tests or increase the spin speed to provoke the noise.

   Why this matters

   Why: A quiet test after a load or leveling correction supports an installation or load cause. A noise that is load-independent or returns with abnormal movement needs qualified diagnosis.