Washing Machine Very Loud

notjustamum

I have a Hotpoint Aqualtis AQ113D 697E Eco Tech 11kg machine. It is making a seriously loud noise, especially during spinning and a 45 min wash took nearly 2 hours!  When I emptied it I found the drum doesn’t move freely when I try to push it around, it seems to ‘bump’ around like it’s come off it’s runners. It’s 5 years old. Is it worth getting it fixed or am I better getting  a new one? Thanks

grumbler

a recent thread -  Washing machine spin cycle - rattling

notjustamum

Thanks Grumbler - I’ve just looked and that thread relates to a top-loading machine that doesn’t have bearings - it has a gearbox. Mine is a front loader 

EssexExile

If the drum won't move freely then either there is something jamming it or the motor is seizing up. Unplug it & remove the belt to find out if it is the drum or the motor that is stiff.

notjustamum

It seems like it’s the motor. But it could possibly be worn bearings

mwarby

If the motor was jammed you’d likely get a hot smell quite quickly then a thermal fuse should pop and motor would fail. To be it sounds more likely to be the bearings

grumbler

https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/aq113f497i/hotpoint-aq113f497i-aqualtis-freestanding-washing-machine

It doesn't say that it's direct drive. If so, it has to have a belt under the back cover. If you manage to take the belt off, you'll separate the motor and the drum, that will make it easier to identify the problem. Most likely it's the baring. Spinning 11kg at 1400 rpm is a hard job.

EssexExile

notjustamum said:

It seems like it’s the motor. But it could possibly be worn bearings

If you've taken the belt off then just spin the drum by hand, it should spin freely & (almost) silently. Likewise spin the motor by hand, it should spin freely & (almost) silently. Whichever doesn't do that is the problem, whether it's worth paying to have it repaired is another matter!

notjustamum

It’s actually a 1600rpm and having a family of 6, it does about 2 full loads every day. I’m not able to take it apart on my own so I’m wondering if you think it’s worth trying to get it fixed or just invest in a new one? I’m worried about continuing to use it in case it goes on fire as the noise is horrendous. I was sat yesterday at the back of the garden with the kitchen window open and had to shout on the phone to be heard and it’s a long garden!

neilmcl

You'll probably be waiting a while for someone to come out and repair it and by the sounds of it irt could prove expensive. Probably be better off looking for a new machine. Have a look on hotukdeals for any washing machine deals, I though I saw a Samsung machine on recently quite cheap.

Jackmydad

I don't repair them if I think it's anything major, and I'm capable of doing most, if not all repairs myself.
It's not very "green", but we tend to buy machines that are on offer, run them until they break (usually several years at least) and then get a new one.
The last one was had the motor shot. Motor was (IIRC) £80, plus the hassle of fitting it.
New machine time.