Asko Washer: Abnormal Noise or Vibration
Washer noise is diagnosed by when it happens, not by how loud it is: a noise only during the spin, only during the fill, or only during the wash agitation points at three completely different parts of the machine. This page takes the same fault from a different starting point: not which subsystem is likeliest on an Asko washer, but when the trouble started. These are heavily built machines, so wear-out ranks low and installation, water-path obstructions and load habits rank high. What ranks first here is something you can correct yourself in under an hour, which is the reason to work down the list in order rather than book a visit straight away.
What you are actually seeing
- Check your symptom against this list first.
- A buzzing during the fill only.
- Clicking or rattling on every drum turn.
- A grinding or scraping that follows the drum rotation.
- Banging or walking across the floor during the spin.
- Not this fault: If the noise started along with a burning smell, stop using the machine and read the electrical-safety page.
Causes, grouped by when it started
- One entry per onset pattern first — the strongest candidate for each way this fault can begin on an Asko washer — and the remainder after them. Read the label, find the pattern that matches yours, and start there rather than at the top.
- The machine is not level, or the transit bolts were never removed — Why: A washer on three of its four feet walks and bangs at spin speed, and a new machine that was installed with its transit bolts still fitted makes a violent noise from the very first spin. This ranks above component wear on a machine of this build quality: the parts are heavy-duty, the installation is whatever the room allowed. — Onset: Has been like this since the unit was installed or moved
- Blocked pump or an object in the filter — Why: A pump working against a partial blockage grinds and buzzes at the drain phase specifically, which is easy to mistake for a bearing. — Onset: Got worse gradually over weeks or months
- Unbalanced or overloaded drum — Why: A single heavy item, or a load packed to the top, throws the drum off balance and the machine either bangs or repeatedly slows and retries the spin. — Onset: Happens on some cycles or some days and not others
- Coin, underwire or button between the drum and the tub — Why: A hard object that gets past the drum holes rattles and scrapes on every rotation, and an underwire in particular can score the drum. — Onset: Started suddenly, between one use and the next
What to check, and in what order
- This order follows the onset groups above, so it is deliberately different from the companion page. Neither is wrong; they are two routes through one fault.
- Pin down when it started and whether it happens every time. — Why: A fault that appeared between one use and the next has a different cause set from one that crept up over months, and this answer alone removes most of the list.
- Establish which phase the noise belongs to — fill, wash, spin or drain. — Why: It splits the machine into four subsystems and makes everything after it cheap.
- Check the machine is level and, if it is new, that the transit bolts were removed. — Why: It costs nothing and it is by far the most common cause of spin noise.
Checks you can safely do yourself
- Stop at the first step that would put a meter on live terminals.
- Note which phase of the cycle the noise occurs in and whether it changes with drum speed. — Tools: None — Time: One cycle
- Put a spirit level on the top of the machine, front to back and side to side, and adjust the feet until it does not rock. — Tools: Spirit level, adjustable spanner
About 25 min
- If the machine is new, check the back panel for transit bolts and remove them if they are still fitted. — Tools: Spanner or socket set
About 15 min
- Run a spin cycle with the drum completely empty and listen again. — Tools: None
About 15 min
Before you touch anything
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. — Id: unplug-before-service
Unplug the washer before opening the filter, removing a panel or reaching into the drum; a capacitor in the drive circuit holds a charge after the power is off. Never run the machine with a panel removed to listen to it. A washer that walks can trap a hand or a foot and can tear its own hoses off the wall, so stop the cycle before investigating rather than watching it move.
Where the owner checks end
Call a technician when one of these is true, and not before.
When a rumble that rises with spin speed and the drum has noticeable play when rocked by hand. When the drum bangs on the cabinet on every spin on a level machine, which points at the dampers. When a scraping noise persists with an empty drum and a clear filter.
Sources
General guidance- 29 CFR 1910.147 — The Control of Hazardous Energy — US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, fetched 2026-09-06
Nearest pages of the same kind
What this page does not cover
Links down: - [Common Asko Washer Problems](/blog/asko-washer-problems-2)
This page is generalized: it covers the Asko washer line as a whole and does not narrow to a family, a model number or a serial range. The overview at asko-washer-problems-2 routes down to every problem class on this machine, including any family- or model-specific page beneath this one.
Other faults on this machine
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
