The short answer
On Aviva ALWF the noise list is short because the machine is simple: something turns, something pumps, and something holds the drum. On a compact front-loader the weight is carried on a suspension and controlled by counterweights, so a fault here is felt as a change in the spin rather than seen. Run one empty cycle and listen to each stage separately, and the diagnosis is usually done before a panel comes off.
What you observe on these models
- A hard rattle during spin only — Something loose that is only thrown around at speed — usually an object that has left a pocket and reached the pump or the outer tub.
- The machine walks or bangs against the wall — Balance and levelling, not a failed part.
- A whine or grind during the drain step — The pump runs only then, which makes the timing conclusive.
- A roar that rises with spin and continues as the drum slows — Bearing or suspension noise.
- NEAR MISS — clicks and hums while filling — Solenoids and water hitting a dry tub.
Causes, most likely first on ALWF
- A foreign object in the tub, the pump or between the tubs — Coins, wires from underwiring and buttons leave the pockets, pass the tub and arrive at the pump. The noise is a hard rattle that is worst at speed and absent at rest. Ranked first on Aviva ALWF because this machine is normally installed permanently, which makes the supply, the drain and the standpipe part of the diagnosis rather than a footnote.
- The tub bearing or the suspension — A roar that rises with spin speed and continues as the drum coasts down is bearing noise. It is the one item on this list that will not wait.
- The drain pump — A pump running dry, or one with debris at the impeller, whines or grinds during the drain part of the cycle only. The timing is what identifies it.
- Transit bolts or packaging never removed — A machine that has been moved and hammers violently from its first spin is almost always still bolted for transport, and nothing is broken at all. Last on this list, and the item that every cause above it can imitate exactly.
Check in this order, and why that order
- Run one empty cycle and note the stage — Fill, agitation, drain and spin each involve different parts. Which stage the noise belongs to eliminates most of the list at no cost.
- Check level and rock the cabinet — A machine that moves on its feet will be noisy whatever else is true, and it can be fixed with a spanner in five minutes.
- Spin the drum by hand with the power off — A dry rumble or a gritty feel points at the bearing; smooth and silent points away from it.
- Confirm nothing is still bolted or packed — A machine noisy from its very first cycle after a move is still restrained for transport far more often than it is broken.
Before you open anything
Safety
Unplug the washer or switch off its breaker before removing any panel, and close the tap before touching a fill hose. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off, and the door lock stays engaged for a period after a cycle ends — wait it out rather than forcing the door. Do not run the machine with a panel off to listen to it: the belt and pulley on a washer are exposed once the cabinet is open, and a machine that is in spin is carrying more energy than it looks like.
Models this page covers — the ALWF family
Reference| Model number | Family key |
|---|---|
| ALWF190WH | aviva:washer:alwf |
When to call a technician
Call when the noise is a rising roar during spin that continues as the drum coasts down, when the drum can be moved by hand against its own suspension, or when the noise arrived with water where it should not be. Call sooner if the machine is also failing to spin. Do not call for a machine that bangs on an unbalanced load, walks on an uneven floor, or clicks while filling: on Aviva ALWF those three explain most reports and none is a repair. Check the plate before acting on any of this. ALWF is a compact washer, and the ranking above is written for that construction rather than for the brand as a whole.
Other problems covered for the ALWF family
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
