The short answer
On a Blomberg washer, a loud spin is far more often the machine's installation than its bearings. These machines spin fast and are shipped with transit bolts that must be removed, and a bolt left in place — or a machine that is not level — produces a violent noise that sounds terminal and is not.
What you are seeing
- A violent banging that only happens during the spin
- The machine walking across the floor as it spins
- A rumbling or roaring that rises with drum speed
- A metallic clinking during the wash but not the spin
- A grinding heard throughout the cycle
- A near-miss symptom: a knock in the pipework when the fill valve closes, which is water hammer in the house plumbing
- Body: When the noise happens is the most useful clue: A violent banging that only happens during the spin. The machine walking across the floor as it spins. A rumbling or roaring that rises with drum speed. A metallic clinking during the wash but not the spin. A grinding heard throughout the cycle. A near-miss symptom: a knock in the pipework when the fill valve closes, which is water hammer in the house plumbing.
Causes, most likely first
- Transit bolts still fitted — Why: these lock the drum for shipping and must be removed at installation; left in, they make the machine bang violently on every spin, and it is the first thing to check on a machine that has never been quiet.
- The machine not level or on a soft floor — Why: a front-loader at full spin puts real force into the floor, and a machine rocking on one foot walks and hammers.
- An unbalanced load — Why: a single heavy item such as a bath mat sends the drum off balance, and the machine either bangs or repeatedly slows down and retries.
- Coins or an underwire in the pump housing — Why: a metallic clink during the wash phase that stops when the pump filter is cleared.
- Worn drum bearings — Why: a rumble that rises with drum speed, unaffected by load balance, and it develops over months rather than appearing overnight.
- A worn shock absorber or suspension — Why: the drum hits the cabinet at the start and end of a spin, and this is what turns a mild imbalance into a bang.
- Body: Ranked for a high-spin front-loader in a domestic laundry: First, Transit bolts still fitted: these lock the drum for shipping and must be removed at installation; left in, they make the machine bang violently on every spin, and it is the first thing to check on a machine that has never been quiet. Second, The machine not level or on a soft floor: a front-loader at full spin puts real force into the floor, and a machine rocking on one foot walks and hammers. Third, An unbalanced load: a single heavy item such as a bath mat sends the drum off balance, and the machine either bangs or repeatedly slows down and retries. Fourth, Coins or an underwire in the pump housing: a metallic clink during the wash phase that stops when the pump filter is cleared. Fifth, Worn drum bearings: a rumble that rises with drum speed, unaffected by load balance, and it develops over months rather than appearing overnight. Sixth, A worn shock absorber or suspension: the drum hits the cabinet at the start and end of a spin, and this is what turns a mild imbalance into a bang.
What to check, in order
- look at the back of the machine for transit bolts, especially if the noise has been there since delivery.
- rock each corner and adjust the feet until the machine sits firm and does not move under hand pressure.
- redistribute the load and rerun a spin, since a single heavy item explains a great many complaints.
- clear the pump filter to remove the metallic-clink cause, and note whether any remaining noise rises with drum speed.
- Body: Check the installation before the mechanism: First, look at the back of the machine for transit bolts, especially if the noise has been there since delivery. Second, rock each corner and adjust the feet until the machine sits firm and does not move under hand pressure. Third, redistribute the load and rerun a spin, since a single heavy item explains a great many complaints. Fourth, clear the pump filter to remove the metallic-clink cause, and note whether any remaining noise rises with drum speed.
Checks you can do yourself
- Switch off at the breaker and look at the rear panel for transit bolts, removing them if they are present — Tools: spanner — Time estimate: a few minutes
- Rock each corner of the machine and adjust the feet until it sits firm on all four — Tools: adjustable spanner — Time estimate: a few minutes
- Check the machine is not touching a wall, a worktop or a neighbouring appliance — Tools: none — Time estimate: a few minutes
- Open the plinth flap and clear the pump filter of coins, wires and clips — Tools: gloves, tray — Time estimate: a few minutes
- Run a spin-only programme with a single evenly spread load and listen — Tools: none — Time estimate: half an hour or so
- Body: A short installation check settles most cases: Switch off at the breaker and look at the rear panel for transit bolts, removing them if they are present (spanner; a few minutes). Rock each corner of the machine and adjust the feet until it sits firm on all four (adjustable spanner; a few minutes). Check the machine is not touching a wall, a worktop or a neighbouring appliance (none; a few minutes). Open the plinth flap and clear the pump filter of coins, wires and clips (gloves, tray; a few minutes). Run a spin-only programme with a single evenly spread load and listen (none; half an hour or so).
Safety first
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. A front-loader at full spin stores a lot of energy: never try to stop the drum by hand, do not lean on a machine that is walking, and pause the cycle from the panel before opening the door. unplug-before-service
When to stop and call a technician
These need the machine opened: A rumble that rises with drum speed and is unaffected by load or levelling. A bang at the start and end of every spin with a level machine and a balanced load. A grinding present during the wash as well as the spin. The drum can be moved up and down by hand with noticeable play. A rumble that rises with drum speed and is unaffected by load or levelling A bang at the start and end of every spin with a level machine and a balanced load A grinding present during the wash as well as the spin The drum can be moved up and down by hand with noticeable play
Nearest pages of the same kind
What this page does not cover
This page is generalized across every washing machine sold under the Blomberg name: it separates neither the freestanding machines from the integrated ones and one control generation from another, and it names no individual model. Where a family- or model-specific page exists it is linked here and it outranks this one for that machine; at present no page beneath this one narrows to a single family, so treat the ranking above as the brand-level pattern rather than a reading of your serial plate. For the other faults that turn up on this machine, start from Common Blomberg Washer Problems.
Related pages
- Common Blomberg Washer Problems
- Blomberg Washer: Does Not Clean or Dry
- Blomberg Washer: Controls, Display or Error Code
- Blomberg Washer: Cycle Will Not Run or Complete
- Blomberg Washer: Door, Latch or Seal Fault
- Blomberg Washer: Will Not Drain
- Blomberg Washer: Electrical, Fire or Gas Hazard
- Blomberg Washer: Not Heating
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
