Signs Your Washing Machine Drum Needs To Be Replaced

Ugh! Your washing machine is shaking like crazy, your laundry isn't coming out clean, and now — understandably — you're feeling very frustrated. If this describes your situation, it could be a sign that your washing machine drum needs to be replaced. If you're not familiar with which part the drum is, it is the large tub where you load your clothes and linens. The drum, which is typically made of metal or plastic, spins to help clean each load of laundry. As you can guess, it is an essential component of a washing machine — and things won't go well if it isn't functioning properly or needs to be replaced. To help us learn more about the signs that a washing machine drum needs to be replaced, we reached out to Ben Schlichter, an appliance blogger on YouTube.

During an exclusive interview with House Digest, Schlichter explained one tell-tale indication that you might need a new drum. He said, "Usually, you would hear noises coming from the drum that are consistent on each rotation, but not a constant metal contacting noise (which would be the bearing)." Ahead, we'll share more exclusive advice from Schlichter about how to tell if you need a new washing machine drum. We'll also highlight his advice for extending the lifespan of the drum by changing your routine to avoid making a potentially costly mistake.

You might not want to think about the prospect of replacing the drum in your washing machine. However, it is possible that you'll need to start planning for this repair if you're experiencing any of the signs that Schlichter highlighted when speaking exclusively with House Digest. Beyond the loud noises that you're likely to hear, he also explained how one specific part of the drum assembly could be to blame. "What is associated with the drum, the spider bracket, is what tends to fail within the drum assembly causing most of the issues. If there is significant play between the drum and tub, the bracket is usually bad and will warp the drum."

According to Schlichter, there's one more important thing that can also indicate that you'll need to replace your drum. He said, "Constant out-of-balance issues or codes are another sign, if the drum has disassociated from the tub, that is another sign the assembly is bad."

If you're hearing these loud noises or dealing with frequent error codes or balance issues, you'll want to start preparing yourself for what it will cost to repair your washing machine — or even to replace it. While Schlichter said some savvy homeowners may be able to attempt this job, he doesn't really recommend doing it on your own. "It's a very lengthy and difficult process," he said. Moreover, because of the costs involved in replacing the drum (expect to spend between $400 and $900), Schlichter said, " In most cases, damaged drums or spider brackets are the top case that would result in suggesting a new machine."

Knowing how difficult and expensive it is to replace a washer's drum — and the likelihood that it could make it necessary for you to purchase an entirely new machine — you'll want to do what you can to avoid issues with this part of the appliance. During an exclusive interview, we asked Schlichter to share some of the most common causes of washing machine drum problems. He said, "Overloading, and deterioration of the spider bracket causing the drum to warp are the two most common."

Beyond the dangers of overloading the washing machine, Schlichter highlights a few additional precautions homeowners should take. "Do not overfill the unit with fabric softener or detergents. Use your dispenser's guidelines. Often, we will use far more than what is needed," he said. Even with taking these precautions, he explains that it is still good practice to regularly clean your washer to help protect the drum and extend its lifespan. Schlichter shared, "Once a month, run the tub clean cycle if your washer has it. If it does not, use the longest mode with the hot-water option selected. Use a washing machine cleaner such as Affresh or Wash Bomb to clean the areas of the drum that cannot be seen."