GE Washer Out of Balance during Spin? (All You Need To Know)

Have you tried using your GE washing machine but all it does each time is shake out of balance?

It may even sometimes work normally but after a short while, you are faced with an unbalanced load that causes your GE washing machine to shake. 

Whether this is the first time your GE washer has gone out of balance, or it happens always, it’s a sign that something is not right.

So the question you may ask is, why does your GE washing machine go unbalanced?

Incorrect loading of the drum or an unleveled floor can occasionally cause your GE washer to go out of balance. However, if your washer is properly loaded and on a leveled floor and it still goes out of balance, chances are that your suspension rods, shock absorbers, shaft, drum bearings, or snubber ring may be faulty. 

You need to fix this problem on your GE washing machine because the excessive vibrations can cause other components to malfunction.

Why is my GE washer out of balance? (How to fix it)

GE washers can go out of balance when you run a wash or spin cycle for a number of reasons. 

Your GE washer will go out of balanced if your clothes are not properly distributed in the drum or if you have your washer on an irregular/unleveled surface. 

The above two reasons are usually temporal and easy to fix. 

However, if you properly load your washer, have it on a level surface, and your GE washer is still unbalanced, then the problem could be a mechanical issue.

Let’s look at the 10 common reasons why your GE washer is out of balance and how you can easily solve the problem.

Read also: Samsung Washer Out of Balance? (All You Need To Know)

1. Uneven distribution of clothes in the drum

For your GE washer’s drum to work smoothly during the spin cycle, the clothes in it should be evenly distributed.

If your GE top load washer starts banging against the sides of your washer immediately after the spin cycle begins, before the speed increases, then it’s likely that the load is not balanced.

Overloading your washer beyond its capacity or loading oversized materials can also cause unbalance during spin cycles. 

But not just overloading, a very small load can create an unbalanced load.

When you have an unbalanced load, your GE washer will display a 26 error code.

To fix an unbalanced load when spinning in a GE washing machine, pause the cycle, rearrange the clothes in the drum, reduce some clothes if it’s overloaded, and start the cycle again. 

Tips for loading GE washer drum:

• Always check your GE user manual for the right amount of load suitable 
• If your GE washer has an unbalanced load, simply pause the cycle and reduce or add more clothes. 
• Use a washbag for small items or items that may contain foreign objects 
• Always confirm that you are using the correct wash and spin settings

2. Washer is on an Unleveled surface

When your front load GE washing machine is on an uneven surface, that can cause it to go out of balance. 

Your GE washer needs an even and leveled ground to operate.

Otherwise, your washer will not spin properly but rather shake violently and go out of balance.

To fix a GE washing machine on an unleveled surface, adjust all the legs of your washer such that your washer is leveled and firm. You can also use rubber anti-vibration pads to control the surface on which your GE washer sits.

As for GE top load washers, you can usually relevel them by tipping forward and resting them back on the floor.

Tips

• Ensure that you check the level on all its sides using a spirit level.
• Take off the front access panel to untighten the loc nuts that hold and control the four legs of the washer.

3. Shipping bolts may still be present

If your GE frontload washing machine is new and it’s getting unbalanced, it’s likely the shipping bolts are still in place.

Shipping bolts are usually located in the back of your GE washer to keep the tub secure. 

If they are not removed before use, your washer will be unbalanced when spinning. 

You can refer to your user manual to get the location of the shipping bolts in your GE washer model and use a wrench to remove them.

4. There is clothes or object caught in the tub

During wash or spin cycles, fabrics can be stuck below the tub or between the main agitator and the inner tub and causing your GE washer to go off balance.

Foreign objects such as a bra wire, a coin, or buttons can also get stuck which will make your washer unbalanced anytime you run a spin cycle. 

To address this issue, you need to inspect under and around the center agitator to ensure there isn’t any fabric or object stuck there.

If you find that there’s any material stuck then try pulling it out gently. 

You may have to remove the agitator and inspect if no coin or wire has found its way underneath.

5. Shock absorbers have worn out

GE front load washers have shock absorbers that are usually connected to the outer tub and the base of the washer. 

Just like suspensions, the shock absorbers don’t last forever but can wear out from the continuous of your GE washer. 

You can inspect the shock absorbers by opening the back panel and looking below the washer to see if they have become weak or damaged. 

Also, check for signs of leaking fluid in the shock absorbers that can be a sign that they have gone bad. 

Washing machine shock absorbers can be easily replaced without external assistance.

But if you can’t replace them by yourself, then get help from an appliance technician.

6. Bearings are worn out

The bearings on a GE front load washer are usually located between the tub spindle and the motor shaft and they support the smooth movement of the drum. 

With time they can get worn out and even drop out on their own. 

If your GE washer is out of balance, it could be that your bearings have reached their limit, and it’s time for a replacement.

7. Suspension rods are damaged

Suspension rods in your GE washer are responsible for dampening the movement of the wash tub. 

With time, they can get worn out, weak, and even broken such that they can’t perform their role. 

When the suspension rods get weak or damaged your washer will shake and move anytime you run a spin cycle and go out of balance.

You need to open the top panel and inspect to see if there are any times of wear or damage to the suspension rods.

If they appear damaged or weak, you will need to replace them.

8. Damaged snubber ring

Your Top load GE washer has a rubber ring that lies between the base of the outer tub and the washer’s base. 

It serves as a cushion and prevents the tub from direct contact with the base. 

If the ring is damaged or worn out, it can be the reason why your GE washer is unbalanced, and you will need to replace it.

9. Corroded Shaft

The inner tub on your GE washing machine sits on a metallic shaft.

This shaft needs to be in a good condition at all times but with time, it can get corroded by water and detergent fins way to them. 

To check if the shaft is in good condition, open the lid of your Top load GE washer, and lift the tub up and down. 

The inner tub should move about ¾ inches. 

If it doesn’t move at all, then the shaft is probably corroded and gummed up. 

A corroded shaft can be fixed but it involves some technical handiness. 

If you can’t carry out this repair by yourself, then get an appliance technician to do that for you. 

10. Broken dampening strap

Most GE top load washers have four rubber straps that hold the tub firmly to the 4 corners of the washer frame.

Again, these rubber dampening straps undergo wear and tear and once they get damaged, your GE washer will be unbalanced during spinning. 

We advise that you replace all four straps even if you find out that only one of them is damaged.

Read also: Washing Machine Spinning too Fast? (Why)

Conclusion

If your GE washing machine goes out of balance, you don’t need to panic because it may not be a huge problem.

Worst case scenario, you may have to replace some broken mechanical problems.

We hope that our article will help you fix the unbalanced movements of your GE washer. 

Always start with investigating the temporal reasons first and if the problem persists, then you can go ahead and dig into the mechanical reasons why your GE washer goes out of balance.

You can also call in an appliance technician if you find it difficult to carry out some of the repairs.