Washer repair · vibration · Ottawa
Washer shaking or walking in Ottawa?
Why a washer bangs, shakes or walks across the floor on the spin, what to check first, and how we repair suspension and bearing faults in Ottawa and Gatineau.
Diagnostic$89+ tax
Applied toward the approved repair when you go ahead.Residential appliances. Gas, commercial and sealed-system rates below.
Online requests are confirmed by call or text.
- TSSA-certified gas work
- In business since 1995
- Factory-authorized repairs
- 5.0 on Google · 59 reviews (Oct 2026)
OttawaONGatineauQC
Written diagnostic report
- Fault
- Explained on site
- Quote
- Approved first
- Warranty
- 3 months
- Service areaOttawa
- Diagnostic$89 + tax residential
- LanguageEnglish & French
- Warranty3 months on repairs
Short answer
A washer that violently shakes, bangs or walks across the floor on the spin usually has worn suspension rods or shock absorbers, failed drum bearings, a broken spider arm or a loose counterweight, or it is simply unlevel or unbalanced. On a brand-new machine, look for shipping bolts. Left alone, the vibration damages the machine, its hoses and your floor, so book a diagnosis if levelling doesn’t settle it.
01Before you book
Safe checks first
Five minutes that sometimes save a visit, and always make it faster. Skip anything you are not comfortable doing.
- Level the feetAdjust the feet until the washer sits firm on all four corners, then tighten the lock nuts up against the cabinet.
- Spread the loadBunched sheets or one heavy item make the drum swing. Untangle the load and spin again.
- Shipping boltsOn a new washer, check the back panel for transit bolts that were never removed.
- What it stands onMake sure the washer isn’t on a loose pedestal, a soft floor panel or a slippery mat.
Stop using it if you notice
- The tub hits the cabinet on every spin
- Hoses pulled tight as the washer moves
- A stacked dryer shifting on top of the washer
- Grinding or roaring that gets worse each week
Stop using it until it has been checked; a walking washer can tear a hose or damage the floor. Then call 613-301-0016.
02Common causes
Common causes of a washer that shakes or walks
- Worn suspension rods or shocks. On front-loaders, worn shock absorbers let the drum swing and bang during the spin; top-loaders use suspension rods that wear the same way.
- Failed drum bearings. Worn bearings cause loud rumbling and heavy vibration that worsens over time.
- Unbalanced load or unlevel machine. A bunched load, or a washer that is not level on its feet, makes it shake and walk.
- Broken suspension spider or counterweight. A cracked spider arm or a loose counterweight throws the drum off balance.
- Shipping bolts left in. Transit bolts not removed at installation cause severe shaking on a new machine.
03Floors and stacking
Floors, pedestals and stacked units
Where the washer sits matters. A machine on a springy wood-frame floor, on a pedestal whose feet have worked loose, or in a stacked pair moves more than one on a concrete basement slab, and a high-speed front-loader exposes every weakness. With a stacked washer and dryer, check that the stacking kit is secure, because a shaking washer can shift the dryer above it. Stacked units have their own guide: stackable washer-dryer repair.
04How we fix it
How B&M fixes a shaking washer
We check the suspension, bearings, spider, counterweights and levelling to find the cause of the vibration, then replace the worn parts. Suspension and bearing parts for the major brands are widely available. A machine that walks across the laundry room is rarely just an unbalanced load: if levelling and redistributing the wash don’t settle it, suspension rods, counterweight bolts and drum bearings are the usual culprits, and all three are routine repairs for our technicians. If the washer will not run at all, see washer not starting.
05Cost
What a shaking washer repair costs in Ottawa
The $89 + tax residential diagnostic is applied toward the repair if you go ahead, and the repair is quoted in writing before any work begins. Every repair carries a 3-month warranty on parts and labour. Bearing jobs are the most labour-heavy; see the washer repair cost guide for typical ranges. B&M provides factory-authorized repairs, carries TSSA certification for gas appliance work in Ontario and has worked in Ottawa and Gatineau homes since 1995.
06Rate card
Clear diagnostic pricing
One fee to find the fault. The repair itself is quoted in writing, and nothing proceeds until you approve it.
- You approve a written quote before any repair work.
- Repairs carry a 3-month warranty — ask for the written terms.
- Travel charges may apply more than 30 km from downtown Ottawa.
Residential diagnostic
Applied toward the approved repair
Gas appliances
Gas ranges, ovens, cooktops and dryers
Commercial equipment
Restaurants, property managers, landlords
Sealed-system diagnostic
Refrigerant, compressor
After-hours visit
Between 9 PM – 7 AM
- Diagnostic visit$89 + tax, residential. The technician finds the fault.
- Written quoteYou see the repair price and approve it first.
- RepairGo ahead and the $89 is applied toward the repair.
07Dispatch, step by step
How a visit works
Four stages, and you always know which one you’re in.
Request sent · not yet booked
Request
Book online or call. Tell us the appliance, brand and what it’s doing.
Next: we call or text you
- Appointment starts here
Booking confirmed
Confirm
We call or text to confirm a time window. Your booking is confirmed only then.
Your confirmed time window
Fault found
Diagnose
The technician tests the appliance and explains the fault. $89 + tax residential.
Written diagnostic report
Quote approved
Repair
You approve the written quote first. Repairs carry a 3-month warranty.
3-month repair warranty
A request is not an appointment. Your visit is booked once we confirm a time window with you by call or text.
09By area
Washer repair near you
Local pages for the neighbourhoods we serve most, with what is specific to each.
10Coverage
Washer repair on both sides of the river
Two primary markets, one dispatch: Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec.
Also serving
Why does my washer shake so violently on spin?
Usually worn suspension or failed bearings, or an unlevel machine. We diagnose which it is and quote the repair in writing before any work. Heavy shaking often goes with a washer making noise, from the same cause.
Is it safe to keep using a washer that walks across the floor?
Not for long. The vibration can damage the machine, its hoses and your floor, so a prompt repair is worth it.
Can worn bearings be replaced?
Yes, on most machines. We assess whether a bearing or suspension repair makes sense versus replacement and give you an honest recommendation; see repair or replace a washer.
12Ready when you are
Book a shaking washer repair in Ottawa.
Ottawa and Gatineau. $89 + tax residential diagnostic, applied toward the approved repair. We call or text to confirm your time window.