hi

Our 7 year old Hotpoint washer has begun to make a strange noise only when it spins. During wash is it quiet as a mouse but as soon as it picks up speed a sort of strange whirring noise like the noise of air going through a vacuum cleaner then it dissappears when the drum slows down to wash speed. I thought it sounded like the pump but much louder but when I switched the machine off during spin the noise was still there. I tried to move the drum to see if it was the bearings but there is no movement I have also looked in the back of the pulley and there is a hole with some grease coming out is this normal (not a lot but some running down the moudlings of the outer tub) if it is the drum bearings should I leave it untill the noise get louder or chould I change them now just in case?

thanks in advance

will, January 2007

Hi Will, if you have a grease mark from the breather hole then the water seal is leaking which means the bearings are on there way out. The grease is from the bearings and they will only get noisier as time goes by so if you can, then change them now, or you may need a new drum support as well (the iron part of the drum support is protected from water by the seal).Bearings are not hard to change as long as you take your time and work methodicaly. Good luck Dave

Casper, January 2007