AEG 9000 SensiDry® 10 kg Washer Dryer Model No: L9WEC169R loud noise when drying

[Talay]

I bought this new in 2018 for £1269 and it has been faultless except after we moved house.

As soon as we used the drying function after moving house (professional removers) it started drying ok and then after a few minutes it starts an ever increasing noise, not grating, but as if something was struggling.

As it is a heat pump dryer, I wondered whether it could be the heat pump ?

I don't know if the movement during moving house could be a contributing factor - I think so - but why ?

I'm tempted to get the AEG repair people out but that is £200+ and though you cannot get a top of the line model for £500, you can get a 10kg+ washer dryer with a 5 year warranty for £500/600 and that makes £200 for a repair seem poor value. However, I think the machine should last well into the future with only 2 or 3 loads a week for 7 years.

So I thought I'd ask here to see if someone can help diagnose. Thanks.

Video link:

 

[jj4091]

So if you try spin only mode it does not make that noise?

 

[pto]

i would say the compressor

 

[Talay]

So if you try spin only mode it does not make that noise?

No, spin only or spin after a wash is silky smooth as always.

 

[Talay]

i would say the compressor

So washer dryers have a compressor ? For what ?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

So washer dryers have a compressor ? For what ?

Rather like a fridge, or freezer - the compressor creates the cold surface to condense the moisture, out of the clothes. It might be worth checking, to see is anything has been displaced, or etc., so that the compressor of pipework is making contact with a surface it is not supposed to contact.

 

[Talay]

Rather like a fridge, or freezer - the compressor creates the cold surface to condense the moisture, out of the clothes. It might be worth checking, to see is anything has been displaced, or etc., so that the compressor of pipework is making contact with a surface it is not supposed to contact.

I've opened it up and am running another cycle but everything looks near pristine except for a couple of cobwebs. Nothing out of place or obvious damage or anything else really.

 

[Scally-Ho]

Does the drum belt also run over a small jockey idler pully/wheel? That's what one can sound like when the bearings have dried out on their way to being knackered If not that then maybe the heat pump compressor is low on gas, but very difficult to diagnose without being there.

 

[Talay]

After 30 minutes, the noise came back.

When running a dry cycle, if I lift the front to about 20 degrees, the noise stops.

If I press the ground plate on the bottom near the front, the noise comes back.

The noise is definately coming from the front just above the ground.

2nd video

 

[Scally-Ho]

Raising the front will slightly alter the loading on the drum rear bearings, so that area would be my 1st port of call with my stethoscope. They are also the most vulnerable part for excessive wear due to the constant load variation as the drum rotates. At 7yrs old they are probably due for replacement

 

[Talay]

 

[Talay]

Raising the front will slightly alter the loading on the drum rear bearings, so that area would be my 1st port of call with my stethoscope. They are also the most vulnerable part for excessive wear due to the constant load variation as the drum rotates. At 7yrs old they are probably due for replacement

I own laundry and dry cleaning machines and am reasonably familiar with bearing issues and yes, they could be in play a little but not to the extent that this sound is as it is present even when the drum is stationary before reversing.

It must be something primarily to do with a motor or moving part like a motor somehow and it only comes on as the heat exchanger tries to work so that's my best guess ?

 

[Scally-Ho]

Now I'm wondering if it's the compressor/condensor fan

 

[Talay]

Now I'm wondering if it's the compressor/condensor fan

I'm even in two minds whether something has been broken during moving because if you press the bottom panel up, though it only flexes and doesn't move much, as it is rather flimsy plastic, you can create the sound or make it stop, depending on where you press and that might be indicative of something having been dislodged or snapped.

However, it could equally just be wear and tear and bad timing it happened when it did and some mechanical part has given up or is near to giving up.

It could be lubrication but my guess is a motor of some sort.

 

[assuhors]

There is a compressor cooling fan behind that vent.