Why Is My House Shaking? 3 Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Feeling vibrations or shaking throughout your house will likely lead to the question: Why is my house shaking? While an earthquake can cause your house to shake, in most areas of the country, that isn’t a common culprit. Start your investigation with your home appliances and HVAC system. Let’s begin with the washing machine and then explore other reasons why your house could be shaking.

1. The Washing Machine Is Unbalanced

When the drum inside the washing machine spins to dry out the clothes, the machine does shake a little from the force of the spinning, but under normal circumstances, it won’t cause your house to shake. In some cases, however, an unbalanced load of clothes can cause the washing machine to thump and shake forcefully which can cause your house to feel like it’s shaking. There may also be other reasons for the shaking—the load may be too large for the machine to handle or the machine itself may not be level. 

The Solution

If you feel your house shaking, take a second to listen. An unbalanced washing machine or one with an unbalanced load will make a thumping sound as the clothes spin around and move the washer back and forth. To start, open the lid and make sure the load of clothes is evenly distributed around the drum. If it continues to make the house shake, you can probably learn how to balance the washing machine on your own. Make sure to check to see if the machine is level by placing a level across the top. If it’s not, you can level it by raising or lowering the legs as necessary.

In an older washer, the shock absorbers or drum bearings may be worn out. If you suspect that this is the problem, you should call a washing machine repair pro near you to have them check it out and offer solutions. 

2. The HVAC System Is Vibrating

The ductwork for your HVAC system runs throughout your house, so when the house is shaking, the HVAC system might be to blame. There are quite a few reasons your furnace or AC unit is making loud noises and making your home shake. A broken unit can make loud banging noises, loose material can make the ductwork rattle, and imbalance fan blades can cause shaking.

The Solution

Unless the cause is immediately clear or you have experience working on an HVAC system, this is likely a job for a local HVAC repair pro. They can assess the system and determine where the cause is and then work to fix it.

3. There’s an Earthquake

While this likely won’t be the case in many parts of the country, your house may be shaking as a result of seismic activity. Most earthquakes in the U.S. occur on the West Coast, but they’ve also been known to occur in other areas throughout the country. If your house is shaking, it could be because of an earthquake.

The Solution

If you live in California or another western state, including Washington, Oregon, and even Nevada or Utah, the thought of your house shaking because of an earthquake has probably crossed your mind. But if you live in a state less likely to have an earthquake, this reason might come as a shock. If you’ve exhausted other causes, you should check the news in your area to see if any seismic activity was reported. 

When to Call a Pro

You may need to call a pro if you suspect the house is shaking because of an HVAC issue. An HVAC technician will be able to assess the system and then diagnose and fix the problem. If the cause is related to the washing machine, you can wash a smaller load and rebalance it during the spin cycle if necessary, but if you’ve done that and the machine is level, you may need to call a pro if the shaking continues.