Code appears with bulky items
The washer runs part of the cycle, then stops or retries spin when washing bedding, towels, or a single heavy item.
Start here: Start with load size and distribution. Bulky items are the most common trigger.
Washer shaking and balance fault
Speed Queen Washer Er Ub Code
Direct answer: A Speed Queen washer showing Er Ub is usually stopping because the load is badly out of balance, the washer is not sitting solidly on the floor, or the tub support parts are getting weak.
Most likely: Start with the simple stuff first: one heavy item, a twisted sheet, an empty corner of the basket, or a washer leg that is not planted firmly. If the machine is level and balanced but the basket still bangs around by hand, worn washer suspension parts move to the top of the list.
This one fools a lot of people because the washer can look fine sitting still. Reality check: a machine that spins smoothly empty can still throw Er Ub with towels, jeans, or bedding if the load shifts hard enough. Common wrong move: stuffing the load back in and hitting start again without checking leveling and basket movement.
Don’t start with: Do not start by ordering a control board or tearing the machine apart. This code is much more often caused by load balance, setup, or worn support parts.
If the basket only acts up with sheets, towels, or one bulky item,redistribute the load and run a small spin test before assuming a part failed.
If the cabinet rocks on the floor or the tub slams the sides by hand,check leveling first, then inspect the washer suspension support parts.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-17
What Er Ub usually looks like on a washer
Code appears on most loads
Even normal mixed loads cause shaking, thumping, or repeated spin attempts.
Start here: Check whether the washer is level and planted firmly on the floor before looking at internal support parts.
Washer rocks or walks
The cabinet shifts, one corner lifts, or the machine creeps across the floor during spin.
Start here: Focus on the floor contact and washer leveling legs first.
Basket feels loose or slams around
With power off, the tub moves too freely, leans, or rebounds hard when pushed.
Start here: That points more toward worn washer suspension or shock support than a simple load issue.
Most likely causes
1. Load is badly out of balance
One heavy item, tangled bedding, or too few items can pull the basket off center and trigger Er Ub before full spin.
Quick check: Open the washer, untwist the load, spread items evenly, and remove any single soaked bulky piece for a test run.
2. Washer is not level or one leg is loose
If the cabinet rocks even a little, the machine can exaggerate normal spin movement and read it as an unbalanced condition.
Quick check: Press down on each front corner. If one corner clicks or lifts, the leveling needs attention.
3. Floor is flexing under the washer
A weak wood floor or soft platform can let the whole machine bounce, especially on upper floors or near a span.
Quick check: Watch the washer during spin. If the floor moves with it more than the cabinet itself, the support surface is part of the problem.
4. Washer suspension or shock support is worn
When support parts weaken, the tub does not settle itself well and can bang the cabinet even with a reasonable load.
Quick check: With the washer off, push the basket sideways and let go. Excessive lean, clunking, or a hard rebound suggests worn support parts.
Step-by-step fix
Step 1: Reset the load before you test anything else
Most Er Ub calls turn out to be a load problem, not a failed part. Start there so you do not chase the wrong fix.
- Cancel the cycle and unplug the washer for a minute.
- Open the washer and look for one heavy item, a twisted sheet, or a load packed to one side.
- Redistribute the items evenly around the basket.
- If you have one bulky item like a blanket or comforter, remove it and test with a small mixed load of everyday clothes.
- Run a spin or short cycle and listen for whether the basket comes up to speed smoothly.
Next move: If the washer finishes the test load without banging or showing Er Ub, the machine is likely fine and the original load was the problem. If a normal mixed load still triggers the code, move on to leveling and floor support.
What to conclude: A code that clears after rebalancing points to loading habits more than a mechanical failure.
Stop if:
- You smell burning rubber or hot electrical odor.
- Water is leaking onto the floor.
- The basket is striking the cabinet hard enough to dent or scrape it.
Step 2: Make sure the washer sits solidly on the floor
A washer that rocks even slightly can shake far more in spin than it should, and that alone can trigger an unbalance fault.
- With the washer empty and off, press down firmly on each front corner and then the rear corners if accessible.
- Look for any rocking, clicking, or a foot that is not fully touching the floor.
- Adjust the washer leveling legs until the cabinet feels planted and steady.
- Use a bubble level across the top if you have one, but prioritize a solid stance over chasing perfect numbers.
- Lock the leg adjustment if your washer uses lock nuts, then retest with a normal load.
Next move: If the washer now spins without walking or faulting, the issue was setup rather than an internal part. If the cabinet is solid but the machine still shakes hard, check the floor and then the tub support.
What to conclude: A stable cabinet removes one of the biggest false unbalance triggers.
Step 3: Separate floor movement from washer movement
If the floor flexes, the washer can never settle properly no matter how carefully you level it.
- Run a spin test with a small normal load while you watch from the side.
- Look at the gap between the washer feet and floor and watch whether the floor itself bounces.
- If the washer is on a pedestal, platform, or flexible wood floor, note whether the whole base moves together.
- Try pushing on the top rear corners by hand with the washer off. Excessive sway from the floor or platform is a clue.
- If floor flex is obvious, relocate the washer temporarily to a firmer spot if practical, or plan for floor support correction before replacing washer parts.
Next move: If the washer behaves much better on a firmer surface, the machine may not need internal parts at all. If the floor is solid and the washer is level but the tub still moves wildly, inspect the internal support behavior next.
Step 4: Check the basket for signs of worn suspension support
Once load balance, leveling, and floor support are ruled out, worn washer suspension parts become the most likely repair path.
- Unplug the washer.
- Open the washer and push the basket or tub assembly sideways by hand, then let it return.
- Notice whether it recenters in a controlled way or flops, clunks, leans, or rebounds hard.
- Look for the basket sitting noticeably off-center in the opening.
- If the tub support feels loose or uncontrolled even when empty, plan on replacing the worn washer suspension or shock support parts that fit your machine.
Next move: If the basket feels controlled and centered, the problem is more likely load-related or installation-related than a failed support part. If the basket is loose, off-center, or bangs back, worn support parts are the strongest diagnosis.
Step 5: Replace the confirmed support part or stop before deeper teardown
At this point you should either have a clear setup fix or a strong case for worn support parts. Do the supported repair, then verify with a real load.
- If the washer only needed load and leveling correction, run two normal loads and one towel load to confirm the code stays gone.
- If the basket movement check clearly pointed to worn support parts, replace the matching washer suspension rods or washer shock absorbers for your machine design.
- After repair, run an empty spin first, then a small mixed load, then a heavier towel load.
- Watch for smooth ramp-up to spin, less cabinet movement, and no Er Ub return.
- If the washer is still throwing Er Ub after solid leveling and confirmed support-part replacement, stop and schedule service for deeper mechanical diagnosis.
A good result: If the washer now spins cleanly through mixed and heavy loads, the repair is complete.
If not: If the code returns after the obvious causes are ruled out, there may be a deeper support, bearing, or sensing issue that is not a good guess-and-buy repair.
What to conclude: You have narrowed the problem to either a corrected setup issue or a real tub support failure, which is where this symptom usually lands.
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FAQ
What does Er Ub mean on a Speed Queen washer?
It means the washer is seeing an unbalanced condition during spin. Most of the time that comes from a badly distributed load, a washer that is not sitting solidly, or worn tub support parts.
Can one blanket or comforter cause Er Ub?
Yes. One bulky item is a very common trigger because it can hold water unevenly and pull the basket off center. Test with a small mixed load before assuming the washer needs parts.
Why does the washer work empty but fail with towels?
An empty basket is easy to control. Heavy wet towels put real force on the suspension and floor. That is why weak support parts or poor leveling often show up only under load.
Should I replace the control board for Er Ub?
Usually no. This code is far more often caused by load balance, leveling, floor movement, or worn suspension support. Rule those out first before considering any deeper electrical diagnosis.
How do I know if the suspension is bad?
With power off, push the basket sideways and let go. If it leans too far, clunks, sits off-center, or snaps back hard instead of settling in a controlled way, worn washer suspension parts are likely.
Will anti-vibration pads fix Er Ub?
Not usually by themselves. They can help with minor floor noise, but they do not cure a bad load pattern, a loose leveling leg, or worn washer suspension parts.