How can I make my front loading washing machine stop shaking?
I have a brand new front loading washing machine. My laundry hookups are on the second floor in a small closet. The machine sits on a vinyl floor.
During it's spin cycle it shakes uncontrollably. I have lowered the spin setting from high to medium, and now on low. No difference. I feel like my house is sitting on a fault line! It shakes so bad that my floor within a 10 -15 foot radius from it shakes as well. The light fixtures and the windows below it also shake like crazy.
My husband installed little feet on it that are supposed to be shock absorbers, and they sit on rubber feet. It is still CRAZY!
I am worried it is going to damage my house, and i do 1 million loads of family laundry a week. :)
Has anyone run into this problem? Have you been able to fix it? Please send suggestions!!!
Thanks so much!
Janade2007-09-14T19:21:41Z
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We researched front loaders when planning our new, upstairs laundry room. Every sales person we spoke to told us that we should probably stay away from front loaders on the second floor. The manufacturer recommends that they not be used on the second floor due to vibration problems. However, the catch is that you have to tell them you plan to put it on the second floor -- if you don't then they happily sell you the machines with no warnings.
I know that they are making newer machines now that have less vibration, but that doesn't help you out. You may need to sell your front loaders and go back to old fashion top loaders to keep your house from falling apart.
You cant solve a lousy bad engineering problem. Some new front loading machines have an automatic spin balancing device, but some others dont. The problem with front loading machines is that all the load accumulates at the bottom of the drum because of gravity and so when it spins the load into the drum is unbalanced. The old top loading machines didnt have such problem because the drum turns horizontally and the load distributes more or less evenly at the bottom of the drum when the water is flushed away. Sorry, but I also hate those front loading machines.
All front loaders make floors vibrate,unless they are on concrete floors.I installed 2x12 joists every 12 inches in my new laundry room.Doubled the 3/4 plywood floor and the washer still has vibration.They do need to be perfectly level and I would check that first with a 24 inch level.
It's a good possibility that the shipping straps were not removed. Another possibility, since it's on the second floor, they may have broken the shocks moving it upstairs.
Other than that, as a general rule, if the floor is shaking, it's usually a weak floor.
If you're pretty sure your floor is sturdy, call for repairs while it's still in warranty.
I hate to tell u but i dont know a thing about home type front loaders but i can tell u about comm. front loaders.All ridged mount washers shake.We install them on a 1ft. to 2ft. thick concrete pad with 6in to 1ft anchors in the pad.these are from 35lbs. to about 150lbs. machines. The large machines are mounted air bladders which inflate when the washer goes from wash cycle to distribution speed and then into extract speed. I dont know what to do about a home front loader other than anchor it down but it will shake your whole house then.For home I prefer a top loader. I know this wont help your problem but u may understand the how they work better.