Levelling a washing machine

benjii

benjii

benjii

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Joined
26 Apr 2013
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Plymouth
We recently bought our first washing machine, the flat we're renting had one installed when we moved in and it just died. It's an under the counter, free standing washer. I had no problem setting it up, but during the spin cycles it shakes to the point I'm concerned about it getting damaged.

I have removed the shipping bolts and spacers, so it's not that. I tried to level the feet, the instructions just say to try rocking it and adjusting feet until it stops rocking. Well, I did that and I can't rock it when off, but when it's on the spin cycle it rocks and shakes loads. I have tightened the locking nuts on the feet after adjusting them.

My next thing to try tomorrow is to take the spirit level to the floor under the counter and see if I can figure out how much to adjust the back feet before putting it back in again. The house is from 1900ish and from the looks of it, the floor under the counter has been repaired as there are no floor boards visible, just a sheet of MDF or the like. The kitchen floor has lino, but the lino doesn't reach as far as the back feet of the washer. I attempted to account for that by raising the rear feet a couple of mm, but I still have problems so who knows if that helped or not.

Has anyone got any pearls of wisdom that may help me in my endeavour? I'd really appreciate it.
 
Not a long term solution but my girlfriend had a similar issue with her new machine replacing an older heavier one that broke, I ended up going for lateral solution that did totally fix the issue but is obviously temporary.

Not exactly elegant but old rubber hand grips from a bike wedged inbetween the top of the machine and the counter fixed it. They actually work amazingly well at dampening the noise and vibration and can't be seen. This is going from it sounding like it's about to explode it'd rock so much to being stable and fairly quiet even under full spin. She's having a refit done soon so it'll do for now.

So yeah, some rubber wedged between the machine top and counter should definitely help.
 
PC777 said:
Not a long term solution but my girlfriend had a similar issue with her new machine replacing an older heavier one that broke, I ended up going for lateral solution that did totally fix the issue but is obviously temporary.

Not exactly elegant but old rubber hand grips from a bike wedged inbetween the top of the machine and the counter fixed it. They actually work amazingly well at dampening the noise and vibration and can't be seen. This is going from it sounding like it's about to explode it'd rock so much to being stable and fairly quiet even under full spin. She's having a refit done soon so it'll do for now.

So yeah, some rubber wedged between the machine top and counter should definitely help.
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bloodiedathame said:
You can get an inflatable bag type thing that you slot in between the machine and the counter and blow up to stop it moving about so much.
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Interesting, that's not a solution I'd considered. I will definitely bear that in mind if I don't have any luck with the level. Thanks chaps.
 
bloodiedathame said:
You can get an inflatable bag type thing that you slot in between the machine and the counter and blow up to stop it moving about so much.
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That sounds really useful - have a loose floorboard or two and the machine shakes the floor no matter what I adjust. Though I'm worried it would shake the dishes off the counter as it nearly does that already!

OP, out of interest are you running very light loads? An unbalanced load such as a single towel or bedsheet can cause pretty bad vibration.
 
I used a bit of camping roll mat, as said above, stuffed it between the top of the machine and the counter above. Worked a treat.
 
benjii said:
I have removed the shipping bolts and spacers, so it's not that. I tried to level the feet, the instructions just say to try rocking it and adjusting feet until it stops rocking. Well, I did that and I can't rock it when off, but when it's on the spin cycle it rocks and shakes loads. I have tightened the locking nuts on the feet after adjusting them.
Click to expand...
if you had already done this then, sounds like the floor is 'loose', as you suggest

I would not be mechanically coupling it to the counter with any kind of pad, moreover if you have the clearance get an isolating pad to put beneath;
I have used shims/planks of veneer as rails, or vinyl tiles, to push machines in, and remove them once it is located.
 
LuckyBenski said:
That sounds really useful - have a loose floorboard or two and the machine shakes the floor no matter what I adjust. Though I'm worried it would shake the dishes off the counter as it nearly does that already!

OP, out of interest are you running very light loads? An unbalanced load such as a single towel or bedsheet can cause pretty bad vibration.
Click to expand...

I've tested it with a a few towels and a mixed clothes load, both seem equally as bad. I tried it empty by accident and thought I fixed it, but the second there's anything in there, it goes nuts.

jpaul said:
if you had already done this then, sounds like the floor is 'loose', as you suggest

I would not be mechanically coupling it to the counter with any kind of pad, moreover if you have the clearance get an isolating pad to put beneath;
I have used shims/planks of veneer as rails, or vinyl tiles, to push machines in, and remove them once it is located.
Click to expand...

What's the potential problem with jamming the gap on top? Loosening of counter fittings and things attached?

As an aside, I appreciate everyone's input. Thanks!
 
I thought our new machine was bad, turns out that they just don't make them like they used to.

However if you are really concerned then call the manufacturer as you will have warranty that will cover call outs as well.
 
Zefan said:
I used a bit of camping roll mat, as said above, stuffed it between the top of the machine and the counter above. Worked a treat.
Click to expand...

After discovering the fault is the kitchen floor not being level and the floorboards having a lot of give, a camping mat did the trick. Cheers!
 
Funnily enough I'm having issues with our beko, doesn't half rattle about when on a full spin. I've tried levelling it off but I think the tiled floor is also as the above poster not level. I'll try using a spirit level and see what's what.
 
Got fed up with ours shimmying around too. When the anti vibration feet cups didn't work we've just bought some special mat for it. Haven't figured out how we're going to slide it under the washer yet though.
 
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