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Washing machine shaking like crazy!
purplestar133
Posts: 1,731 Forumite
When my washing machine spins it shakes really violently. It's the earlier spins in the cycle when it's worst (presumably, the slower spins) and the main spin at the end although it does stabilise a bit when it reaches its fastest speed.
My landlord (washing machine is provided as part of tenancy) is convinced the problem is the floor making the machine unbalanced as the floor is uneven underneath. However, I've bought some Electrolux rubber dampers and put them on the feet of the machine and that's helped with the uneven floor as far as I can tell. The bottom of the machine seems quite sturdy now. It seems to be the top/middle part of the machine that is shaking like mad. It doesn't seem right at all. What's confusing me is that, on a 40 degree wash it's ok, and doesn't shake too bad but on a 60 or 95 degree wash, which is longer, it shakes to a point where I get scared! Before I put the rubber dampers on the feet it would shuffle forwards.
Do these symptoms ring any bells with anyone? Is it the shock absorber (sorry, don't know the lingo!) part of the machine that needs replacing?
My landlord has already bought a (reconditioned) motor for the machine in the last few years and has only this month put a new seal on the door so I know he doesn't want to spend more on it or buy a new one.
Does anyone have any advice on how to proceed? This is really getting me down...
My landlord (washing machine is provided as part of tenancy) is convinced the problem is the floor making the machine unbalanced as the floor is uneven underneath. However, I've bought some Electrolux rubber dampers and put them on the feet of the machine and that's helped with the uneven floor as far as I can tell. The bottom of the machine seems quite sturdy now. It seems to be the top/middle part of the machine that is shaking like mad. It doesn't seem right at all. What's confusing me is that, on a 40 degree wash it's ok, and doesn't shake too bad but on a 60 or 95 degree wash, which is longer, it shakes to a point where I get scared! Before I put the rubber dampers on the feet it would shuffle forwards.
Do these symptoms ring any bells with anyone? Is it the shock absorber (sorry, don't know the lingo!) part of the machine that needs replacing?
My landlord has already bought a (reconditioned) motor for the machine in the last few years and has only this month put a new seal on the door so I know he doesn't want to spend more on it or buy a new one.
Does anyone have any advice on how to proceed? This is really getting me down...
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Comments
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Try adjusting the feet of the machine. I had this problem and it was the washing machine feet. Each corner has an adjustable foot height and each can be adjusted manually to cope with uneven floor.0
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If it doesn't rock, whilst not on, after you have"tuned" the feet it could be a problem with the concrete counter balance weights that surround the drum.
Perhaps a connecting spring has broken or was unconnected and not reattached when the new seal was fitted.
I take it you are putting balanced loads in it and not just one mega heavy item;)"If you act like an illiterate man, your learning will never stop... Being uneducated, you have no fear of the future.".....
"big business is parasitic, like a mosquito, whereas I prefer the lighter touch, like that of a butterfly. "A butterfly can suck honey from the flower without damaging it," "Arunachalam Muruganantham0 -
grizzly1911 wrote: »If it doesn't rock, whilst not on, after you have"tuned" the feet it could be a problem with the concrete counter balance weights that surround the drum.
Perhaps a connecting spring has broken or was unconnected and not reattached when the new seal was fitted.
I take it you are putting balanced loads in it and not just one mega heavy item;)
Yes, I'm putting balanced loads in. Any idea why it's worse on a longer wash than a shorter wash?
It does rock slightly when I push it when it's off. Should it be solid and still? My partner is convinced it needs a bit of 'give' in it 'like buildings have to withstand earthquakes' he says...:o0 -
Mine used to jump around the kitchen all the time, till it finally conked out:eek::eek:.The engineer said if i'd rung him, as soon as it started doing it it could've been saved:(:("You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf"
(Kabat-Zinn 2004):D:D:D0 -
purplestar133 wrote: »Yes, I'm putting balanced loads in. Any idea why it's worse on a longer wash than a shorter wash?
It does rock slightly when I push it when it's off. Should it be solid and still? My partner is convinced it needs a bit of 'give' in it 'like buildings have to withstand earthquakes' he says...:o
Should be solid, the counter balance weights should smooth it out.
Are the longer washes for heavier/bigger loads. If so they will have more water in probably and therefore the drum will be heavier, accentuating the movement."If you act like an illiterate man, your learning will never stop... Being uneducated, you have no fear of the future.".....
"big business is parasitic, like a mosquito, whereas I prefer the lighter touch, like that of a butterfly. "A butterfly can suck honey from the flower without damaging it," "Arunachalam Muruganantham0 -
Machines have adjustable feet, that you twist to raise/lower; it may just be the front pair that adjust.
If you machine wobbles down when you press on a corner then the foot at the bottom of that corner should be adjusted so it touches the floor.
Alternatively you could put a beer mat under it, just like you would a wobbly table in a pub.0 -
grizzly1911 wrote: »Should be solid, the counter balance weights should smooth it out.
Are the longer washes for heavier/bigger loads. If so they will have more water in probably and therefore the drum will be heavier, accentuating the movement.
The longer washes are not for bigger loads, they're just at higher temperatures. I think there must be more water in them as I don't think there's any extra spins.
If one of the springs has broken, are they easy and cheap to replace, do you know?0 -
Machines have adjustable feet, that you twist to raise/lower; it may just be the front pair that adjust.
If you machine wobbles down when you press on a corner then the foot at the bottom of that corner should be adjusted so it touches the floor.
Alternatively you could put a beer mat under it, just like you would a wobbly table in a pub.
The feet are all firmly on the floor.0 -
Cor not alf!
My machine has plenty of beer mats under it and still sound like concorde on the final spin, but then so does the downstairs flat - probably our rubbish flooring.
xx0 -
purplestar133 wrote: »The longer washes are not for bigger loads, they're just at higher temperatures. I think there must be more water in them as I don't think there's any extra spins.
If one of the springs has broken, are they easy and cheap to replace, do you know?
Sorry never had to get anyone to replace one for me.
The machines I have had they have been visible on readily accessible from above after removing the top."If you act like an illiterate man, your learning will never stop... Being uneducated, you have no fear of the future.".....
"big business is parasitic, like a mosquito, whereas I prefer the lighter touch, like that of a butterfly. "A butterfly can suck honey from the flower without damaging it," "Arunachalam Muruganantham0
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