Washing machine shakes whole kitchen

[maxima]

Hi

we have moved into Victorian house recently.

Our washing machine on ground floor shakes whole kitchen even on slow wringing speed.

I feel uncomfortable when I walk through at the time and also I believe it will significantly shorten life of the machine itself and ruin kitchen furniture.

I am not a DIY person.

Can you please share your thoughts on how much of work it might involve and cost estimate. We live in Harrow (Middlesex).

Thank you.

 

[middi]

Sorry Maxima but to which are you refering, new floor or new washing machine?.

 

[chasbo]

When a washing machine is new it comes with bolts or clamps to stop the drum being damaged in transit. When it is moved it should have these bolts or clamps put back on.
Perhaps they were not put back on and the machine is damaged.
Perhaps they were put back on but not removed at the new house.

 

[skier-hughes]

Perhaps it needs levelling and standing on firm ground?

 

[maxima]

Thanks for the prompt reply guys..

I am a bit confused here.. Machine was there when we moved.

Are you guys saying that the machine is not working properly it is a main cause?

I thought it was the floor.

 

[MdB]

A washing machine that shakes so badly it shakes the whole house is very likely to be faulty. The most obvious problem is that transit bolts are still in. Look at the back of the machine, the positions where they go is often labelled. Alternatively, the shocks have gone, the concrete mass has come loose, the bearings have gone or a bracket has failed. Needs looking at any way. http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewforum&f=34

A house that shakes because of a dodgy washing machine suggests there are problems with the house also. You need to get someone who knows what they are talking about to take a look at it.

 

[maxima]

Thank you.

I will have someone to examine the machine. But in case this is not the problem - how would you seek "someone who knows what they are talking about"? (that was actually a question - I dont think machine is broken)

 

[maxima]

P.S. actually it shakes whole kitchen not house.

 

[Nemesis]

I sounds to me also like a very broken machine, which requires repair.

Do check that it is level however - if not that can't help.

 

[maxima]

I've just read an article of how to install a washing machine and it looks like unlikely my installation could be done that properly.

http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=115

I am having a crazy idea here - we have small closet by the kitchen. May be it worth to move it there (need to remove a washing basin though )?

or

to reconfigure the kitchen a bit and install an american top-loading machine? surely it must not jump vertically that much.. is it?


Reading further - looks like appliances people thinks that it is a floor problem: "Err, actually it is a HUGE problem in the UK! Sadly ignored, but a huge problem nonetheless.

We are one of the few countries in the EU that use wooden flooring extensively and almost all machines are tested on concrete floors fro maximum stability and minimum noise. Put a lot of them on wooden floors, or even worse suspended flooring (which seems almost unique to the UK) and you get a washer that thinks its a pogo stick on spin.
" ()http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=5292&highlight=vibration

And that mostly comply with my thoughts. Btw - I rented flat in victorian conversion just before I bought this house. And we had same problem. That just the size of that kitchen was twice as smaller and vibration was smaller...

 

[Penners]

Have you systematically checked all the items that MdB suggested above? It's a good, comprehensive list of the things that could be causing the problem.

I'll add just one more - have you been washing big, heavy items? A load that ioncludes a few such things is much more likely to make your machine jump about than a load which contains lots of small things. The former can't distribute themselves evenly around the drum the way that the latter can.

 

[maxima]

no it jumps on every load... it is Bosch WIT8430 if it can help

 

[Nemesis]

I think that you really need someone to come out and look at it.

Plenty of people have machines in upstairs flats and they don't do this! But if you keep using it you are liable to break it.

 

[maxima]

yeah I am going to do so... thanks to pointing me to that ukwhitegoods forum though..

need to find a genuine person

 

[Nemesis]

Has the manufacturer not got a list of reputable repairers?

 

[Penners]

Bosch are represented in the UK by Appliance Care Ltd. Here's their website.

 

[maxima]

manufacturers provide what they call 'authorised repairing centres' which aint cheap.

If you have a merc then it most often cost effective to go to aproved dealers if it is relatevely new. If it some E124 1996 then you'd better (take my word here) go to what I call 'a genuine person' - mechanic who can do stuff and enjoy his work and not just serve out his 9 to 5 hours.... If you know what I mean.

 

[arl]

we had the same problem in our last rental property. the old washing machine that came with the flat was on the 2nd floor and used to make the whole house shake. we got rubber feet for it. didnt solve the problem but certainly helped.

like these on ebay
item 150096952768

 

[NT]

It could be machine or floor, or both. Machine problem is much more likely. Most common cause is worn out shock absorbers, and theyre not worth replacing.


> and install an american top-loading machine?

No no no no no. Bad machines, the sort of thing we had here in the 50s.


The solution is simple, buy another machine used for 70 notes. Having someone come out will cost you more.

I would not waste time and money on authorised repairers, not unless its an exceptionally good machine, and it doesnt sound like one.


NT

 

[middi]

My mother had a top loading machine many years ago, when on "spin" it used to go walk-about.

On day she found it had tumbled ouside the kitchen door step in the garden.