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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Yikes, washing machine making the house shake - can we do anything?

20 replies

PatterofaMinion · 23/02/2015 16:59

We just moved and our washing machine is really not liking the floor upstairs (we are in a flat). It's floor boards and when it spins the whole room shakes.

I've adjusted the feet as well as I can and today I put a thick plywood piece under it, screwed that to the floor, and then attached the machine to that using metal feet and bolts which the manufacturer sent me.

It's still wobbling. It's a bit better but it makes me nervous that it'll damage pipes underneath (gas, water both run under it) and that it'll be pissing off our downstairs neighbour.

Before bolting it down I used some rubber feet but they just made it jump around even more.

Does anyone have the answer? Thinking of building some sort of outhouse to put it in but that would mean going out to the garden to do the washing, which isn't fun in winter.

All thoughts appreciated Smile

OP posts:
OOAOML · 23/02/2015 17:43

Do you have a spirit level to help with adjustments?

OOAOML · 23/02/2015 17:45

Also is it a machine you brought with you or one you inherited? If it is an old machine it might have a belt problem or something.

Original poster
PatterofaMinion · 23/02/2015 18:09

It's only a year old and we moved at Christmas so I think it's Ok. I've used a spirit level and spanners and so on to try and get it just right, it doesn't move when it is off, you know, you can't rock it - but when it spins, the wooden board moves even though it is attached to the floor. Only a little but it is enough to vibrate the whole floor.

I think it's a case of the floor being old and Victorian and maybe there is nothing more we can do except take up the new flooring and reinforce the joists - that's not going to happen! Smile

I wish we had just a little area of concrete flooring to put it on. sigh.

Thank you for helping btw.

OP posts:
homeaway · 23/02/2015 18:17

You can buy special mats to put under the machine which might help. Lakeland might stock them.

Original poster
PatterofaMinion · 23/02/2015 18:21

Thank you - we have a mat, I haven't tried it yet but according to the manufacturer, it must not rock, and the rubber feet we had just made it dance around like a fairground ride.

So I wasn't sure if the mat would just do the same?

OP posts:
strongandlong · 23/02/2015 18:22

You could try screwing the floorboards onto the joists below them? Or even screwing the ply you've put down through the boards and into the joists?

MsAspreyDiamonds · 23/02/2015 18:25

What's the spin speed? Mine is
1600 rpm and it shakes really badly. I have put it against a cupboard and blocked the free side with boxes to absorbed the shakes so it's not too bad.

Original poster
PatterofaMinion · 23/02/2015 18:26

That might do the trick. I think that would be a really good idea.

The trouble is, I did screw down most of them before we had the flooring done, as they were very wonky and some had to be replaced. But I didn't mark where the pipes go and I'm terrified of drilling into one!

And I don't know where the joists run either Blush

It was such a massive building site that I couldn't keep up. I marked cables in the wall but didn't envisage having to attack the floor again.

I think I'll put it on the list of things to do if we ever take up the floor again. I am sure it would make a difference.

Thank you for the idea.

OP posts:
Original poster
PatterofaMinion · 23/02/2015 18:26

Oh wow, 1600? It's meant to do 1100 I think but I only let it do 800 as I don't think the floor would cope!

OP posts:
MsAspreyDiamonds · 23/02/2015 19:20

The clothes come out practically dry!
They don't take long too dry at all which is handy is the winter.

maleenteringfemalefacilities · 23/02/2015 19:23

When you moved, did you put the bolts back in to anchor the weight inside it? Did you then take them back out completely?

Original poster
PatterofaMinion · 23/02/2015 20:43

I meant to put in the bolts but I didn't, as we had about 5 or 6 big guys doing the lifting so I figured it would probably be Ok.

OP posts:
wowfudge · 23/02/2015 23:12

Ah - our washing machine died shortly after we moved house as somebody hadn't put the transit bolts in....

Original poster
PatterofaMinion · 24/02/2015 09:17

Oh dear Blush

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 25/02/2015 10:10

Start by getting a repairman to look at it. Maybe a fixing bolt or retaining spring is broken or loose.

Original poster
PatterofaMinion · 25/02/2015 12:00

Thank you, PJ - I don't think it is any worse than when we had it on a concrete floor, before we moved, it's just the floor is different here so it responds differently. But my mother has a washing machine chap and is going to call him and ask if he has any thoughts.

It might be worth a call out just to see if anything obvious springs to mind.

OP posts:
keepitsimple0 · 25/02/2015 12:09

ours does 1600 too, but doesn't shake that much. But that's not what you wanted to hear :) ours is on a tiled floor which is on top of a concrete floor.

Our shakes worse when it is spinning slowly. When it reaches full speed you can't see it moving at all.

It's possible the move hurt the machine somehow. Was it shaking before the move?

Original poster
PatterofaMinion · 25/02/2015 12:11

Yes I believe it wobbled before as well, just it didn't move the floor with it! I suppose that's the difference.

The answer has to be in somehow strengthening the floor, doesn't it.

I nearly got a Miele and then realised that it would probably put too much stress on the floor with its cast iron frame.

Might be wrong there.

OP posts:
keepitsimple0 · 25/02/2015 13:41

I nearly got a Miele

I can't remember which brand ours is (it is a big brand), but we have been happy with it. It was around 300 quid, 3 1/2 years ago. I can post if you like. It was a "which best buy".

Original poster
PatterofaMinion · 26/02/2015 18:42

Thanks, I don't think I can afford to get another though now - I will just have to get used to it! Ours is Siemens so not too bad. I hope. Smile

OP posts:
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