Washing Machine Shakes the House

Does anyone have the following problem:
We moved into a newly constructed home and bought a washer and dryer. They are on the 2nd floor (as they were in previous home) and when the washer runs, the whole house shakes (OK, maybe not the basement). We thought the washer must need to be balanced so the washer-guy came out today and inspected the washer. All was OK - it was balanced, all shipping bolts removed. He watched a full cycle and felt the house shake. He said he's seen this before in this development. He mentioned that we could get the floor re-inforced or move the washer and dryer to the basement.

Has anyone else had this problem and how did you correct it? My guess is that it has something to do with the spacing of studs 20" OC as opposed to 16" OC) and the fact that there is soooo much open space (i.e. fewer walls). This is another demonstration of poor quality and Van Metre wanting to save a buck.

ARRRGGGGHHHH!

 

The only way I could correct it was to buy a front-loading washer. Doesn't shake at all.

 

Could your washing machine not be level?

lyo

 

We do have a front loader and the installer, the technician we had today and myself checked the level. It is level and balanced. Are you saying that you don't have this problem? I live in a Parkdale.

 

we have a front loader upstairs in the parkdale and it doesn't shake the whole house but it does shake the floor a little. our toddler can nap while it's running though so i'm happy (she is in the room closest to the laundry room).

 

We have a front load neptune, and it shakes during the spin cycle. Mostly the immediate area, and not the whole house. Seems to be a combination of the power of the machine and the construction of the house.

We originally purchased a "stacked" washer/dryer neptune unit. That thing was unbelievable unstable, we exchanged it for two stand alone units.

For us no easy way to re-enforce the flooring or other support structures. Even if we could get to the support structures, I'd bet it would take an enormous amount of bracing, and I'd still bet it would shake some.

We've gotten use to it, and it doesn't appear to be causing any additional issues. We've had the units for over two years now.

 

We have a front load Kenmore Elite and it absolutely shakes the whole house!!! In fact we had to move our sons bed because it backed up to the wall against the washer. Poor little guy screamed in terror and crawled all the to the bottom of the bed under the covers the first time it happened. Needless to say we rarely do wash when he is asleep.

 

Neptunes (any front loader for that matter) are neat .. I used to have problems with shirts wearing out and buttons breaking in the top loading models due to the friction of the vanes moving back and forth.

Ours does have a very powerful spin cycle, especially on max extract !! You can feel the vibration in the house around and above the washer on the 2nd floor, but not much further than that.


Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

I'm actully going to look for a new construction Parkdale and see how the are is built. That will give me some idea as to whether some sort of additional cross-bracing will help or if I will live with a house that performs occassional whole body massages. I'm also going to look into sound/vibration dampening panels to put under the washer.

As a last resort, I'll suspend the washer from the cieling so it floats! (only kidding)