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Whirlpool Duet washer Vibrates the house!

Discussion in 'Homeowners Corner' started by Brassy, May 14, 2007.

  1. Brassy

    Brassy Hiyah

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    Ok, We need help with this issue. We have our washer and dryer on top of the storage doors that come with the Duet system.

    Whenever the washer is on spin cycle: The wood floors vibrate, where I am sitting at the kitchen desk and very much in the office. the windows in the office vibrate, and the booze bootles in the cabinets above the kitchen desk, as well as the shot glasses in the basement on shelves lining the wall!

    I used to use the office, but my antique library desk would vibrate too much so I moved it up into our bedroom and now hubby uses it instead. - oh yeah the pictures on the office wall also move!

    Any ideas> When we first mentioned this to the builder rep, he(amazingly) said it was due to the fact that the floor stringers (?) were all running in a certain way so the vibration would move along them.
     
  2. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Verify the level of the machine... the high RPM spinners will make a ton more noise if even off a bit.

    The HE washers I've heard from everyone who has them say the spin and vibrate like mad.. making them (IMO) undesirable unless you have them in a utility room with a concrete floor.
     
  3. Twriter

    Twriter Get a Mac!

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    We also have a Duet Washer and dryer on top of storage bins. Our laundry room is on the second floor. We don't have any vibration problem.
    As Steve suggested, check that they are level. If all else fails, maybe you could put a sheet of 3/4" (or thicker) plywood or composite board under them. That may dampen the effect and spread their force over a larger area.
    --- John B.
     
  4. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    We have the same problem. The laundry room is on the 2nd floor and we've had the washer balanced and checked and rechecked. It is operating properly... it's just shaking the heck outta the whole house. I now only use the medium or low spin cycle. I don't let it operate on high any more, lest the windows fall out.
     
  5. Lee

    Lee Permanent Vacation

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    Lets see I designed my own home and no shaking whats so ever with our washer and dryer which is on the second floor and shares a wall with the master suite.

    As a matter of fact Dalyn can run them while we sleep and we can't hear them as well and they are the standard nothing expensive washer and dryer.

    Hmmmmmmm don't you just hate these mass builders that are building very expensive homes like they are tract homes even tho they meet code. It is very very sad I have seen multi million dollar homes built the same way. A little thought about the floor systems and real sound proofing not insulation can go a long ways for good customer relations.

    A thick rubber pad like the gym ones under the washer and dryer possibly could help as long as the W/D are level and balanced. At least it is worth a try.:)

    Lee j
     
  6. signifer

    signifer Member

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    On our HE front loader (not a Duet), there are locknuts on the feet. If the machine isn't solidly level with the locknuts tight, the machine vibrates the house. To check level, make sure you try to rock the machine at diagonal corners on the top; it should not move; just making it look or measure level isn't adequate--it has to be solid.

    Good luck,
    Richard
     
  7. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    good point on the locknuts! the feet will change w/o them being tight.

    My washer (not HE) was only SLIGHTLY off, and spending sometime leveling it off the best I could made a huge difference.
     
  8. beahmer

    beahmer Member

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    We find that our Front loader (on the 2nd Floor) is quite as "out of control" by lowering the spin cycle down one notch.
     
  9. woopity

    woopity cdubs ya know!

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    the first time we fired up our Duet after we moved in (Townhouse---so the washer is up on the THIRD floor.), it almost walked itself into the hall way. that was when we learned NOT to use the "HIGH" spin speed. I did cut up a mouse pad into four chunks and put them under the feet. that helped quite a bit, it does'nt move anymore..but will shake sometimes. i've checked it with a level many time, i should have listend to the man at Lowes. although, when i brought up my concern to the builder guy on one of our walk throughs, he said "c'mon...this is a VAN METRE house". yeah well...i know how much that matters now. i do love my washer, even if it shakes the house! :) i am thinking of putting cermic tile down vs. the linoleum. i've heard that can help by giving it a more solid surface.
     
  10. Lee

    Lee Permanent Vacation

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    Yes and thicker rubber gym matting may even do more :) I very rarely enter these discussions but if you do put down tile glue another layer of plywood and there is a specialized rubberized plastic matting or mesh that should be layed under the tile that will help cushion the tile and help it from cracking. Also check for squeaks and lose spots in the original subfloor and make sure it is fixed before putting the tile down. Making sure all four levelers are squarely touching the floor will go a long ways in keeping the vibration down as well as the rubber.

    Lee
     
  11. woopity

    woopity cdubs ya know!

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    i appreciate the tips Lee!! now the trick will be moving the 900lb washer :)
     
  12. Lee

    Lee Permanent Vacation

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    Ask sharse she has a relative Norm who knows how to do everything ha ha And I am not kidding:D

    Lee j
     
  13. wahoogeek

    wahoogeek New Member

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    do a google search and you'll see this is a major complaint. People have actually been told by salesmen not to buy HE's if you plan to put them on an upper floor. The comment on the locknuts on the feet is the primary solution. Balance the machine and then lockdown the feet. I have also heard of people using hockey pucks to dampen the vibration. In the end, there is an amount of energy that the house must absorb and depending on the building method and quality, you may never get rid of the vibration.
     
  14. Kaosdad

    Kaosdad Will work for Rum

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    Hocky Pucks?

    Brassy! We're going to a Capital's Game!
     
  15. Brassy

    Brassy Hiyah

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    Well thanks for all of you who piped in. I will try setting the spin cycle to a lower speed, I hate to give up my storage bins underneat as we have no upper cabinets, and they keep it at a nice level for me to move the load over. But Koasdad said we might try washing without the bins, too. I like them alot, and you are right about having them on concrete. Before we moved here we had the same exact set stitting on top of each other in our basement and never had the issue. Now on Linoluem and a subfloor...
     
  16. rwbsports

    rwbsports New Member

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    I would call Whirlpool directly or where you purchased the machine. Ask them for help or even better schedule a service call (like if you bought them from Sears) and make them figure it out.

    By the way what is the preferred front loading washer and dryer? My mom and dad have Kenmore Elite and they love them. I want to buy some and stack them. We have a Ryan home and our laundry area is on the middle floor.
     
  17. Charlotte

    Charlotte New Member

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    There is a terrific forum on iVillages GardenWeb collection of forums. It's the "Laundry Room." The frequent posters are very passionate about their washers and dryers, but they're also very knowledgeable. You have to create an account to post, but you can browse and search all you want. I have a Siemens front-loader and dryer combo, but they're on tile with - what's that underlay called - greenrock or something like that? No vibration problems.

    Here's a link to a Duet vibrations thread: The Laundry Room
     
  18. Brassy

    Brassy Hiyah

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    Thanks,

    The iVillage link was interesting. Unfortunately for me my machines were bought in 2003, so I am out of luck. Apparently the "Sport" comes with a 6-point suspension that negates the walking and intense vibration on a floor othere than concrete...
     
  19. sandaddy

    sandaddy New Member

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    The primary reason for the vibration is that the studs are much wider apart these days in the Van Metre homes, as allowed by code.

    That means the floors flex more and the vibration is worse.

    Our machine seems level according to the level meter, but it doesn't make a difference.
     
  20. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    ...ok, that begs the question. How can a home in such a well established area, with all the inspectors we see around here for everything - be able to "pass" an inspection if something like "studs" are further apart that allowed by code, "these days"? If you have proof, I would love to see it. Also, I think most people hire their own home inspectors... that check this issue as well. I know mine did.

    I just hate to see someone say something like this... without either context or some kind of qualification. But like I said, if you have proof of this "stud" distance in Van Metre homes being done outside of code - well then you can call me on it.

    If you are trying to make another point, then I suggest you be careful what you type... I would hate for people to go running back to Van Metre complaining that their studs are not compliant with code.
     

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