Bosch WAE24460AU Washer Vibration

[meeshu]

I’ve purchased a Bosch washer. 🙂

I did some washing yesterday, and noticed quite substantial vibration of the washer, adjacent washing tub, and the floor when running the spin cycles!! 😯 The installation technican did make a comment that as the laundry floor is wooden, some vibration would be noticeable. And he wasn’t kidding!!

Actually, I did anticipate some vibration problems, as the previous washer (top loading Fisher and Paykel GW512) generated some vibration also on some spin cycles. However, the vibration caused by the Bosch was much “worse”! 🙁 I was almost expecting the tub and washer to go for a walk, and/or perhaps the floor to give way also!!??

The Bosch by default sets the spin speed at 1200 rpm, but because of anticipated vibration concerns, I set the spin to 1000 rpm. Unfortunately it seems that 1000 rpm is apparently still too fast a spin speed for the laundry floor(?). There were no heavy wash loads, so that wasn’t the issue. However, there were some very light wash loads, so that may have put the washer out of balance a bit.

I did note that during the spin cycles, the washer would spin up to speed for awhile, and then slow down to a crawl briefly, and then spin up to speed again. I presume the washer out of balance system was attempting to rebalance the wash load?

For the next wash(es), it appears that I will have to limit the spin speed to 800 rpm, and see what happens regarding spin vibrations then.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with the washer as such. It appears that the laundry floor is not substantial enough to deal with the spinning cycles(?). So, if I wanted to spin at high speeds without substantial vibration issues occuring, it seems that the laundry floor would have to be reinforced or rebuilt(?) And this is a task and an expense I could do without at the moment!! 🙁

It is my understanding that some washing machines have better design/constuction to deal with (potential) vibration issues. After a quickish web search, I have seen mention that Asko and Miele brand washing machines deal with vibration quite well. There may be other washing machine brands that deal with vibrations better also?

If so, I may look at having to get another brand of (front loading) washing machine that does not generate (substantial) net felt vibration while spinning at high speed.

Any comments please?

[Penguin45]

Re: Bosch WAE24460AU Washer Vibration

Your F+P generated it’s vibration laterally (vertical tub) – the Bosch does this vertically due to to the horizontal tub. The vibrations are being driven into the floor. If it’s a suspended (wooden) floor, this does cause issues. All front loaders will do this, BTW – doesn’t matter what sort you’ve got.

1/ Ensure that the machine is sitting evenly on all four feet. It doesn’t have to be plumb-bob square, providing that the machine doesn’t rock when you apply pressure to the front or sides – you don’t want any rocking movement at all.

2/ If it’s moving about still, it’s worth getting yourself a decent size offcut of work surface and standing the machine on that. This spreads the (considerable) load across the floor, rather than focusing the weight through four small contact points onto a soft, flexible surface.

3/ They have got all the transit packing out, haven’t they?

Regards,
Penguin45.

[meeshu]

Re: Bosch WAE24460AU Washer Vibration

Thanks for your comments.

The installation technician removed all four transit/transportation bolts; I double checked that during installation. The technician also “leveled” the washer by adjusting the washers feet and locking them in place; again I double checked that the washer did not move while pushing from sides and corners.

This leaves the floor as the “problem” here. So something will have to be done to reinforce it (such as using a sizable offcut to spread the load, as you suggested, thanks). I’ll also look further into other (expensive?) floor reinforcing options.

[meeshu]

Re: Bosch WAE24460AU Washer Vibration

Just a quick update.

A builder has had a look, and has determined that the laundry floor has insufficient support. Extra piles and floor bearer will have to be installed.

It would seem the previous occupants, who renovated the house, did not quite comply with building regulations as far as spacing and number of piles are concerned. However, the regulations back then (~ 17 years ago), may have been different and a bit more lenient??

Anyway, new piles and bearer should be going in soon, which should (hopefully) minimize noticed vibration while the washer spins.

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