mrb627
Well-known member
Has anyone purchased and installed some anti vibration feet under their washing machine? I think Consumer Reports rated them all as ineffective. Anyone have a differing opinion or experience?
Malcolm
Malcolm
Anti-vibration Feet
- Thread starter mrb627
- Start date
Help Support :
For a front load washer?
If you're trying to cut down the vibration for one of those, try puting a piece of plywood underneath.
Also, anti-fatigue matts that are used for horse stalls. They might sell something similar in building supply stores.
If you're trying to cut down the vibration for one of those, try puting a piece of plywood underneath.
Also, anti-fatigue matts that are used for horse stalls. They might sell something similar in building supply stores.
Some frontloaders, should work better on different tyes of floors/flooring. I think this is what CU should test if they have not done so yet. In the TL arena and the floor was iffy, you knew you wanted a WP or similar with self leveling rear legs definately not a Maytag of the era.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Stiffen the Floor
If there is vibration, stiffening the floor is your best bet. The way to do it is with 3/4-inch plywood. Surface flooring (tile, vinyl, etc.) needs to be removed, exposing the subfloor. Cut plywood to the size needed to go under both washer and dryer, plus about 3 inches all the way around. Radius the front corners to prevent bumped toes.
Now use Liquid Nails to glue the plywood to the subfloor, then use plenty of screws to screw the plywood through the subfloor to the joists underneath.
Finish with a layer of surface flooring on top of the plywood, and aluminum countertop edging to trim the front exposed edge of the plywood. Move the washer and dryer into place and enjoy the quiet.
This trick is particularly effective in mobile homes, though in those structures, the subfloor often has to be replaced with plywood as well, since particle board is the usual subfloor material from the factory. Particle board deteriorates and turns mushy when it's exposed to moisture. But a replacement plywood subfloor topped with an extra layer of plywood quiets everything down and makes the floor last.
If there is vibration, stiffening the floor is your best bet. The way to do it is with 3/4-inch plywood. Surface flooring (tile, vinyl, etc.) needs to be removed, exposing the subfloor. Cut plywood to the size needed to go under both washer and dryer, plus about 3 inches all the way around. Radius the front corners to prevent bumped toes.
Now use Liquid Nails to glue the plywood to the subfloor, then use plenty of screws to screw the plywood through the subfloor to the joists underneath.
Finish with a layer of surface flooring on top of the plywood, and aluminum countertop edging to trim the front exposed edge of the plywood. Move the washer and dryer into place and enjoy the quiet.
This trick is particularly effective in mobile homes, though in those structures, the subfloor often has to be replaced with plywood as well, since particle board is the usual subfloor material from the factory. Particle board deteriorates and turns mushy when it's exposed to moisture. But a replacement plywood subfloor topped with an extra layer of plywood quiets everything down and makes the floor last.
mrb627
Well-known member
Concrete Slab
The machine sits on a concrete slab. So there is no flooring to re-enforce. I suspect that the rubber feet on the machine may have dried and become brittle. Maybe hoses aren't the only things that should be replaced after 5 years of use...
Malcolm
The machine sits on a concrete slab. So there is no flooring to re-enforce. I suspect that the rubber feet on the machine may have dried and become brittle. Maybe hoses aren't the only things that should be replaced after 5 years of use...
Malcolm
Malcolm,
Are you having vibration problems even being that the machine is on a slab? Or is it just walking/creeping etc?
In general I'd think that most vibration mounts would do very little as most people probably would try them when they have problems on a wood floor. The magnitude of the energy is too great and the frequency is too low for a little pad to isolate it from a weak subfloor.
In your case having a solid floor that has some mass there is a chance that the isolation feet could do some good. I'd look at the products from industrial suppliers like Grainger and MSC etc as opposed to homeowner products. The industrial products will be chosen based on the weight they support so it would help to know your machine weight.
Finally one interesting tool you might be able to employ in measuring and visualizing vibration is the accelerometer in a smart device, like a mobile phone or iPad etc. I run an app called iSeismometer on my iPad/iPhone and it is actually a pretty good FREE tool to measure vibration in 3 axis. You could try measurements before and after employing the pads to see what change you got.
The attached photo shows a 93 Hz vibration on my desk here at work. It was coupled through the concrete slab here from a 6000 lb machining center located about 25 feet out in the shop. From the vibration frequency I was able calculate the RPM of the cutter remotely, the operator was amazed when I was able to tell him the current cutting speed. This level of vibration was slight but it did set up ripples in my coffee cup!
Are you having vibration problems even being that the machine is on a slab? Or is it just walking/creeping etc?
In general I'd think that most vibration mounts would do very little as most people probably would try them when they have problems on a wood floor. The magnitude of the energy is too great and the frequency is too low for a little pad to isolate it from a weak subfloor.
In your case having a solid floor that has some mass there is a chance that the isolation feet could do some good. I'd look at the products from industrial suppliers like Grainger and MSC etc as opposed to homeowner products. The industrial products will be chosen based on the weight they support so it would help to know your machine weight.
Finally one interesting tool you might be able to employ in measuring and visualizing vibration is the accelerometer in a smart device, like a mobile phone or iPad etc. I run an app called iSeismometer on my iPad/iPhone and it is actually a pretty good FREE tool to measure vibration in 3 axis. You could try measurements before and after employing the pads to see what change you got.
The attached photo shows a 93 Hz vibration on my desk here at work. It was coupled through the concrete slab here from a 6000 lb machining center located about 25 feet out in the shop. From the vibration frequency I was able calculate the RPM of the cutter remotely, the operator was amazed when I was able to tell him the current cutting speed. This level of vibration was slight but it did set up ripples in my coffee cup!
joe_in_philly
Well-known member
Nifty App! I can't wait to try it on my washer.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing.
mrb627
Well-known member
Cool iPhone Application
That looks like it would be interesting to gauge the differences between adjustments. Never considered a vibration measurement from a mobile phone.
Malcolm
Yeah, the machine likes to slowly creep to one side during high speed spinning.
That looks like it would be interesting to gauge the differences between adjustments. Never considered a vibration measurement from a mobile phone.
Malcolm
Yeah, the machine likes to slowly creep to one side during high speed spinning.
I have got an amazing amount of utility out of that free app.
I've even had my old iTouch in a zip-lock baggie lying on the table in a machining center while it was cutting. The coolant was flooding over the device as the machine was cutting. It was transferring vibration data back to a Mac in the shop via WiFi. The information was helpful in adjusting cutting conditions to minimize vibration and increase part quality!
I've even had my old iTouch in a zip-lock baggie lying on the table in a machining center while it was cutting. The coolant was flooding over the device as the machine was cutting. It was transferring vibration data back to a Mac in the shop via WiFi. The information was helpful in adjusting cutting conditions to minimize vibration and increase part quality!
Malcolm-- Has the washer always done this, or is it something that has developed over time? The freedom from vibration rating for front-loading Speed Queen is only "Fair" in Consumer Reports, but they test on wood flooring. I would hope the rubber feet haven't become brittle after only 5 years.
I've become a fan of Speed Queen washers, and if their front-loader offered an internal water heater and a long Sanitize-type cycle for my loads of kitchen whites, I'd get one in a heartbeat. Although it's nice to have more capacity when needed, most of my loads are are only 6-10 pounds, so the SQs capacity would suffice.
I've become a fan of Speed Queen washers, and if their front-loader offered an internal water heater and a long Sanitize-type cycle for my loads of kitchen whites, I'd get one in a heartbeat. Although it's nice to have more capacity when needed, most of my loads are are only 6-10 pounds, so the SQs capacity would suffice.
mrb627
Well-known member
Gradual Development
This has developed gradually over time. I would normally have to readjust the level a couple of times per year. A minor adjustment at that. But, since you have to either adjust the feet without the rubber pads on or grab the rubber pad with the channel locks and turn to adjust, the edges of the pads have become somewhat chewed up by the tools used to turn them. Add that to the machines have been moved into and out of the laundry room which further deteriorates the bottom surface a few times. I suspect they are due for replacement. I suppose the obvious choice is to return to the same type foot that Alliance originally put on there. But thought I would check to see if there is something better out there before I made my purchase.
Malcolm<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>
This has developed gradually over time. I would normally have to readjust the level a couple of times per year. A minor adjustment at that. But, since you have to either adjust the feet without the rubber pads on or grab the rubber pad with the channel locks and turn to adjust, the edges of the pads have become somewhat chewed up by the tools used to turn them. Add that to the machines have been moved into and out of the laundry room which further deteriorates the bottom surface a few times. I suspect they are due for replacement. I suppose the obvious choice is to return to the same type foot that Alliance originally put on there. But thought I would check to see if there is something better out there before I made my purchase.
Malcolm<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>
those pads absorbed vibration, but at the same time, made the machine more wobbly...
most times I found it easiest to buy those rubber cups used for furniture, a square of double sided mounting tape held them to the machines feet, and the underside never allowed it to slide....
I once goofed and used these furniture gliders on the feet of a machine, made it easy to pull out if something fell behind, and also allowed the machine to walk across the room during spin...or if you leaned into the machine to grab something at the bottom, and the machine would slide out of the way....we live and learn...
I find GE filterflos chew thru their foot pads rather fast...and tile and linoleum, and dig into the subfloor.....like its an angry little machine!...lol
most times I found it easiest to buy those rubber cups used for furniture, a square of double sided mounting tape held them to the machines feet, and the underside never allowed it to slide....
I once goofed and used these furniture gliders on the feet of a machine, made it easy to pull out if something fell behind, and also allowed the machine to walk across the room during spin...or if you leaned into the machine to grab something at the bottom, and the machine would slide out of the way....we live and learn...
I find GE filterflos chew thru their foot pads rather fast...and tile and linoleum, and dig into the subfloor.....like its an angry little machine!...lol
Malcolm,
Did your Speed Queen come with the adhesive anti-creep feet? The machine John got for me had a package with front foot pads that are peel and stick to the floor to prevent walking. Perhaps those are just supplied with the semi-commercial OPL machines.
Did your Speed Queen come with the adhesive anti-creep feet? The machine John got for me had a package with front foot pads that are peel and stick to the floor to prevent walking. Perhaps those are just supplied with the semi-commercial OPL machines.
