Frigidaire FFTW1001PW TL Washer - Frequent Out-of-Balance Problems

[niclonnic]

I'd like to talk about this troublesome Frigidaire FFTW1001PW top-load washing machine, which came with my new house, built in 2016. While it does a good job of washing clothes, the machine goes off balance quite frequently. When it's thrown off balance, the status lights flash rapidly, accompanied by a periodic triple beep. The machine sits on a linoleum floor in the upstairs laundry room, and its maximum spin speed is 850 rpm.

Every time this happens, I open the lid, even out the load and resume the cycle. But then it happens again a short time later, and I have to do it as many times as necessary until the load is balanced. Balancing problems are most prevalent with bulky items such as bedding and towels (even worse when both of these are washed together!).

As you can tell, this is a pretty aggravating issue. I've never really had many balancing issues with the washers I've owned over the years, but the Frigidaire takes the cake. Even worse, there are times when an out-of-balance issue happens, and the lid remains locked, despite multiple presses of the start/pause button. That irritates me even more.

Last night, I washed a huge load of towels, a few bath mats and other heavily soiled items, and the OOB/lock issue happened. I had to repeatedly press the start/pause button to resume the wash until the laundry had seemingly balanced itself out. And then, during the final spin, the machine went OOB again, but it unlocked this time. After a few failed attempts at balancing the load myself, I broke down, took everything out of the washer, put it in a basket, loaded the laundry BACK into the washer, resumed the cycle and it was balanced this time.

One more minor issue: while removing a clean comforter from the washer yesterday afternoon, I accidentally popped off the plastic panel that goes in front of the water spouts. While I managed to reattach it, it's now slightly loose and pushes up on the control panel slightly.

How should I remedy this issue? The washer is absolutely stable on the floor, and I do NOT want to disassemble it, as I have no desire to work on washing machines.

 

[washdaddy]

you may need to change your load make up

To help keep the machine in balance avoid mixing different types of items in the same load. (i.e.- sheets & towels, heavy items with light items) Ultimately they will end up throwing the machine out of balance cause they group up with each other while washing/rinsing which of course is the problem.
Yes, you might have more loads that end up being smaller. Would you rather wash a balanced load that goes from start to finish or make repeated trips back to the washer cause it goes out of balance due to a mixed weight load?
Just remember that today's machines are a different from machines of the past so you need to adapt to the new machine.

Hope things bet better for you. Good luck!

 

[frigilux]

I'm not a fan of the really loose suspension systems. I think they're sometimes referred to as "hanging suspensions." Very few of them can handle the weight-when-wet maximum capacity loads their spacious tubs are capable of holding.

There are a few toploaders with the really loose suspension systems in this 8-plex apartment building's two laundry rooms and I often hear the bam-bam-bam cabinet banging of imbalances the machines' suspension systems can't handle. There's one in the laundry room across from my set that goes out of balance quite often. It's a GE. I often hear a Maytag banging away from the laundry room on the downstairs level, as well as a Samsung that has a wash plate rather than a center post agitator.

What's really horrifying is some machines try to rebalance the load by filling with water, agitating for a couple of minutes, then trying to spin again. From what I've seen in videos on Youtube, this method often doesn't correct the issue. Some washers will fill four times before finally launching an error code. That's probably over 100 gallons of water absolutely wasted.

I agree with Nick: Try washing smaller loads of similarly-weighted items and see if that helps. A big load of bath towels is very, very heavy when saturated.

If the time should arrive that you decide to kick this washer to the curb, I'd suggest a moderately-priced LG front-loader (like the 3500 or entry-level 3400).

If you want to stick with a top-loader, get a Speed Queen TC5000, which has a traditional suspension system and old-school agitation that can handle a maximum capacity load without out-of-balance issues. I've had my Speed Queen top-loader for three years without a single imbalance problem.

Good luck and let us know if decreasing the load size helps the situation. Hope there's a workable solution, especially if you're satisfied with the washer's cleaning performance.[this post was last edited: 10/7/2020-08:59]

 

[niclonnic]

Got it

This sounded like a pretty trivial thing to post about, but I needed advice from experts. I agree, I should inform my other family members to only wash one particular type of laundry at a time.

Frigilux, as a matter of fact, I used to own an LG 2650 front-loading steam washer at my old house, and that thing was a workhorse; it never had a single imbalance problem. In a way, I do miss that machine. However, I looked at both of the LG machines you mentioned, and they don't have any steam options.

As for top-loaders, I'm not too familiar with Speed Queen.

Lastly, are Frigidaire front-load washers any good? Because my current home has all Frigidaire appliances; the gourmet kitchen has a microwave, dishwasher, gas cooktop, dual ovens and French door refrigerator. And in the mother-in-law suite, where my sister resides, there's a microwave, top-freezer fridge and laundry center.

 

[pinkpower4]

Out of Balance

I have a Maytag with the “hanging suspension”. I agree with the others that you are likely to get better results if you wash like items with like items. For example I sort my loads into jeans, towels, delicates (socks/under garments). I have a 3.5 cu. ft capacity tub. I fill it about 3/4 full by loosely placing items around the agitator. This is equivalent to max of 6 adult jeans or 8 if they are kids. I put about the same amount (6 to 8) in regard to towels taking into consideration their size. I do mix in the smaller hand towels and wash cloths unless I had enough to do a separate load. With the “mixed” load, I haven’t had any issues but it usually consists of shirts and some leggings. What I have to watch is when I wash something like two throw blankets we use on the couch. One may hold more water than the other or can become settled on one side more than being distributed evenly.

This is one of the reasons I really like being able to do half loads as I can sort my loads even better. Some of my kids are in college and just come home on the weekends, so their wash is separate from hh wash. If you have the option to do smaller loads, that may help some with your issues too, so you can sort better.

Hung suspension means the basket is held in place by four rods with springs at the end. The outer tubs on these washers are plastic. There is a lot more play in this design. The SQ’s tub has heavy duty springs that secure its METAL outer tub to a base. I believe both have some type of balancing ring with liquid in that help aid in keeping the tub balanced too. I can’t think of any other top load sold today that still has this better design except for SQ.

 

[frigilux]

Nick- If you want an LG with an internal water heater and steam technology, the WM3900 is your machine. It lists at about $1,200.

The LG models I listed in Reply #2 don’t have internal water heaters, but are priced at $725-900.

Frigidaire dropped front-loaders from their laundry line a number of years ago. A series of front-loading Frigidaires were my daily drivers from the mid 1980s-2015. Bought a Maytag set in 2015 (which I loved) that was sold with my house in 2017 when I moved to an apartment in anticipation of retirement. I was concerned about possible noise/vibration issues given the upstairs communal laundry room’s wood floor coupled with the very tight space given to work with, so I bought a 2017 Speed Queen 9-Series top-loader.

Turned out my concerns about the floor were unwarranted; there have subsequently been a couple of front-loaders in the upstairs laundry with no vibration issues whatsoever.

While I still prefer front-loaders, I’ve grown to like my very old-school SQ. Gave strong consideration to the LG3900 pair about six months ago, but decided it was not financially wise to get rid of the SQs on a whim—which I did frequently pre-retirement— when they have many years left in their natural lives.

[this post was last edited: 10/9/2020-08:52]

 

[panasonicvac]

If Frigidaire continued to sell front load washers, it would probably be the same ones that Electrolux sells today since Frigidaire is currently owned by Electrolux. Last year I used an Electrolux front load washer when it was bought new, I wasn't impressed with it. We have an LG WM8100HVA (Supposedly the same thing as the WM3900) for almost a year now, it's a WAY much better machine. Perhaps the best performing washer that's out in the market today but I'm pretty sure that a Speed Queen front loader would outlast the LG in terms of durability and reliability. I think that's what I would get if I were to buy myself a front load washer today. But as of now, I'm leaning towards on getting a top loader and so far I will be taking a closer look at the Speed Queen TC5 unless when or if Speed Queen would bring back a model similar to the 9 series.

 

[niclonnic]

Today

My dad's girlfriend washed a large, mixed load of their laundry, and the machine went off balance during both spin cycles. During the first spin, I got the load balanced after one attempt, but during the final spin, simple rearranging didn't do anything after two attempts. So I took everything out and loaded it back in. I'm suspecting that a couple of hoodies caused that issue, as there were no jeans in that load.

 

[appnut]

Yup, you need to go back to a front loader since you dind't have these issues with previous front loader(s) you have had. The LG WM3600, 3700, & 3900 are being replaced with the new WM4000, WM4200, and WM4500.

 

[niclonnic]

appnut

For clarification, I've only ever owned one front-load washer over the years: the LG 2650 I mentioned above. A new washing machine is not a priority at the moment, as my Frigidaire still works. But if it ever dies, I'll consider another LG front-loader.

 

[oldschool88]

Might be time for suspension kit.

The parts diagram for your model shows it's a hanging-suspension design, and with other manufacturers the springs get fatigued and cause imbalance problems. Might be time for new rods & springs for yours.

Here's an example, and you'd need four:

https://www.appliancepartspros.com/frigidaire-rod-suspension-assy-807015314-ap6230722.html

 

[gizmo]

"How should I remedy this issue? The washer is absolutely stable on the floor, and I do NOT want to disassemble it, as I have no desire to work on washing machines."

 

Your machine needs to be repaired. It is probably the suspension rod assemblies. If you don't want to do it yourself, call a repairer.


However, replacing the rods is a VERY easy task. If you can dress yourself, you can change a set of rods.

 

I don't know your Frigidaire machine, but it looks like Simpson machines sold here in Australia. They are owned by Electrolux too.

The suspension rods are VERY easy to replace.

 

I have a quick and dirty method for re-using your old suspension rods and extending their life. I have done this many times on Fisher and Paykel washers which use similar suspension rods. The  video in the link below shows how to fit new rods.

 

I just remove the old rod, then use the round end of a screwdriver handle to press round the disc at the bottom of the rod assembly. It is flared around the outer perimeter, and the flare wears away. The flared disc needs to be a tight sliding fit in the plastic cone, if it fits loose it will dance around on spin. So all you have to do is push the screwdriver handle against the flared edge and roll it around the disc to bend back the flare and increase the diameter of the disc by a millimeter or so. Its a two minute job for each rod, you do one at a time. If you do my trick and it works, it's up to you if you just leave it at that, or fit new rods later. Personally I used to do it about once a year and all was fine.

 

 

[niclonnic]

Great!

I just may have to buy some suspension rods and install them myself, if it sounds that easy. Hopefully this will resolve the OOB issues I've been having!