Vibration Isolation

Most washing machine tub assemblies are mounted on springs/shocks. As long as the load is somewhat balanced, the outer frame/housing doesn't exhibit a lot of vibration. Without the spring/shock mechanism, if the spin cycle began with a severely unbalanced load such as, say, a single blanket or something that winds up on one side of the tub, the machine could actually damage itself.

-John

There is also usually a large lump of something to add some mass. In some machines, it is a cast block of concrete!

Or a thick cast iron base.

Good point!

But my original point is that vibration exists regardless of how the machine is built and there is a solution that eliminates the transfer of the vibration and noise from the machine through the house.

What would it be worth? $250, $200, $150, or less?

Hi Mike,

For me personally, "less" (read: $0)! My washing machine rests on a solid concrete floor in my basement. Believe me, there's no vibration through my house. Same for dryer.

Now, for someone with such appliances residing on flooring/joists with a propensity to vibrate, I suppose there could be a market for an isolation device.

-John

The isolator does not replace anything inside the machine. The machine sits on the isolator.

Hi Mike,

You are providing vibration isolation services or want these services?

A decent quality washing machine in a decent quality house doesn't present much of a problem in my experience. If people buy bargain machines they might appreciate a device to reduce it after realising their mistake. I suspect most people with a memory would spend more on their machine next purchase or ask around more but hopefully you're stuck with the first one for a good number of years. In the kitchens I know there's zero under-worktop clearance for anything other than a cigarette paper. How much would this thing add to the overall height?

As buildings get cheaper and more densely packed, or in multi-storeys there may be more of a case. We have already, IMO, something of a noise pollution problem (certainly in southern UK). So I would applaud anything that helped but must say I donn't think such a thing would occur to me as a high priority.

Stop the danged military aircraft flying over my house at 250ft at midnight and the equally danged recreational aircraft, especially helicopters, at other times; that'd make me happy. Danged if I'd feel I should pay toward their removal though.

Go to

www.mcmaster.com

They've got a ton of isolators, some even inexpensive. You should get by with one of the pad types. If you need springs or a bladder, you got something wrong in that machine or else your wife has to stop washing the Sheltie in there.

Tom

I would try a set of pads for your machine I have tried several having a very similar problem. I tried the several isolators. Probably the best set of pads I have experience are from a company called "The Vibration Solution" they make Silent Feet (www.thevibrationsolution.com), great for isolating that high frequency vibration. The reason I liked their pads more is that they use a material that also isolates things for the military NASCAR and NASA (browse around on their page for a sec). But their material is better because unlike a lot of the competitors that use a "Styrofoam" like material that will break down during uses and loose isolation properties the Silent Feet will not. Worth giving it a shot hope that helps