Too Much Shaking Going On? The Importance Of Leveling Your Washer
One of the selling points of a good washer is quiet operation with little or no vibration during the spin cycles. Homeowners who buy a washing machine that has been advertised in this manner can feel betrayed when they begin to notice increased levels of noise and vibration that seems to get progressively worse with each use. Before making a complaint to the manufacturer or leaving a scathing online review, appliance owners should do a simple test to see if the problem is the washer's fault or a simple leveling issue.
Quick water test
If your washing machine has always seemed noisy when operating or has recently begun to seem that way, you can use a half-full glass of water to do a quick leveling test. First, turn the machine off and make sure to close the lid (if it is a top-load model). Then fill a clear glass or jar half full of water and place the container on top of the appliance in approximately the middle of the machine.
Next, bend forward and look at the level of the water in the container. If it is clearly slanted, your appliance was either not properly leveled during installation or has become unlevel since that time.
Issues that can cause leveling issues
The first potential cause of washing machine leveling issue is the condition of the flooring on which it sets and any foundation problems the home may have. If the home is an older one or has had prior damage from moisture, the subfloor may have become warped and unlevel. Another potential cause for leveling issues is when the home suffers from foundation or settling issues that have caused the floors to become unlevel.
Common symptoms of an unlevel machine
Noisy operation and excessive vibration are not the only noticeable symptoms of an unlevel washer. In addition, appliance owners may notice that their machines move across the floor during operation and may do a poor job of removing excess water during the spin cycle. Problems with proper drainage and leaks under the machine can also be a sign that the appliance is not properly leveled.
DIY leveling tips
To correct leveling issues, appliance owners will need to see if their appliance is equipped with adjustable legs. If so, these will need to be extended or retracted incrementally until a carpenter's level placed on the top of the machine shows it to be level.
Washing machines that do not have adjustable legs or those are not able to be leveled using this method will need to be serviced by reputable appliance repair services professional to remedy the problem.