The Vibration Solution | Washing Machine Vibration | Power Equipment Vibration

Silent Feet Pads Are Now Available on Amazon.ca

VibrationSolution — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:44:17 +0000

Silent Feet are now easier than ever to buy in Canada. Today, we have officially launched all of our Silent Feet anti-vibration pads for washing machines on Amazon Canada. These items are now available for shipment from our Toronto warehouse. What that means is that Canadian customers will now receive their orders for washing machine accessories even faster and sooner. We’ve stocked this new warehouse full of our best products. By relocating our inventory to north of border, we’ve eliminated annoying customs delays that once prevented customers from receiving their orders quickly.

Canadians are now able to purchase the full range of our washing machine pads including:

- Original Silent Feet Anti-Vibration Pads – Most Popular!
- Anti-Walk Silent Feet Anti-Vibration Pads – Most Popular!
- Premium Ocean Blue Silent Feet Anti-Vibration Pads
- Premium Crimson Red Silent Feet Anti-Vibration Pads
- Premium Ocean Blue Anti-Walk Silent Feet Anti-Vibration Pads
- Premium Crimson Red Anti-Walk Silent Feet Anti-Vibration Pads

As well as our Twin and Combo value packs including:

- Anti-Walk Silent Feet Anti-Vibration Pads (Twin Pack) – Most Popular!
- Original Silent Feet Anti-Vibration Pads (Twin Pack)
- Silent Feet & Anti-Walk Pad (Combo Pack)

We are proud to be able to make our products available to more customers worldwide. This is yet another reason why Silent Feet pads are the world’s best anti-vibration pad and the industry leader in vibration isolation for top and front loading washing machines and dryers.

Washing Machine Pads Save Homes

VibrationSolution — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:59:22 +0000

Our houses are filled with furniture, kids, pets, sometimes clutter and always full of memories. Over the years our homes collect things like dust, clutter and character (as in Crayon marks and other scars from years of joy). As the years pass we watch the seasons change, paint fade and families grow. But what we never want to see is our homes fall into disrepair. People patch holes in walls, brighten up paint, polish, clean and remodel to keep their homes warm and inviting. But what we don’t always thing about is the toll that the tools of life takes on these important buildings.

Many homes were built decades ago and constructed with the appliances and features of their day in mind. But just reflect on how much has changed since your home was built. Normally this isn’t a huge problem, but what can really have an impact on your home is your washing machine. 100 years ago, washing machines were no more than tubs of water and maybe a hand-powered wringer. Around the middle of the century, electric-powered washers started becoming available and added a whole new set of problems for homes to cope with. All of a sudden, the wooden structure of homes had to deal with shaking, vibration and water leaks the kinds of which it had never seen before. And just 10 years ago the first front loading washing machines really started to show up in homes and that’s when things got really interesting.

Between top and front loading washing machines, we ask our homes to put up with a lot these days. The average family will wash as many as 10 loads of laundry in a single week. If each of those loads takes just 30 minutes, that totals 5 full hours each week of vibration and shaking. The wooden structure of your home is held together mostly by nails which use simple friction to keep things tight and solid. A little bit of vibration doesn’t normally hurt, but hours, weeks, years and decades of it starts to work each joint apart. Gradually, cracks form in walls, gaps open in seams and squeaks, rattles and other noises start becoming commonplace. This damage spreads from the laundry room to the spaces beside and beneath it all too quickly. For this reason all washing machine manufactures recommend that you protect your home as soon as possible with an anti-vibration barrier like Silent Feet pads.

Simple but effective pads like our award-winning and industry-leading Silent Feet Anti-Vibration Washing Machine Pads, form an isolation barrier between the washing machine and your home which limits the amount of harmful vibration energy that can transfer. This 5-minute fix can save you thousands of dollars in costly repairs later. Protect your home today, before your washing machine has a chance to do any more damage.

Cool Apps Make it Easy to Measure Your Washing Machine’s Vibration

VibrationSolution — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:36:55 +0000

Vibration testing used to require costly and complicated equipment that could only be purchased from specialty suppliers. This made testing the vibration from common household appliances and other sources very difficult and expensive. In fact, just about the only reasonable option used to be to call in an expert. But all that has changed.

Thanks to revolution of cool new smartphone apps that take advantage of the tilt and accelerometer sensors built into the iPhone and Android devices there is a new option. There are a number of slick new applications available that allow anyone with a smartphone to measure just about any source of vibration anywhere they want to. Here we are going to detail a few of these apps. Before we go into the specific features of these apps, it is important to note that they are all designed to offer inexpensive vibration measurements using non-scientific quality sensors. The results that they produce are amazingly accurate but for the most accurate scientific grade measurements it is best to go with professional grade equipment. Basically, don’t try to claim that your smartphone’s test data disproves lab results.

Popular iPhone Vibration Meter App:

Vibration – By Diffraction Limited Design LLC – Price: $4.99

This is our favorite vibration meter app. It combines a very easy to use interface with great visual charts that make reading test results a piece of cake. Sample rates can be set between 10Hz and 100Hz. Results can be saved as screenshots that can then easily be shared via text or email with other devices. Plots diagrams show motion on the x, y and z axises. The plot readouts can be easily traced to determine exact measurement levels. This app costs just $4.99 and runs on iOS 4.2 for iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad devices.

Popular Android Vibration Meter App:

Vibration Monitor – Smart Tools Co. – Price: Free

This slick little app was originally designed to measure seismic energy from an earthquake but also works great for measuring vibration from appliances like washing machines. This app is part of a full set of Pro level smartphone based measuring tools created by Smart Tools Co. This app requires Android 1.6 and functions well on smart phones and tablets.

Vibration Monitoring – LUL – Price: Free

This Android app is very similar to the Vibration Meter for iPhone. We like it because it displays multi-axis vibration in the x, y and z directions. This is very good for isolating specific vibration energy from multiple devices or planes of movement. This app also allows for data to be saved to an SD card for later use and transferring large amounts of data to other devices. This app has the longest duration of vibration measurement and can even be left on overnight for detection of vibration like earthquakes or noisy neighbors while you sleep. Requires Android 2.2 and up and works well on smart phones and tablets.

Now that you have an app on your mobile device you can start measuring vibration from your washing machine and dryer. While you could place your phone directly on the noisy vibrating appliance, it is best to measure the vibration from a nearby surface such as the floor. Most washing machines are designed to limit vibration transfer from the rotating internal wash drum to the frame of the washer. But the noise and vibration to you hear and feel is most often the result of residual energy being transferred to the floor and structure of your home. Start by placing your phone flat on the floor with the screen visible. The phone should be located about 6 inches away from the washing machine. Start your washer up with a full load of mixed laundry (small, medium and bulky items). Most vibration is created when the washer enters the spin cycle. Start the app when the spin cycle starts and measure the vibration. Then install at set of our Original Silent Feet or Anti-Walk Silent Feet washer pads and test again. Our pads absorb up to 94% of the vibration before it is transferred to the floor. You should see a noticeable decrease in the vibration energy spikes in the app.

Note: Adding any type of pad or flexible material under the washer will allow the appliance to visibly shake slightly more. This is why it is best to measure vibration on the floor near the appliance. Measuring vibration energy directly on the washer will likely show increased amplitude after installing the pads, but this is a normal part of the vibration isolation process.

Galanz Enters the Washing Machine Market

VibrationSolution — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 19:25:44 +0000

You have probably never heard of Galanz but they are one of the world’s largest manufactures of microwave ovens. And now they are moving to take market share in the laundry appliance field by introducing a wide range of washing machines and dryers. Galanz Group has been in business for 30 years as of 2012 and is pushing hard to gain market share. What this means to you is that there is now a great selection of Galanz washers and dryers to consider for your home. These new appliances feature a huge selection of options and colors to rival some of the bigger names like Maytag, Whirlpool, GE and Samsung.

Here are the features found on many of this year’s Galanz Washing Machines:

Energy Efficiency – Most models meet European A or A+ standards
Child Locks – Prevents children from improperly opening the washer’s door
Intensive Wash – Special feature for cleaning very dirty clothes and removing the toughest stains
Anti-Vibration System – Advanced internal suspension to absorb vibration and noise
Anti-Ironing – A gentler spin cycle prevents damage to clothing
Time Delay – Allows you to set the wash start time delay for up to 24 hours
Power-Off Memorization – If a power outage or failure occurs, the washer will remember where it stopped and resume automatically
Drum Clean – Special self cleaning feature that the user can activate whenever necessary
Extra Rinse – Allows owners with sensitive skin to remove more detergent from their clothes
Heavy – Special setting for washing heavy fabrics like jeans and canvas
Mix – Special setting for users who want to wash all different types of clothing, materials and textiles together
Night Wash – Skips the spin cycle which keeps the washer quiet at night so you can sleep easier
Quick Wash – Allows up to 3 kg of laundry to be washed in less than 30 minutes
Anti-Bacterial – Special setting uses hot water to sterilize clothing like underwear and baby’s clothes to protect your family’s health
Intelligent Control with LCD/LED Displays – Displays more information at a time to make your job easier and speed up choosing the right mode

All of Galanz’s front loading washers incorporate their anti-vibration technology, but like we’ve seen repeatedly over the years, these systems are never able to fully suppress vibration. It is always recommended that you install an anti-vibration pad like Silent Feet Anti-Vibration Pads for washing machines on your front loading washers. The following Galanz front loading models have spin speeds ranging from 800 to 1200 rpm and will fit our Original, Anti-Walk and Premium Silent Feet products:

XQG60-A208PE Front Loading Washer
XQG60-A510PE Front Loading Washer
XQG60-A812PE Front Loading Washer
XQG70-A210PE Front Loading Washer
XQG70-A410PE Front Loading Washer
XQG72-A112PE Front Loading Washer
XQG72-DA112PE Front Loading Washer

Galanz is also offering angular drum style washers. These washing machines feature a drum and front door that are slightly angle upwards to assist in draining, make the spin cycle more gentle and make loading and unloading easier. These models all feature 1200 rpm spin cycles and it is highly recommended that you install Original Silent Feet, Anti-Walk Silent Feet or Premium Silent Feet on these laundry appliances. Below is a listing of these Galanz models:

XQG60-X212CR Angular Drum Washer
XQG60-X312PRE Angular Drum Washer
XQG60-X112PRE Angular Drum Washer

Galanz continues to offer two series of top loading washing machines. Their H and J series washers include a full range of luxury features including stainless steel tubs, child locks, tub cleaning, error alarms, auto unbalancing detection and anti-vibration systems. All of Galanz’s top loading washers will reach a spin cycle rpm of 720 and will fit our full line of Silent Feet pads including our Premium color options. Here are the 2012 Galanz top loading washing machine models:

XGB60-H1 Top Loading Washer
XGB75-H2 Top Loading Washer
XGB60-J1 Top Loading Washer
XGB60-J8 Top Loading Washer

Galanz offers a wide variety of colors for their angular drum washers

Still the Best Anti-Vibration Pad for Washing Machines

VibrationSolution — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 14:15:24 +0000

Silent Feet were first launched a little more than 4 years ago. At that time there were very few options available for owners of noisy, vibrating and walking washing machines. Most owners turned to home-cooked remedies such as half tennis balls and rolled up gym socks as makeshift pads for their laundry appliances. But Vibration Solution had a better idea. Our company conceived of a product that would absorb massive amounts of vibration while also locking the washer in place semi-permanently. This ideal product would feature high quality materials and simplistic but appealing design styling. It would be compact and unobtrusive. But nothing like this existed and it took two years of testing and numerous product revision before our engineers finally arrived at the products that you see today.

The key to making Silent Feet the best anti-vibration pad in the world would be the unique adaption of Sorbothane rubber. Sorbothane had originally been developed for the insole shoe market as a much higher performing alternative to the popular Dr. Scholl’s Massaging Gel. While seeming to be an unlikely material for our products, Sorbothane combined numerous desirable traits including the highest energy absorption of any polyurethane rubber, exceptionally long material life and a natural tacky finish that could hold pesky washing machines in place by semi-permanently sticking to smooth floors.

Our Original Silent Feet are still the only product to offer the easy installation option

But the final development was still to come. One day during testing, our engineers, having grown tired of having to struggle to squeeze themselves into tight spaces around washers and dryer while installing the prototype pads, decided that there had to be a way to make installation easier. A quick hunt around the test lab resulted in the idea to use a felt like cloth on the bottom of the rear pads. This would allow the engineers (and eventually our happy customers) to simply pull their washer out from its tight space, install the rear pads and then slide it back into place. The front feet would remain the same preserving their tacky anti-walking characteristics. All at once we knew that we had stumbled on the perfect solution. Not only did we have the best materials, the smallest, most compact, most visually appealing, most effective product that also happened to be made in the USA, but it now took 2 people less than 5 minutes to install. And that installation time includes opening the package as well as cracking open a tasty soda while admiring the finished installation.

Today, we sell these pads as our Original Silent Feet. They are still the industry’s best anti-vibration pad for washing machines and dryers. They are still the only pad of their type to offer the easy install option. And with hundreds of thousands of pads sold each year, they are one of our best selling products.

Don’t Get Tricked into Using Too Much Detergent

VibrationSolution — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:58:46 +0000

In a move to reducing packaging and pack more loads into every bottle, detergent manufactures are offering increasing concentrations such as 2X, 3X and sometimes even 8X. But all of this multiplying can have the same effect on how much you pay to wash a single load of clothes. It may seem silly but take a look at this simple math. First, consider that consumers normally assume that because detergent bottles give you a measuring cap, one cap equals one load. However, the truth is that with new concentrations of laundry detergent like Era 2x Ultra, All 3X Ultra and Purex 2X Ultra, only 1/2 of a cap or less may be necessary. Second, the average washing machine uses about 40 gallons of water per load of clothes. However, using too much laundry detergent means that it takes longer to rinse clothes. Some new washing machines will run additional rinse cycles until the water is clear and free of suds.

Now for some numbers

Cost of washing one load with All 3X Ultra: $0.13 (Consumer Reports)
Average cost of 40 gallons of water: $0.32
Total cost for one load of laundry (not factoring in electricity for water heating): $0.45

Now lets run the numbers for what the average consumer actually pays

Cost of using too much detergent (full cap – twice as much): $0.26
Average cost of 40 gallons of water: $0.32
Additional 20 gallons for extra rinse cycles: $0.16
Total cost for one load of laundry (not factoring in electricity for water heating): $0.74 (39% more)

This is just one example and All 3X Ultra is actually one of the less expensive brands.

Detergent trays like this Kenmore unit aren't designed for modern concentrated detergents

Other brands can cost as much as $0.35 per load (or $0.70 if you use a full cap). It may not seem like much money, but now consider that the average American household washers nearly 400 loads of laundry per year. 400 x $0.29 = $116.00 down the drain. What could you do with an additional $116 each year?

One last item to consider. Most new front loading washing machines like the Kenmore 4000 series in our test lab have detergent trays with measurement lines. These may seem like a great convience, but there is no gold standard for detergent concentrations or amounts. So simply filling the tray to Normal or Max could be way too much detergent. Do yourself a favor and try measuring the exact amount of laundry detergent necessary using the fill lines on the detergent bottle’s measured cap. It doesn’t matter what brand you choose, Tide, All, Era, Woolite, Kirkland Signature, Method, Wisk, Purex or Cheer, this simple step might just save you some serious money this year.

Great Products are Born in the USA

VibrationSolution — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:17:47 +0000

Why is it that during tough times we Americans become so attached and attracted to products made in the USA? For some reason it seems that most big businesses need a strong kick in the pants to even consider producing their products at home in the United States. But we at The Vibration Solution have always believed in manufacturing our Silent Feet vibration isolation pads in the US. We know that the best quality products come from dedicated people working to build quality goods for their friends, family neighbors and loved ones. That isn’t a trait that is possible when companies choose to outsource their goods overseas. Many of our competitors are working hard to find the cheapest way to make their products even when it means sacrificing quality, durability, performance and patriotism. But we believe that producing the highest quality and best-performing products is key to earning customer loyalty. For that reason we have always and will always build our industry leading Silent Feet and Anti-Walk Silent Feet washing machine pads at our Kent, Ohio plant. We are proud to be sustaining and creating American jobs, especially in today’s tough economy. Every purchase from The Vibration Solution supports American innovation, ingenuity, and craftsmanship. Be proud of the products that you trust to protect your home and preserve your peace and quiet, buy American made Silent Feet.

Is Your Home in Danger of a Washing Machine Attack?

VibrationSolution — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:13:54 +0000

Every year millions of new washing machines are sold in the United States. Prior to making their purchase, customers struggle to make the best choice based on capacity, wash-cycle time, steam clean options, brand, style, appliance color and price. But few people will evaluate the best location in their home for the washing machine. Almost every new washing machine that is purchased to replace an old or out-dated model will be installed in exactly the same spot that the previous appliance was installed at. But is that the best location? Very few homes have been designed to adequately withstand the constant wear from vibration and impact caused by the washing machine’s spin cycle. All washing machine manufacturers strongly recommend that your washer be installed on a concrete subfloor or a properly reinforced joist subfloor. But “proper reinforcement” is rare. This reinforcement normally includes adding joists, thicker or additional layers of plywood and up-rated fasteners and adhesives used to bond the joists and subfloor. Without this reinforcement, the floor will begin to weaken and degrade resulting in squeaking, sagging, gaps, cracks, and eventually structural failure of the support joists. But before you rush out to find a contractor to reinforce your laundry room, consider this, washing machine manufactures suggest that the best way to protect the structure and floor of your home is to install an anti-vibration pad like Silent Feet or Anti-Walk Silent Feet. The special military-grade rubber in Silent Feet anti-vibration pads absorbs washing machine vibration and prevents it from ever being able to cause damage to your home. The fix is simple and takes only a few minutes to install. So next time you’re shopping for a new washing machine make sure to do your home a favor and pick up a set of Silent Feet anti-vibration pads.

Washing Machines That Sound Like Jet Engines

VibrationSolution — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:32:15 +0000

What do modern front loading washing machines and jet engines have in common?

Bosch Axxis Series Washers Sound Like Jet Engines

The surprising answer is the sound they make when they spin up to full power. We’ve been receiving more and more comments from people regarding the very loud and annoying noises that their washing machines make when spinning up to full speed spin cycle. One of the most egregious offenders is the Bosch Axxis series compact washer. It emits an almost deafening screech akin to a CanadAire Regional Jet at takeoff. It’s so loud in fact that most people can’t even stand to be at home while the washer is running. The problem with this specific noise is that it resonates particularly well throughout the home, apartment or condo that you install the Bosch washing machine in. Simply closing the door to the laundry room is often not enough to quell the screeching noise. And there really isn’t a full-on magic cure for it either (aside from choosing a different washer). Silent Feet anti-vibration pads can help to contain this noise. Installing the pads under the Axxis washing machine’s factory self-leveling feet will isolate the washer and keep the majority of the jet engine noise contained in the laundry room. So if you’re tired on having a self contained airport in your home, take 5 minutes to install Silent Feet washing machine pads on your Bosch Axxis washer today and start enjoying a better quality of life at home.

Become a 2011 Vibration Solution Distributor/Reseller

VibrationSolution — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:56:07 +0000

Since 2008 Silent Feet and Anti-Walk Silent Feet have been recognized as the most effective anti-vibration pads for washing machines and dryers. They have received numerous accolades and recommendations including the Reed Business Association and Design News 2009 Golden Mousetrap Award for Best New Product. As the reputation for our products has grown, so has the market potential. Our company is now working to expand our distribution network to make it easier for customers to find and purchase our products nationally and internationally.

We are now in the process of evaluating our 2011 reseller and distributors. If you are interested in being considered for either please email Sales@VibrationSolution.com with the following preliminary information:

Retail-
1. Name of company
2. Number of locations
3. Size of company
4. Estimated number of washing machines sold per year
5. Best point of contact

Distributor
1. Name of company
2. Industries supplied
3. Number of reseller in or associated with “Appliance accessories”
4. Geographic areas served.
5. Best point of contact

This is an outstanding opportunity for your company to add our product to your offerings. In the past four years, our products have consistently received high customer satisfaction scores and favorable reviews from industry experts including leading contractors and property managers. We’ve worked hard to make sure that our products stay at the forefront of their industry by constantly improving them and taking innovative steps like adding designer colors to our line to match the latest colors of washing machine finishes. The Vibration Solution strives to provide the highest quality products and services. Contact us today to take advantage of this expanding market.

Sincerely,

The Vibration Solution Team