A few years ago we bought a new washer/dryer. Even though the laundry room has its own pocket door, the machines emit low frequency vibrations throughout the house. After a few months enduring subliminal noise, I made a simple anti-vibration pad out of Astroturf and plywood- see
http://genuineideas.com/hall_of_inventions/free_inventions/free_inventions.html
for details.
Fine Homebuilding was going to publish the idea in the Kitchen and Bath issue, but for a variety of reasons, it never appeared (though they paid for the submission- thanks guys!).
Anyway, a neighbor made one and they were pretty happy with the results. Would be interested in hearing your experiences with alternative solutions, or if you try out this approach, if it worked for you.
Thanks
Replies
NJ: Gee - you shoulda put this in the thread on fixing a bouncy floor - they'd have loved it. I suggested this type solution about 120 posts before where they are now, but it got lost in the doctrinaire discussions of how to fix a floor. Better to sit back & watch the bobcats try to scratch one another's eyes out.
Don
Don-
You can fix vibrations at the input or the output or both. Its amazing how many bathroom fans would be a lot quieter if the manufacturer simply added 50 cents worth of sorbothane rubber gaskets between the fan and the duct. I usually end up putting them in myself. As you say, soft rubber feet (or this sandwich of astroturf) under a cabinet, can stop a world of hurt.
Edited 10/30/2004 1:40 pm ET by njdesigner