GE WBVH Installation guide

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GE Appliances
GE Front Load Washer Tips
Models WBVH, WCVH, WHDVH
TB04-10
INTRODUCTION
Front load washers are more efcient, using
just 13 gallons of water verses 35 gallons for a
typical top load machine. Front load machines
use less energy. Front load machines also cause
less wear on clothes. However, occasionally,
front load washer consumers may comment on
longer wash times, increased washer vibration
or movement, clothes coming out wet, or that
washer paused and consumer had to restart.
Take the time to listen carefully and fully
understand the consumer’s specic issue before
proceeding. Address the appropriate issue today
to avoid a return service call.
UNDERSTAND THE CONSUMER’S ISSUE FIRST
1. Increased Vibration
a. Slow speed spin issue (less than 120 RPM
only).
i. Adjust out-of-balance load. At very low
RPM, signicantly out-of-balance loads
can cause severe vibration.
ii. Wash similar fabrics in reasonable
amounts to reduce vibration.
b. Medium- to high-speed spin issue
(greater than 120 RPM only).
i. Check for faulty installation and
correct any Error Codes.
Training Bulletin
JULY 2010
GE Appliances
General Electric Company
Louisville, Kentucky 40225
GE CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION – NOT FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
2. Clothes Coming Out Soaking Wet
a. Frequently:
i. Check for faulty installation and correct
any Error Codes.
ii. Check for air leak in pressure switch
hose. An air leak can cause too high of
a water ll, failure to pump out all water,
or unbalanced loads due to excess
water weight. If faulty in T06 test, the
water may not stop lling at “Foam”
level when Fis displayed. Run entire T06
test to conrm.
iii. Check for leaking water valve; Error
Code E23.
iv. Check for drain hose siphoning.
v. Check for clogged pump lter or drain.
Washer will run with up to nearly 50%
blockage.
b. Occasionally:
i. Adjust out-of-balance load. It is best
to wash similar fabrics in reasonable
amounts for best results.
3. Clothes Coming Out Wet (not soaking)
a. Clothes may occasionally feel more damp
than usual. The washer spins at 2 different
speed ranges based on load and balance.
A slower speed spin will cause clothes to
retain more moisture.
4. Long Wash Times
a. If initial machine wash time estimate
displayed is too long for the consumer:
i. Select SpeedWash set on Normal Soil

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for fastest possible wash cycle. Wash
similar fabrics together to reduce the
number of rebalances.
b. If actual machine wash time is much longer
than the display estimate:
i. Depending on wash cycle selected, initial
wash cycle time estimates vary from 40
minutes for the shortest cycle to nearly
3 hours for the longest cycle. In addition,
out-of-balance load rebalancing can
add as much as 63 minutes to a given
cycle. Adjust an out-of-balance load to
minimize rebalances and shorten overall
wash cycle time. It is best to wash similar
fabrics in reasonable amounts for best
results.
ii. Legs out of adjustment; not four on
the oor. Each of the 4 legs should be
adjusted to carry equal weight to reduce
rebalancing.
iii. Too much/wrong detergent creating
excess foam and triggering pressure
switch. During Wash (the word “Wash” in
the display), if the machine determines
there is too much foam, it will stop
rotating the basket and turn on both the
drain pump and the water valve to ush
excess suds. The pump may run for an
extended period of time until foam level
drops below the machineset point. This
can add an hour or more to the cycle time.
5. The Washer Paused and the Consumer had to
Restart Washer.
a. Frequently:
i. Check for faulty installation, clogged
pump lter or drain, drain siphoning, or
too much or wrong detergent.
ii. Check for air leak in pressure switch
hose. An air leak can cause too high of a
water ll, failure to pump out all water, or
unbalanced loads due to excess water
weight. If faulty in T06 test, the water
may not stop lling at Foam level when
Fis displayed. Run entire T06 test to
conrm.
iii. Check for leaking water valve: Error Code
E23.
b. Occasionally:
i. Adjust out-of-balance load; wash similar
fabrics in reasonable amounts for best
results.
MAKE THE FOLLOWING CHECKS TO DETERMINE IF THE MACHINE IS OPERATING PROPERLY
1. Perform T02 test to check for any stored Error
Codes. To run T02, remove power to washer for
30 seconds. Reapply power, press Signal button,
press Delay Start button, press Signal button
again, and press Delay Start button again. When
T01 comes up on the display (possibly up to
3-minute delay before T01 is displayed), rotate
the Cycle Select knob until T02 is displayed,
then press Start button. The rst Error Code, if
any, will be displayed at this time. If no Error
Codes, display will show E00. Rotate the Cycle
Select knob clockwise up to 10 clicks to view any
additional Error Codes. Refer to Pub. 31-9135
Service Guide for Error Code information. Repair
and adjust as appropriate. After repair and
adjust, reenter test mode and press and hold the
Start button for 3 seconds to clear Error Codes.
2. Ensure the consumer’s oor is sturdy. If ooring
is weak, sags noticeably, or squeaks under load,
then any washer vibrations will be exaggerated.
The consumer may need to secure a 3/4-Inch-
thick plywood panel to the oor under the
washer to help correct severe oor movement.
Note however, less than 7% of installs need
the ooring strengthened. Front load washer
movement of up to 1/4 Inch is normal during
operation on the sturdiest of oors. Advise
minimum clearance of 1/2 inch to walls
(including hoses) to guarantee no contact.
Ensure hoses are properly dressed, so that they
are secure and do not vibrate.

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3. Conrm consumer is using correct amount of
HE detergent. Refer to HE detergent package
label for correct detergent amounts for partial
and full loads. Less HE detergent is required
for soft/softened water and/or partial loads.
Conrm clothes loads of similar fabrics and
reasonable size. A reasonable load size is up
to one full laundry basket (about 16 lbs of dry
clothes). Some loads cause more vibration (rugs,
towels, jeans, etc.) than others. For example,
washing only a few towels alone can cause an
unbalanced load because they soak up water
and concentrate weight in only one part of the
basket.
Note: The following diagnosis steps apply
to all units (both pedestal and nonpedestal
installations).
4. Four on the oor - ensure the unit is level and
all four leveling legs are properly adjusted and
securely on the oor. The objective is for each
of the four legs to carry equal weight; four on
the oor. As little as 1/4 or 1/2 turn on a single
leveling leg can be signicant. A helpful quick
check is to place your left hand on the top left
front corner and your right hand on the top
right rear corner. Then, push the washer in the
direction of your hands and note force required
to remove the weight from the front leg. Now
reverse hands, i.e., right in top right front corner
and left in top left rear corner, and note the force
required to remove weight from the front leg.
The two forces should be equal.
5. With basket empty of clothes and water, run the
T11 test and check for acceptable vibration or
movement. To run T11, remove power to unit for
30 seconds. Reapply power, press Signal button,
and press Delay Start button, press Signal
button again, press Delay Start button again.
When T01 is displayed, rotate the Cycle Select
knob until T11 is displayed, then press the Start
button. Note the test does not rebalance the
load. Press Power to quickly end the test for an
extreme out-of-balance condition. Once the unit
reaches 400 rpm, press the Start button again,
washer will then ramp up to high-speed spin.
Note: Up to 1/4-inch movement is normal operation.
If okay, proceed to step B. If not okay, adjust
4. Ensure rear legs are level and rear jam nuts are
wrench tight against washer or pedestal bottom
(see picture below). Next, run T11 and adjust
front legs for minimum vibration or movement
at ~ 400 RPM. Secure the front jam nuts wrench-
tight and run T11 again to conrm legs are set
properly for minimum vibration or
movement
while washer is spinning at 400 RPM. Press on the
washer top left front corner toward the top right
rear corner with your hands and note if there is
any increased vibration. Then, press on top right
front corner toward the top left rear corner with
your hands and note if there is any increased
vibration. If pressing either corner decreases/
lessens vibration or movement, the legs are
still out of adjustment and must be corrected.
If pressing either corner increases/worsens
vibration or movement, the legs are properly set.
legs and/or check for a machine structural or
mechanical fault (see next Section).
6. Place 1 or 2 dry, tightly rolled up, bath towels
in basket and tape in place to a bafe inside
against the basket, centered front to back (see
picture). The weight of the towel(s) should be
about 1-1.5 lbs; do not exceed 2 lbs. This test
simulates an out of balance load to make checks
and adjustments minimizing vibration and
movement.

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7. Inspect all four feet for good condition. If any of
the rubber feet are damaged as in the pictures
below, it can cause front load washer vibration.
8. If installed on a pedestal, conrm all four
washer-to-pedestal bolts are wrench-tight.
MECHANICAL / STRUCTURAL / ERROR CODE CHECKS:
Proceed with these checks if front load washer
vibration cannot be adjusted to acceptable levels in
the prior Steps.
1. Inspect for correct basket depth by placing a pen
or pencil as shown in diagram below with the
point touching the basket rim. Manually rotate the
basket a full turn so that the pen/pencil is pushed
forward to the maximum extent. Now, holding
the pen/pencil in place, manually rotate the
basket slowly while looking for the maximum gap
between the basket rim and the point pen/pencil.
Maximum allowable gap is 1/4 inch or less.
2. Check for Washer not bolted to Pedestal or
Pedestal rubber pads left on in error. If found,
advise consumer to correct installation fault.
3. Check that all 4 dampers and both suspension
springs are present, undamaged, and properly
installed. There should be no rust on the steel
part of damper that enters the black plastic part
of damper. Replace damper if defect is found.
4. Check that all counterweight bolts are in place
securing the three counterweights. A loose
weight will cause excessive noise during spin.
5. Enter Test Mode and check for any Error Codes
and conrm no Error Codes. If Error Codes are
found, diagnose and repair per the Service Guide
GE Pub. 31-9135, then retest until no relevant
Error Codes are found.
ADDITIONAL TIPS: WHY DOES THE WASHER MOVE?
1. Both the front load washer and pedestal are
made to move. They absorb the energy from
spinning to reduce vibration. If they were rigid,
and did not move, they would hammer the oor
as the basket spins.
2. Top load washers vibrate side-to-side and front-
to-back. Front load washers vibrate up and
down. While accelerating into spin, the legs on
one side push harder on the oor and the other
side push less. This force can be very large. A
load of clothes and the machine together could
weigh 400 to 500 pounds (268 lbs for machine
plus 150 lbs of wet clothes).
3. Front load washers are more efcient using just
13 gallons of water verses 35 gallons for a top
load machine. Front load machines have shorter
dry times and use less energy. Front load
machines cause less wear on clothes. However,
Front load washers vibrate more in spin. Front
load washers can spin at more than 1000 RPM
verses just 500-600 RPM for top load washers.
4. Below 120 RPM, the front load washer cannot
calculate or adjust to out-of-balance load
conditions. The solution to a slow speed
vibration issue is to adjust or change the load.
It is best to wash similar fabrics in reasonable
amounts for best results.
5. The front load washer must be level for the
dispenser to work properly.
6. Each of the four front load washer legs must
carry approximately equal weight to minimize
movement and vibration. Four on the oor!
Note: Proceed with Steps 7-8 only if Front load
washer vibration and movement cannot be adjusted
to acceptable levels.