GE WPDH8 Installation guide

– 1 –
GE Appliances
Prole Front Load Washer Tips
Models WPDH8
TB06-10
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 the 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 T09 test, the
water may not stop lling at “Foam”
level when Foam Level is displayed. Run
entire T09 test to conrm.
iii. Check for leaking water valve; Error
Code E6 or Error Code E14.
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.
ii. An extremely heavy load can lower the
wash basket below the drain pump inlet
resulting in wet clothes (water in basket
during spin).
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.

– 2 –
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 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 or 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 machine set-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 T09 test, the water
may not stop lling at foam level when
Foam Level is displayed. Run entire T09
test to conrm.
iii. Check for leaking water valve: Error Code
E14.
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, press the Power button to
clear any current cycles. (The display must be
blank to proceed.) Press the Extra Rinse button,
press the Delay Start button, press the Extra
Rinse button again, then press the Delay Start
button again. When congured, UI comes up
on the display, press the down arrow button
until T02 Error Code is displayed, then press the
Start button. The rst Error Code, if any, will be
displayed at this time. (Refer to Service Guide
Pub. 31-9168 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.

– 3 –
3. Conrm consumer is using the 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 lb 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
T14 test and check for acceptable vibration or
movement. To run T14, press the Power button
to clear any current cycles. (The display must be
blank to proceed.) Press the Extra Rinse button,
press the Delay Start button, press the Extra
Rinse button again, then press the Delay Start
button again. When congure UI comes up on
the display, rotate the Cycle Select knob until
T14 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
410 rpm, press the Start button again, the
washer will then ramp up to 1050 rpm. Pressing
Start again ramps up to 1150. Press Start again
and the washer ramps to 1300 rpm.
4. Ensure rear legs are level and rear jam nuts
are wrench tight against washer or pedestal
bottom (see picture below). Next, run T14 Spin
Test and adjust front legs for minimum vibration
or movement at ~ 400 rpm. Secure the front
jam nuts wrench-tight and run Spin Test 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.
6. Exit Diagnostic Mode, open door, and 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 lb;
do not exceed 2 lb. This test simulates an out of
balance load to make checks and adjustments
minimizing vibration and movement.
Note: Up to 1/4-inch movement is normal
operation. If okay, proceed to step B. If not okay,
adjust legs and/or check for a machine structural or
mechanical fault (see next Section).

– 4 –
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
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 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. 31-9168, 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 lb (268 lb for machine plus 150
lb 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 washer
vibration and movement cannot be adjusted to
acceptable levels.