Loads Of Foam Leaking From Baumatic Bwd 1212

[Millie79]

I've just moved into a new flat which has a Baumatic BWD 1212 Fully Integrated Washer dryer, supposedly in good working order. It washes fine until I put in a load of towels. The load is not too big, I've washed the same load in other washing machines with no problem. I'm putting liquid detergent directly in the drum, in the cap that comes with the detergent, it's 2-in-1 with added fabric conditioner. The problem is that halfway through the cycle the washing machine suddenly starts building up with loads and loads of foam, so much that it's all that can be seen through the window and it starts leaking out of the sides of the door and also out of the dispenser drawer, quite alot and makes a big pool on the floor so I have to turn the machine off. I am definately not using too much detergent and I have checked the filter, the first time I checked there was some coins and bits of paper which I've cleared but its still doing it. The weird thing is its only my towels it has done it to. My normal clothes loads and bed sheets etc don't seem to get this problem. What could be the problem and could this machine really just have an aversion to my towels? Other than checking the filter that's about my limit with diagnosing it so I'm not surprised if I'm missing the obvious!

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

If soap suds are foaming right up the front of the glass and even coming out of the washing machine it's usually because of the type of detergent being used or because of using excessive amounts. In the past people sometimes bought the wrong detergent and put in detergent meant for twin tub washing machines. This caused extreme foaming as described. But we no longer really have twin tubs, and the detergent is unlikely to be bought in error.

The first thing to do is run the machine through a couple of times with no detergent and no laundry to try and clear any excess detergent. After that I would try a different detergent. Try some tablets from a well known brand.

Also ensure you are have been using it exactly as described on the label for the type of water you have (hard or soft). Make sure the washer isn't being supplied with softened water, which would create more suds than normal (although you should know about it if you have a water softener device fitted) .

The only way I can envisage this being related to the actual washing machine is if by any chance it's gone mad and is just turning the drum relentlessly instead of doing the gentle revolving one way, a pause and then turning the opposite way.

[Millie79]

Thanks for the advice - here's whats happened so far. I have ran 2 cycles with no detergent and no laundry. No leaking or flooding but still a small bit of foaminess in the water, even with no detergent. someone also suggested cleaning it by running a cycle with a small bit of bleach but this turned out to be a big no no...more foam then I'd ever seen before and massive flood! I have just washed a load of laundry of normal clothes with the normal detergent and again it's happy with that. I am now doing the towels, the load which usually causes the problem - but this time without any detergent - and again there's a small amount of suds but no big foam leaks or floods. I will next try different detergent, like the tablets. Do you think the tenant before us may have excessively used detergent to the point that the machine is totally clogged with it? As for the water type - I don't know about any water softening device or even how to know if my water is hard or soft.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

You will always get some soap suds in a washing machine even if you don't put any detergent in. It might take a dozen or more loads before it stopped as there is residual detergent everywhere. It's possible the washing machine isn't emptying the water properly due to a partial blockage, this could cause a build up of detergent. Make sure the pump filter is clear. If when the washer goes into spin there seems to be a lot of water being thrown around for quite a long time the washing machine may not be pumping out fast enough. ( How do I clean my pump filter - where is the pump filter? )

What causes Too much foam in washing machine?

[maceire]

I just got a new kitchen fitted and both all brand new appliances. I purchased the Baumatic BWD1212 brand new and have horrendous problems with this machine since the kitchen guys fitted it. They have checked the pipes for me and all are fine and not kinked but Im having the same problem. I measure the detergent by scales very strictly as in the detergent and machine user manual and in the last 4 washes I have used it for it has foamed out of the detergent drawer and bottom of the door. This is the first few washes this machine has every done, its just one month since I bought it and about 2 weeks since it was installed. Going to get on to Baumatic or the store I bought it in tomorrow as I have had to come down again tonight from bed to find the floor of my kitchen covered in spuds and water an hour or so after I turned it on..... Any suggestions other than the ones above because its definetely not the detergent quantity or a fault when installing it.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

What detergent are you using maceire?

[maceire]

Im tired of hearing the detergent excuse personally as Im sure its not the problem. Im using DAZ powder. I have measured the powder gram for gram according to the hardmess of the water in my area which is 200 Mg/l according to the council,(very hard water) and the side of the DAZ box says 130ml = 68g for medium hardness water. So although I have really hard water I only put in the amount for medium water which is a bit less and still it foams. I had a repair man out that didnt inspire confident. Said I have to run the machine on a 90 degree boil wash once a month to wash out any residual powder in the sump of the machine. Then he also cut a peice out of the powder outlet on the detergent drawer. Said it seems very narrow and could be restricting the powder going down. Agian I am getting a bad vibe from this guy.This sounds highly suspect. I mean the machine is only 2 month old and from within the first 3 washes or so, it has foamed like this. It was brand new out of the wrapping and box and so his theory is flawed as there would be nothing in the pipe or sump from before??? Im pretty technical minded myself ( aircraft Mech by trade) and I think someones telling porkys to get me to go away.

Ive had got an unbalance warning twice other week also which he reckoned was due to the uneven floor underneath. there was a few half tiles where the tiler didnt tile under the appliances. I accept that. So i chiseled the tiles off the knocked off the remaining adhesive to make the floor dead level underneath.

Any other comments of this crock of *!?* of a machine would be greatly welcomed.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

You're not the first person to be reporting this type of problem who is definitely using the correct dosage so if the detergent is named it could turn out to be one type that's particularly causing the problem. Therefore it's a pertinent question to ask which type it is.

Excessive suds is a rare and unusual fault and not normally caused by the washing machine. Main suspects are the detergent itself being dodgy (including inappropriate quantities), or the washing machine heating and washing so excessively it's whipping it up or maybe can't drain the water properly on rinses because of a partial blockage in the pump, filter or in the u-bend where the water drains out, but you'd expect these faults to be creating other symptoms or error codes too.

The only other thing I can think of is if the detergent somehow reacting with something in the laundry or on the laundry.

[MANasir]

Hello, I have just bought Baumatic bwd1212 and it feels like one of the worst buys for me, I did the first load of normal clothes which came out fine no water leakage etc but when did a load of towels as many of you have said there was water and foam everywhere on my kitchen floor. I am definitely not using the wrong washing powder and just for reference it is a Bio Peril. I have used the same washing powder in my old washing machine for a year or so and it never had this problem.

I never came across this issue of water and foam coming out of the detergent drawer in any of the washing machines I have used before, if there is water leaking from something we can fix the leak or at least know why the water is coming out but in this case I have know idea whats happening, hopefully Baumatic will know when I give them a call tomorrow. In the meantime if anyone get to know what the issue is before hand please let us know.

Regards

M A Nasir

[Millie79]

All I can say is after the problem I had detailed in the first post, I switched from liquid detergent to tablets. This seemed to work and reduced the amount of foam. However, preferring liquid I was determined to give it another go so after a few washes with the tablets I went back to the liquid and monitored it carefully. It has now stopped creating the excessive foam and there has been no flooding, even with towel loads. It seems you may just need to be patient for a few washes, maybe try running the washing machine a few times with no load or detergent to rinse it through. Lousy I know but it might help.

[Philip 0603]

With regard to detergent and towels, this was told to me when I bought my Miele by the engineer chappie that fitted it:- When doing towels, especially the heavy luxury ones always use HALF the amount of detergent that you would normally use. After all the point of the towel is to dry you down and now matter how well you shower there will always be some shower gel left on you which the towel absorbs. Also note that most machines recommend you reduce the load. Also note that a small load of towels will 'foam' up rather easier than a full load of mixed fabrics.

Obviously never ever use fabric conditioner near a towel. Though having said that one way of getting rid of the suds if the machine has over foamed is to pour a bit of conditioner into the machine through the drawer and rinse down with a small amount of water. A cap full will reduce the foam for long enough to empty the machine with it's pump.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

I've now written a new article especially covering this topic, which hopefully covers everything - Too much foaming in washing machine?