My washing machine, it is fixed.
This is good news indeed.
Our washer started having some weird symptoms a little while back, and they exhibited themselves only when I washed several loads right in a row. The first load would be fine, but then on the second or third load, the spin cycle would do a weird stopping thing, almost like it was getting caught.
We did some googling, replaced a small part which didn't end up fixing the problem, and then we decided that we would like to pay someone to fix this for us because the problem didn't seem to be super obvious or super common.
So, I hopped onto Angie's List and found a small one-person appliance repair company.
This is usually my preference when I have to hire someone because bigger companies have more overhead (office, receptionist, etc.), and when I have an issue like this, I prefer not to speak to a receptionist! It's so much nicer to be able to talk to the repairman directly because then you can ask some questions.
Anyway, when he came over, of course the washer wouldn't make the sound.
Nuts.
He checked the machine over thoroughly and said he was pretty sure the only thing it could be was the transmission, and left me with instructions to wash lots of laundry and to take video of the washer misbehaving.
(This made me really happy that I finally have a smartphone...it was so easy to take a video and text it on over to him!)
So I did, and once he saw the video, he felt positive that the transmission was the issue. It took a few days for the part to come in, but he told me I could do laundry in the meantime which made for a happy me!
When he came back to install the part, the whole job took him probably only 30-45 minutes, and that included him doing a thorough cleaning of my machine, which was pretty dusty and dirty underneath the cover.
(If Mr. FG and I had attempted this repair, I am positive it would have taken us far, far longer!)
It turned out that the clutch on our machine was worn, but fortunately he had ordered one of those just in case (and it was only a $15 part).
Now my machine is running like new and I am so happy!
(Incidental tip: the black stuff inside the outer drum is soap buildup and to prevent that, he said to run a large empty load with hot water and a cup of powdered dishwasher soap once every few months. The chemicals in the dishwasher soap dissolve the laundry soap buildup. He said this is especially important to do in front-load washing machines.)
The Cost
The total cost for both visits, the parts, and the labor was $250.
About half of that was for parts, so we really only spent an extra $125 for the luxury of having someone else do the work.
This is the first time Mr. FG and I have paid someone to repair our washer or dryer, and I'm so glad we chose to this time around. The fixes we've done ourselves in the past have been pretty simple, but this one was trickier to diagnose (Our very experienced repairman had never seen a whirlpool transmission behave this way before!) and the labor was a lot more involved than our previous projects
We could have spent a lot of time and money trying to fix this ourselves and may still not have figured it out, and having it up and running in short order was very worth an extra $125 to me.
Fix or Replace?
When I mentioned we were fixing our washer again, a reader (Hi, Reese!) left a comment wondering how we decide whether it's worth it to fix our machines instead of buying new ones.
For the washer, the answer is pretty easy...we've heard from several sources (including the repairman who fixed our machine this time) that our KitchenAid/Whirlpool direct drive washer is the best washer out there. They don't make them anymore and apparently the newer machines are much more repair-prone than this one.
An advantage to this older machine is that it is made well and the design is very simple. Nothing is computerized and there aren't even any belts that can wear out.
Anyway, because this is a great washing machine, we're pretty committed to fixing it no matter what. We have a new clutch and transmission now, we already replaced the lid switch and the agitator, and the repairman said the brake and motor are in great shape, so we should be good to go for a while now.
I don't know how awesome our dryer is, but it's a pretty simple design too (nothing computerized!) and I'm inclined to keep repairing it as long as we can.
We've done several repairs to each appliance ourselves, and I believe that so far, we've put less than $100 in parts into the machines not counting this recent $250 repair bill.
Even with the recent repair, we've only put $350 into these appliances, and that doesn't come close to the cost of a new set.
Then there's the fact that throwing appliances away is kind of not awesome for the environment AND the fact that even if we did spend money on new ones, they'd probably break more often than our old ones...so all told, repairing vs. replacing is definitely a smart decision for us.
My washer and dryer won't win any beauty awards, but hey, they live in an ugly, unfinished laundry/storage room, so they kind of go with the rest of the decor. 😉 And most importantly, they clean and dry my clothes, which is what really matters.
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Joshua's 52 Project post: Mesmerizing
I love when we can keep items we already own working/running. Yesterday our printer was not working well, it was leaving extra ink on one side of the page. It's a WiFi Brother laser printer/copier/scanner I bought for $30 at Staples about 2-1/2 years ago (it was a floor model). I had just replaced the toner cartridge the other day. I found a package of laser printer cleaning sheets I had purchased for $.50 at a rummage sale a few years ago. After using a couple of those the printer is printing beautifully again. I was so glad we did not have to think about replacing the printer.
I love that you factor environmental impact into your decision making. I remember Amy Dacyczyn (in The Tightwad Gazette) writing about the ability to pay more for those occasional things where frugality is not the cheapest option.
That's so great you fixed your printer. They seem to be made SO cheaply these days, it's nigh onto impossible to repair them. A new print head sometimes costs more than a whole new printer, which makes positively no sense.
Yes, and that very fact causes many working printers to end up as trash. I'm guilty of this myself, although I kept the printer instead of trashing it, so it's just clutter in my husband's home office now ( which, trust me, does not need any more!!) This frustrates me.
Aargh! They do this with cordless phone batteries, too, which is so frustrating. The last time I replaced mine it would have been cheaper for me to buy a whole new phone.
I did find a way to replace the batteries in cordless phone. It was fruitless exercise - something else went wonky within a few months.
Inkjets are inferior technology and are pretty much made to break. We've kept laser printers up and running at work for 20 years! Yep, I recently sent an HP Laserjet 4 off to recycling that was purchased in 1993 because my work wouldn't buy a new fuser for it. Instead they opted to buy a new laser printer with much more expensive cartridges than deal with an "old" device.
Still, HP business class Laserjets are pretty awesome devices that aren't all that difficult to repair as everything is modular.
Yay for the LaserJet 4's we are still using 2 of them at work and they are the ultimate workhorse.
Yeah for having your washer fixed! We've had ours fixed a couple of times. The washer and dryer came with our house, which we bought almost 13 years ago, and each time something goes wrong -- which is rare -- I think maybe we should replace them. But like you, the thought goes past the actual cost (which is still lower than a new set), but also thinking of a landfill with my w/d sitting in it that could have been repaired, but wasn't.
Similarly, the handle on our microwave oven, which also came with the house, broke off. After digging, I found an online replacement for $60, and it seemed like I could practically get a new, awesome microwave for not much more. But, thinking of the landfill, I replaced it. Once the handle came in, it took five minutes to attach. That was three years ago, and we're still using that microwave.
Yes! It does usually make monetary sense to repair rather than replace, but it almost ALWAYS makes ecological sense to repair.
What landfill? That microwave should have been RECYCLED.
Just throw it in the trash??
Doesn't matter to me whether you buy the handle or not, but maybe you should give a bit more thought to the end destination for old appliances.
I have never had a problem with disposing of old microwaves,etc. There is always a junker out looking for recyclables.
Whoa...totally agree with your sentiment, but you'll have much better luck converting people to your line of thinking if you express your opinion with a bit more grace and a little less judgement.
o come on... his response was just fine.. you should try not to be so sensitive....
Oh, I'm not worried for my own sake! As I said, I agree with his point. 😉 I'm more concerned about creating a kind atmosphere here for the rest of my readers.
Rick, not everyone lives in areas that have recycling for more than newspapers and plastic bottles. Of course it's best to recycle when you can, but sometimes you just can't. I live in a rural area in the middle of nowhere, and my recycling place has recently stopped taking batteries, and I can't find anywhere else that will take them.
You can also run white vinegar in place of liquid fabric softener. It helps clean out your machine too.
I do this all the time! The vinegar rinses out the detergent and any dirt or grime that's left in the fabrics, and the laundry comes out much brighter. I had a hand towel with a fruit design on a white background which was very old and gray. I was using it as a rag and washed it after I started using vinegar all the time, and it came out sparkling white. That towel is back in rotation as a good hand towel now.
My husband and I had the same problem with our washing machine a couple of years ago. It would stop agitating during the wash cycle and the water would just sit in the tub instead of draining. SO FRUSTRATING!! We had only had it a year or two before it started giving trouble, but it was about 8 years old before we got it. Still, it wasn't really old enough to start giving trouble, and it wasn't used enough to make the parts wear out. So, we opted to get a new one, thinking it would last longer in the long run. I'm glad you were able to get yours fixed at a reasonable price!
I wonder if maybe your lid switch was bad. That's exactly what our washer did when the lid switch needed to be replaced.
That is exactly what happened to our washing machine last summer. I really really didn't want to fork over the money for a new one, but after doing some research I figured out it was probably a lid switch. I ran over to pick up the part (less than $30!) at a local appliance part store and had it fixed the same day. So easy - and I was super happy I was able to do it myself. I have learned youtube have videos on how to fix most everything.
It could've been the lid switch, but it was also leaking transmission fluid.
Yeah Vinegar is what I use too on the Clean Cycle 🙂
1 Cup of Dishwasher Soap sounds like ALOT ...
I wonder How many Rinse Cycles u would hv to do to make sure the Dishwasher Soap was all out :/
My Hub fixed our Dryer again a couple of Weeks ago 🙂
The Main Computer Board went dead so my Hub saderd the wire back on & some how added a Fuse to it ( idk how he does this stuff but he is good at figuring these things out ) so this 2nd time my Dryer Stopped we just needed a Fuse $5- for 2 fuses so $2.50 is a GREAT Deal on a FIX 🙂
The Computer Board is $187- plus S/H :/
Which is still Cheaper than a New Appliance But why buy new if the Old CAN be Fixed 😉
"1 Cup of Dishwasher Soap sounds like ALOT …
I wonder How many Rinse Cycles u would hv to do to make sure the Dishwasher Soap was all out :/"
You could do this and put vinegar in the fabric softener cup to get rid of the excess dishwasher detergent in the usual rinse cycle.
The way my repairman explained it is that usually the small amount of dishwasher soap is dissolved in just a small amount of water in your dishwasher.
Washing machines use way more water and thus you need to use more of the dishwasher soap.
I miss the quality products that were made to be used and repaired instead of used up and thrown away like most are today. We bought a washing machine several years ago to replace a Kenmore that we had been very pleased with. We tried to buy just as close to the same thing as we possibly could, but in the 15 years that had gone by, the quality of their comparable washing machines had gone downhill tremendously. I hated the replacement washer from the start. We had major repairs done on it while it was still under warranty, and within a year after it was broken again. We spent a lot of time researching before we bought another washer, and this one has been okay so far, but I don't think I'll get 15 years out of it. Quality used to be the norm, now it's the exception.
I disagree that quality used to be the norm. There were a lot of lemons out there (especially with regards to cars and such.) I just think that conspicuous consumption coupled with consumers desire to have everything as cheap as possible has lead to much more shoddy products in homes.
There are some great "Buy it for Life" items out there. A KitchenAid mixer will still last a lifetime (maybe needing repair but still definitely a buy it for life item.) Generally you have to look for simple items (e.g. the old square box fridge over the fancy one with the ice maker and the water spout and the side by side doors)
I dunno...I do think the quality of goods in general has declined in the last 15-20 years or so. There are exceptions, certainly, but overall it seems to me that workmanship has gone downhill in our pursuit of cheap above all else.
AND it makes good business sense - creating good products slows down consumption of their newer products. Producing crappy goods means people will buy new more often. I'm sure most companies know exactly what they're doing in that regard.
Yup. I remember back when Planned Obsolescence came into being. Appliances used to last 30 or 40 years, so manufacturers began engineering them to break down beyond repair after 15~ years.
I was specifically referencing things like washing machines, ranges, refrigerators, even toasters, etc. Appliances that we as a couple bought 20 years ago were made to last much more than they are today. I think my parents would say the same about the progression they saw even before that. I dread replacing our refrigerator. It's nearing the end of its life expectancy, and the options I see out there are not very encouraging. We used to look for a decent, middle-priced item. Now it seems that unless you spend a LOT of money, everything is cheap and plastic-y.
The trend I really see is that appliances are harder to fix. Things that used to be run by mechanisms, which the user might be able to access and fiddle with, are more likely to be now run by electronics, which are hard to fiddle with. Any electronic component is beyond most consumers' capabilities to grok, not to mention repair. Solid state electronics are pretty much impossible for the average user to get to, while circuit boards are at least theoretically accessible.
What a great story! Thank you for the advice on running an empty load of just hot water and dishwasher detergent to clean the machine!
I too have an older Maytag machine that seems to be indestructible. I'm thinking of replacing it though because it is an energy and water hog compared to EnergyStar models. I track kWh and water usage so will be interested in seeing the difference when I purchase a new washer. I respect your decision to repair, but it's also important to consider the energy/environmental costs of repairing an older machine.
I'd be really interested to hear about that! Do report back. It's always tricky to figure out what the best thing to do is, isn't it? Do I keep my older washer that uses more water or do I get a new one that saves water but that requires me to throw a huge piece of equipment away?
Consumer Reports says that, for most cases, it's more environmentally proper to keep using the old item: manufacturing and shipping burdens outweigh useage inefficiencies.
The main exception is items that are hazardous: old fridges leaking freon, claptrappy old cars, you get the idea.
This is what my gut tells me, but I'm kind of coming up dry on sources that say so. Do you have a link?
Sorry, no - my Consumer Reports access is purely print.
Here's a CR "free" link I found for repair or replace. According to this article, they have a "50 percent rule."
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2011/august/shopping/repair-or-replace-it/overview/index.htm
If the repair will cost more than half the price of a new appliance, you should replace it. If your water isn't too expensive, it sounds like this would fit your situation. My water is very expensive, so I'm still thinking of replacing. But given all the repair problems of these newer machines mentioned here, maybe I'll wait a couple of years until the bugs are ironed out! Great conversation!
Lea - in my experience replacing our older models was a mistake. The Maytag Centennial washer we purchased new in 2011 to replace a 15 year old Kenmore has been the biggest piece of junk ever. The newer models seem to have too many components that break down easily - this week the latest appears to be the lid latch. I think the switch has went out since I close the door and the machine doesn't believe it's closed and won't turn on.
As far as energy savings, new washer runs longer than the old one did, our clothes don't seem to last as long since even simple stains won't come out, and I have to run the dryer 10 minutes longer to dry clothes washed in the new washer compared to the old washer. It may use less water, but it does a terrible job.
Kristen, could you please share what model of machine you have? The reason I'm interested is that we've had 3 different sets in 10 years! Totally NOT kidding. I did buy one of them used, but only 4 months old with warranty from a friend. About 2 months after the warranty went out the washer started stopping during the rinse cycle. Replaced a part and it worked fine for about 6 months. Then there was another problem and the part for it was over $300~ Around the same time the dryer started acting up and it was an expensive problem too. We got a call from my in laws saying that the doctor that lived next door to them were giving away their upstairs washer and dryer set that was only about 3 years old because they didn't want to move it. So, we got that set. It lasted for about 2 years and the washer to THAT set started acting up. By this point I was so done! Ended up getting a front load LG washer that I absolutely LOVE!!! It uses so much less electricity and water that my bills dropped a total of $28 a month on average when I started using it. Well, fast forward 10 months and we end up buying a farmhouse built in the 1940's. The plumbing to the laundry room evidently hasn't been updated in quite some time and can't handle what the new washer puts out or requires as far as water pressure. Well, we really can't afford to redo the plumbing quite yet, that will be several years down the line. So, now we are looking to replace with and older set for now. I'd love to find one with a good track record as it seems that many sets just aren't made to last anymore. I'm looking on Craigslist, but thought I'd take a chance and see what brand yours is since it's so well made. The reason we didn't spend much money repairing our old ones is because they didn't have a good track record. We were told by several repairmen that they just weren't worth fixing because of the problems with those units. Thanks for all your posts by the way!
Mine is a Kitchen Aid, but from what I understand, it's really a Whirlpool style direct drive washer. The actual model number of ours is KAWE450VWH0.
So glad you are up and running again!
I think another reason that having something repaired can be worthwhile is that sometimes you can get better quality work that way. When we had a major part replaced on our refrigerator while it was still under warranty, the repairman said that we were actually lucky--because his welding work would hold a lot better than what they did at the factory! Don't know if that's true or just hubris, but it makes sense--a repairman needs to please his customers, while an assembly line worker needs to install x number of widgets per hour.
I had my own frugal girl moment at goodwill yesterday! Along similar lines, I was at Goodwill yesterday and totally thought of you! I was looking for a pizza stone (to make your pizza, I know I sound like a stalker-y fangirl, I swear I'm not), and they had an almost new stone! Great, BUT it was priced at $9, which was what the person originally paid (the receipt was in the box) and not THAT great of a price for something used at Goodwill, IMO. I asked if they'd budge on price and they wouldn't, and then I had to decide if it's worth it or if I'm getting my pride in the way, or do I just buy a new one all my own? I decided to buy for the same reason you state above - as long as it's in good shape and not about to dry out and crack in half, at least it's not going to the landfill.
PS - the pizza was awesome! omg omg omg, I never thought such a thing at home was possible. ha!
Yay!! So glad your pizza was awesome. And good for you for buying the stone.
I think $9 is a great price for a pizza stone! I paid $13 for mine at Walmart, and it cracked in the oven. I haven't replaced it yet but I do miss it.
I've never had one, but I was so surprised at what a difference the stone makes! Hopefully you can find a new one at your goodwill :).
We have an old Kenmore that is at least 18 years old. I was having a problem with it spinning and called a repair place and also googled how to fix it. Turns out that the part cost around $5 and my husband did the work himself in about 45 minutes. The repair place was amazed that we had one so old, but also said that the old machines are not computerized and they are easier to fix and last longer 🙂
I am glad that your washing machine is fixed! I was wondering about Angie's List, though. What is the difference between looking for ratings on Yahoo for free and Angie's List?
Honestly, I don't know! I've never looked at Yahoo ratings before. I would tend to trust the Angie's List ratings a bit more because it's not open to just anyone on the internet, though.
Agreed. Anyone can post on yahoo, and we all know there are plenty of yahoo's out there (see what I did there? ;)) who have no idea what they're talking about. I think Angie's list has a higher level of scrutiny in posting.
Sweet! Our washer is about 14 years old now, so it's getting to be a bit on the elderly side. 😉
We called the Sears repairman to fix both our washer and dryer (the washer is under a service warranty so we didn't have to pay anything to have the guy come out.) The dryer, he told us, needed a complete new drum as well as two other parts for a total repair bill of almost $800. He suggested that we buy a new dryer. My husband ordered two $13 parts online and used a nut& bolt to fix the drum. $26 dollars later my dryer was working perfectly. I've been using it for about 8 months now with no problems at all. I'm so glad my husband can fix things when he gets motivated!
Does that repairman make calls in Fayetteville, Ga?
No, I don't think he travels that far! Ha. But check Angie's List to see if you can find someone in your area. 🙂
Hello Kristen. I too feel that quality has gone down. Also new appliances are so complicated there are more things to break! I went through two new dishwashers that were terrible at cleaning dishes and they were very expensive machines! We also had a brand-new kitchenaid stove that we replaced with a more basic model because of all the issues we were having. We had multiple visits from repairmen while they were under warranty! In the house we moved into 4 years ago we have a very basic dishwasher that has never had an issue and cleans our dishes perfectly! It's loud as all heck but as long as it runs and we can keep it going I will keep it! For now on I will only buy basic appliances without all the bells and whistles!
This is great Kristin! Finally, your problem is solved, we just found out we're having sewerage problem and this won't exciting for us.
Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that! We just had a septic issue, and boy, that was expensive.
Good for you! Our not-so-old washer stopped working a couple of years ago and we replaced instead of repaired. I've regretted it ever since. The new one (a whirlpool, I think) ate some of our clothes and was replaced under warranty. The replacement one supposedly saves energy/water but is harder on our clothes, doesn't get them as clean and takes longer. I wish I had pushed to have the old one repaired first.
I'm so glad people have told us to repair this one...it's getting so old that without the advice, I'd have thought hard about replacing it.
From my experience, I would say to keep doing what you're doing!
Side note, I LOVE your blog. I started reading it about a year ago, starting from your first archived posts and have read every one of them. I love your perspective and am so grateful that you share it.
Whoa, you are dedicated!
I really appreciate the encouragement...thank you!
That's great that you were able to fix your washer! I truly believe in fixing things if at all possible. We've been lucky. Our washer/dryer set (Whirlpool) that my parents bought us for $400 20 years ago still works great. Yes, it only has wash or dry...nothing fancy at all, but it has survived this long with only a spring on the washer breaking which was maybe a dollar to fix. I have five kids so they have been used A LOT! It's amazing to me how fast the newer sets seem to go out.
I too feel the same way... Things are NOT made to last... I had bought a treadmill that lasted two years and really fine leather couches that I regret buying full price (sulking right now)I guess couches are not an appliance but the leather on the couches cracked and cracked and craaaacked.... (teary situation) so yeah I agree things are not as they make it seem... A set of 4 couches at almost a thousand a piece, yikes! Atleast the tv still works (knock on wood) but he computer....ready to crash...AGAIN!..... technology smtology...
Good on you getting your appliance fixed! We sold our 17 year old Amana set with our house last year which had never broken down, and were sorry to see them go. If we were still living in the US we'd still be using them. I run a 12 year old car, maintain it well and get it fixed when needed, it just makes sense! I do get annoyed when its impossible to get small appliances fixed but in those cases I make sure the items are recycled.
Don't forget Ebay as a source of cheap parts. I had the thermal fuse go (due to plugged vent) on a Whirlpool drier. The cost for the part from Sears was in the $30 range. I found the part for $5.77 (with shipping) on Ebay. Quite a saving! Most replaceable parts like that will have a part number stamped on them though it can be quite small to read. Just type the part number into the Ebay search and see what comes up.
Good on repair! You hit it right. But you did not mention that those pretty new machines do not clean as well. And "they" really want us to get rid of old machines because they are full of valuable metal that recycles, and they actually use water, enough to clean the clothes. I could go on and on.
I did, actually! You just might have missed it...our repairman told us that the new machines don't clean as well. It's kind of funny that my old, not-shiny, ugly machine does a better job!
I sort of agree, but Craigslist often has almost new washers for the price you paid to fix your old one. I can understand the old one is more trusty without computers, guess itwould be more of a toss up for me.
Here's my story. We had my grandfather's Maytag dryer for the last 20+ years. Who knows how long he had it before that. It had to be 40 years old. Fixed it several times but in September it stopped working. A local repairman said he could fix for about $300. He reviewed the cost of fixing it vs buying a new machine. He said he couldn't guarantee that another part worth $300 might not go soon. So we bought a new machine. My husband didn't want to keep the old machine in our basement, so I sadly sent it away with the Lowes delivery guys - but I first took photos with the delivery men. They were so nice. Anyway, the next week I contacted Lowes to see if I could get it back - but it had been sent to Virginia for recycling. Lowes gave me the # for the recycling company, but I never got around to calling them. That was a very stury machine, the metal never rusted despite being in an unfinished basement, and I'm very sad - after reading some interesting web sites about people who refurbish and keep their old laundry appliances - that I didn't have that thing fixed one more time.
Especially when it comes to clothes washers and dryers, new machines are not built to last 20+ years. Throught the 90s and even into the early 2000's, there were a lot of washer/dryer models that you could buy for around $400 each that were built to last like that. But the stuff you see in Home Depot or Lowe's now are only going to hold up for about 5 years before you have to start sinking repair money into them.
I am not a professional appliance repair guy, just somebody who is handy with fixing things and has spent my life watching the insides of these devices go to cheap, cheaper, and cheapest. I just invested $200 in a new transmission on our 20-year-old Kenmore (made by Whirlpool) washing machine because it will probably run another 20 years. These devices used to be stupid simple inside, and very ruggedly built. Not anymore. Plastic and electronics have replaced heavy-gauge steel and simple switches and mechanical components that you could fix yourself at home.