There’s going to come a time when you will start to have some problems with your washing machine. The more problems you have, the more you’re going to wonder whether or not you should continue to pay the repairman every time the washer breaks down or simply get rid of it and buy a new one.

Here are some tips to help you make that decision:

1. Is the washing machine starting to rust in various places?

2. Are there parts missing that you need to replace?

3. Is the washer more than 10 years old?

If you answer “yes” to all these questions, it may be time to start shopping around for a new one.

Of course, your repairman will tell you that it’s going to be expensive to replace it, and it is, but sooner or later the repair bills will start to add up with each new repair. Even if he’s a really nice guy, he’s probably not looking out for your best interests here. Is the repair cost worth it? Well, if each repair costs you $100+ and you’re having to delay your washing every time you turn around, it may well be worth the cost of a new, vastly improved front loading washing machine because what you’re spending on frequent repairs will easily pay for a new washer. Your peace of mind will be much improved too, not to mention the significant energy savings and features that you’ll get with one of the newer, energy efficient models.

If, on the other hand, you’re only having to have repairs done a couple of times a year, you may want to hold on to your aging washer for a while longer just to keep from having that large payout for a new one.

If you do have to buy a new front loading washer and your funds are limited, you can always buy it on credit but, as always, try to pay it off as soon as possible to avoid those extravagant interest charges.

You can also save some money by making some of the repairs yourself. There are a number of excellent washing machine repair manuals out for just about any model of washer that you can find. It’s possible that you can buy the repair manual and the parts yourself and repair it relatively quickly. Many tips and instructions for washer repair can be found online. Just do a web search for “washing machine repair manuals” and place your particular brand and model number in the search terms. You may be quite surprised to find a plethora of information about how to repair minor breakdowns.

One specific book you can buy at Amazon.com is titled “Troubleshooting and Repairing Major Appliances, 2nd Ed.” by Eric Kleinart.

Troubleshooting and Repairing Major Appliances, 2nd Ed.

It is loaded with info about every type of appliance and how to install and repair them.

Another excellent book that is available, written especially for women is
“Appliance Handbook For Women: Simple Enough Even Men Can Understand” by Vernon Schmidt.

Appliance Handbook For Women: Simple Enough Even Men Can Understand

A warning here: parts are not cheap in most cases but if you have any handy skills, you can save yourself the labor charges by finding the information and making your own repairs.

If, however, you are not a do-it-yourselfer and you are completely sick of your washing machine breaking down every time you turn around, it may be time to start looking at a new machine.

We highly recommend a front loading washing machine, should you decide to go this route. The new front loading machines will make your life much easier and help you save significantly on your energy bills.

One more thought. The pedestal stands that are shown in most demo washers are not usually included in the price. They come seperately and they’re not cheap. You can actually make the pedestals out of wood very cheaply. Again, run a web search for “washing machine pedestal stands plan” and you’re sure to find the information to save you a bunch of money.

Check Out These Washer Dryer Info Sites

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Filed under: Front Loading Washers and Dryers

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