Is it worth repairing a 10 year old washing machine?
Discussion
Our run-of-the-mill Bosch Classixx washing machine has started leaking a little from underneath somewhere. We bought it in 2005, it's served us well and we're now wondering whether to replace it or get it repaired. It wasn't hugely expensive when purchased and 10 years is a good innings but we don't want to be wasteful and ditch a good machine for the sake of what could be a simple repair. Which leads me on to...
Is it worth throwing money at it or is 10 years considered a good run? Would the engineers charges be worth it on something that old? Are they built to be a disposable item?
Is it worth throwing money at it or is 10 years considered a good run? Would the engineers charges be worth it on something that old? Are they built to be a disposable item?
not a machine prone for leaking, usually either a small hole in the door seal or the soap dispenser leaking. Worth hanging on to IMO. Gen door seal is 28.50 + vat pattern ones far cheaper. Dispenser top section around a £10er. Front panel comes off that machine so door seal is an easy diy fix.
V8RX7 said:
It's worth having a quick look yourself - I've fixed washing machines and dishwashers that were leaking underneath - one was a lose hose clip and the other was a blocked outlet due to 1p blocking the pipe.
I wouldn't call an engineer at £45+
good point, call a decent one at £70.I wouldn't call an engineer at £45+
eastlmark said:
good point, call a decent one at £70.
£70 +parts to maybe fix a cheap appliance.
Where does that figure come from when I can get qualified mechanics for £45/hr who have premises and £100k of equipment.
I've fixed every appliance I've been asked to by family / friends - they aren't complicated.
eastlmark said:
not a machine prone for leaking, usually either a small hole in the door seal or the soap dispenser leaking. Worth hanging on to IMO. Gen door seal is 28.50 + vat pattern ones far cheaper. Dispenser top section around a £10er. Front panel comes off that machine so door seal is an easy diy fix.
I thought the seal had gone in my Bosch machine (similar age) but it turned out to be the large round clamp (a bit like a massive jubilee clip) the holds it in place had given instead. Cost a fraction of the door seal and not difficult to fit.Definitely worth saving!
Vipers said:
From expierence, if you throw a washing machine away, check in the trash cap for want of a better word, usually find some loose change in there.
How the heck does that work? The drum on a machine has holes about 3mm across, how does money get past that onto somewhere else?227bhp said:
How the heck does that work? The drum on a machine has holes about 3mm across, how does money get past that onto somewhere else?
God knows but I once had a 5p piece in the outlet pipe that was the exact size to block it. It would flood the kitchen and when pulled out from under the worptop the coin would drop down and the machine would be ok for another few days untill it flipped up again. Took ages to find it.227bhp said:
Vipers said:
From expierence, if you throw a washing machine away, check in the trash cap for want of a better word, usually find some loose change in there.
How the heck does that work? The drum on a machine has holes about 3mm across, how does money get past that onto somewhere else?Iang84 said:
227bhp said:
Vipers said:
From expierence, if you throw a washing machine away, check in the trash cap for want of a better word, usually find some loose change in there.
How the heck does that work? The drum on a machine has holes about 3mm across, how does money get past that onto somewhere else?
Our 13yr old Zanussi recently sprung a leak Turned out that the recirculation pump had failed. I repaired it - cost about £50 IIRC for the pump and 1-2 hours of my time in total. So I'd fall into the repair camp, but I'll always tend towards that rather than just throwing something out.
abitlikefiennes said:
Our run-of-the-mill Bosch Classixx washing machine has started leaking a little from underneath somewhere. We bought it in 2005, it's served us well and we're now wondering whether to replace it or get it repaired. It wasn't hugely expensive when purchased and 10 years is a good innings but we don't want to be wasteful and ditch a good machine for the sake of what could be a simple repair. Which leads me on to...
Is it worth throwing money at it or is 10 years considered a good run? Would the engineers charges be worth it on something that old? Are they built to be a disposable item?
Bosch manual says...Is it worth throwing money at it or is 10 years considered a good run? Would the engineers charges be worth it on something that old? Are they built to be a disposable item?
"water runs out from under the appliance"
Causes - Screw fitting of the inlet hose is leaking, - Tighten screw-fitting.
Causes - Drainage hose is leaking - Replace the drain hose.
Also have you considered it might not be the machine and could be the Leaking Inlet Hose from the mains on the wall?
5 places I would look before doing anything else.
Conditioner drawer
seal on door
filter/pump on front
hot and or cold pipes
Drainage hose
Thanks for the advice and tips.
I've checked the door seal and inner - they're fine.
Soap drawer is never used but we took it out and gave a much needed scrub.
Pipes at the back are all okay and I gave the filter a shafting (for want of a better word) with a flexible long handled brush.
This morning it all appears to be fine, or at least it was when I left the house. I suspect it was a blockage in the filter (it's never been cleaned).
I've checked the door seal and inner - they're fine.
Soap drawer is never used but we took it out and gave a much needed scrub.
Pipes at the back are all okay and I gave the filter a shafting (for want of a better word) with a flexible long handled brush.
This morning it all appears to be fine, or at least it was when I left the house. I suspect it was a blockage in the filter (it's never been cleaned).
Mine had a BIG leak that flooded the kitchen. I was determined to at least try to fix is as I'm tight and hate buying boring appliances. Figured out roughly where the leak was coming from by pulling the top/back off then chucking a pint of water in it and seeing where it came out. Luckily from the bottom where I could get my hand in.
To narrow it down a bit more I used my phone to record a film of me waving the phone about inside the machine in the vague area of the leak (torch may help here!) and watched the recording back to spot a hole in the plastic outer drum. Lesson here is not to keep leaving spanners and screwdrivers in pockets I suppose!
Patched it with some plastic repair two part putty stuff after sanding down the area a bit to try to make it would stick then trying to force a bit inside the hole hoping it would "mushroom" a bit and seal. It worked and it's still going 9 months later! Total cost, about £5 I did check the filter and pipes before taking it to bits though!
To narrow it down a bit more I used my phone to record a film of me waving the phone about inside the machine in the vague area of the leak (torch may help here!) and watched the recording back to spot a hole in the plastic outer drum. Lesson here is not to keep leaving spanners and screwdrivers in pockets I suppose!
Patched it with some plastic repair two part putty stuff after sanding down the area a bit to try to make it would stick then trying to force a bit inside the hole hoping it would "mushroom" a bit and seal. It worked and it's still going 9 months later! Total cost, about £5
I did check the filter and pipes before taking it to bits though!Our Bosch Classixx just died for the second time (motor bushes again) and the waste pump is very noisy and sounds like it is going to fail any minute so I replaced it with this one.
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4...
9KG, 1600 spin speed and 6 months of free detergent, and I got £25 off with nectar vouchers so it was just over £200.
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4...
9KG, 1600 spin speed and 6 months of free detergent, and I got £25 off with nectar vouchers so it was just over £200.
227bhp said:
Vipers said:
From expierence, if you throw a washing machine away, check in the trash cap for want of a better word, usually find some loose change in there.
How the heck does that work? The drum on a machine has holes about 3mm across, how does money get past that onto somewhere else?Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff