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Our 10ish year old Siemens washing machine still washes ok but leaks from below while doing so. IIRC it was quite pricey at the time and can’t complain as 10 years is a good old stint. Pretty sure WM tech has prob come on in that time so debating whether to get it fixed or change it. No idea on what the problem is as yet or fix cost versus cutting our losses and getting a (less expensive than this was) new one. I know no one can diagnose the issue but in your collective experience with such dull matters, what has worked out best in the end as I don’t want to spunk £200* fixing this (assuming it’s sorted first time) if I can get a new one with warranty etc for twice* that.
*arbitrary figures plucked from thin air 😉
Leaks will probably be a cheap/easy fix, so long as it's not from the drum bearings. But if one seal or pipe has gone, then chances are the rest might not be far behind...
The thought process I used with our dishwasher (which had been out of service for a few months recently) was that it was 12+ years old, not working and we were going to replace it anyway, so zero risk attached to taking it apart and seeing what I could do. Turned out to be an errant lump of grot in a drain hole causing the problem, fixed for zero pounds and zero pence. But we're expecting something to fail properly on it sooner rather than later now.
I’ve fixed 3 issues with our machine and all were cheap enough and easy enough to fix.
Stopped spinning - belt had perished. New one off eBay cost maybe £15 and easy to fit.
Leaking from the door - New door seal needed. About £20 to replace but maybe a bit trickier to fit but just needed a bit of patience.
Lost heat (washer dryer) - New element. £15 and easy to replace.
I guess if they’d all happened at once I might’ve considered just replacing the machine, but when it’s £20 and an hour of you time here and there repairing has seemed the way to go. They’re not difficult to work on really. I just followed you tube videos.
So long as it's not a problem with the PCB, then washing machines, dryers, dishwashers etc are pretty easy to fit. Our previous washing machine had the brushes changed several times through its life and I recently fixed the dishwasher by replacing a £35 pump.
I small leak could be something as simple as an o-ring or a jubilee clip.
as defblade, a quick trundle through YouTube got a very easy fix for a dishwaher.I didn't even have to take the machine out of the cabinets. Might be worth a try and have a look. Simple mechanical stuff can be fixed but electrical and pcb can be trickier.
Take the sides off, run it without touching the moving or electrical bits, observe the fault, unplug it, fix for not a lot, re-assemble and enjoy the glow of not throwing something away before you needed too.
As said above the PCB is usually the deal breaker, leaks are usually cheap.
Cheers all - your replies have at least encouraged me enough to have a closer look to see what’s going on 🙂
Is the water filter drain thing blocked ? Most washing machines have a simple filter thing towards the bottom that you can unscrew. Inside you will find kids sweet packets etc
The noise mine made sounded mechanical and terminal, on unloading it, the rubber 'baffles' above the door had also disintegrated over the wash load. Didn't go for a repair, binned it and ordered a replacement. The difference in drum volime and noise output is notable. It was 11/12 years old so had done it's work. Other thing was I scanned reviews very briefly rather than getting too deep into it, ultimately I want something that I put clothes into and take cleaner ones out of!
have you checked the door seal for splits?. when my washing machine was leaking from underneath it was a split in the door seal which i fixed with a puncture repair kit and some super glue.
After years of buying cheaper washing machines and becoming disillusioned with Hotpoint stuff we spent a decent amount on a fancy Samsung. Within a year it started leaking, then the circuit board exploded along with the motor a month out of warranty. To be fair they did fix it but shortly after it started to sound very rough and got progressively noisier, which I assumed was the bearings and I planned to investigate but before I got chance a belt snapped. This was all within 3 years I think? Gave it to the scrap man and bought a £450 Bosch which has no bells or whistles but seems to want to work as it should.
Moral of the story is don't buy a Samsung washing machine! Ultimately I could have taken it apart but with two under ten's our washer is used daily so the hassle of having it out of action for a while added to the expenses of fixing it (if I could) and likelihood of it going wrong again meant cutting our losses was the best decision.
YouTube is your friend here. I fixed my tumble dryer recently by following a YouTube video. The online forums all told me it was an expensive part needed. I found a vid of an identical machine and fixed it for free.
At 10 years old you have nothing to lose. Worse case scenario is it doesn't work and AO.com will come out next day to deliver a new one and take your old one away.
The thought process I used with our dishwasher (which had been out of service for a few months recently) was that it was 12+ years old, not working and we were going to replace it anyway, so zero risk attached to taking it apart and seeing what I could do.
This is a very sensible approach. If you do it in a methodical way, you're not going to do anything that's gonna make it more difficult or expensive for a pro to fix - or to throw out (recycle at the tip).
I am very cack-handed but even I managed to fix my dishwasher (broken heater element) and washing machine (broken lock...after I kicked it...) in less than an hour and for less than fifty notes
I had the PCB go on a Samsung last year and it was £200 for the part, I got a new machine for £450 with a 5 year warranty
I had the PCB go on a Samsung last year and it was £200 for the part,
We surely must be into the realms now of this being little more than a scam.
Time was we'd go "ooh, electronics" and expect it to be expensive. But what's on a washing machine controller that costs £200 these days? A block of relays, a handful of passive components and a PIC chip?
everything on a washing machine that doesn't require electrical investigation (parts darts) is worth fixing. Drum bearings are awkward, but no more difficult the car repairs.
Moral of the story is don’t buy a Samsung washing machine!
We just replaced 18 years and two LG's with a Samsung, based on excellent reviews about them and saving £50 over another LG. (the second LG died due to a near 'bullet hole' in the drum from a coin and no spare drum available).
Day 1, it cannot clear powder from the drawer and so we have had to move to liquid detergent.
In the first month, the really thin door seal ripped.
Two months in and it makes noticeably more noise than it used to.
Yesterday it threw an error code.
I am not happy - particularly as the reviews were so 'oh, what a wonderful machine'....
Our Samsung is 9y old and has done a family of 4 with two young kids and other than the drum bearing going (£30) it's done great service even after being accidentally filled, blocked and jammed with LEGO.
Fixed!
Cost - a jubilee clip and a few faffy hours. Turned out to be the a small hose that branches off the main waste outlet. The hose then connected to a nipple type thing on the top of the drum housing - must have shaken off at some point causing just enough of a trickle every time it was used. There was basically a slurry of water and waste gunk that had pooled within the base of the machine - all clean and dry now. Ran a cycle with the top and back off and observed til I found it. Quite chuffed with myself - what would have been money on a new WM can help towards forks and shock service - much better use of one’s funds 🤣
Back of the net!
Boom!
*fist bump*
At 10 years old you have nothing to lose. Worse case scenario is it doesn’t work and AO.com will come out next day to deliver a new one and take your old one away.
That's pretty much exactly my view. As long as you can attempt it yourself and you have safe behaviours around electricity and mechanical things then go for it. At 5 years I might be tempted to get someone in to fix it if I couldn't. At 10 I might still if it was originally a pricier machine. At 15 if I cant fix it myself it is probably time to replace
Nice one, OP 🙂
Time was we’d go “ooh, electronics” and expect it to be expensive. But what’s on a washing machine controller that costs £200 these days? A block of relays, a handful of passive components and a PIC chip?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/05/11/russia-sanctions-effect-military/
Result!
Great result. And the right thing to do rather than another disposable land fill filling.
We're on a Bosch WM that's now over 20 years old. A 2 or 3 sets of motor brushes, a damper strut broke (and the mc threw itself across the kitchen without the damping) one bearing, and maybe 18 months ago a new front seal, in all that time. Family, dog (towels and bedding, notnthe actual dog inthe machine 🙈, my manky biking kit, everything in that time.
Similarly the tumble drier (fewer fixes - in fCt 1 trivial thing about 10 years ago.
And the dish washer is older still... 1 recall fix for free, and 1x 30 mins job to fit a new tablet dispenser. Took longer researching and ordering the part on the web.
Again all Bosch.
That's 2k+ not spent renewing across the 3 of them, for a few hours and maybe 200-300 in parts total, tops.
Better get something decent, before we start a war with China and the price goes up tenfold 😉
We just replaced 18 years and two LG’s with a Samsung, based on excellent reviews about them and saving £50 over another LG. (the second LG died due to a near ‘bullet hole’ in the drum from a coin and no spare drum available).
Day 1, it cannot clear powder from the drawer and so we have had to move to liquid detergent.
In the first month, the really thin door seal ripped.
Two months in and it makes noticeably more noise than it used to.
Yesterday it threw an error code.I am not happy – particularly as the reviews were so ‘oh, what a wonderful machine’….
Yep, similar here, after people raving about them. Seal ripped in no time and started leaking. Fixed that only to have the stupid little door on the front (that you never use, even if you can work out when and how to use it!) start to leak. The silent running soon became less so and just got worse until it broke, belt snapped, bearings possible gone, or the suspension strut, PCB and motor blown.........
All in three or four years.
Lovely bit of kit when new, almost silent but absolute shite after that. Couldn't bring myself to start investigating knowing that even if I fixed it and the fixing cost less than a new washer, it would still go wrong again very quickly.
Took STW advise and bought a Bosch.
Top work Rascal! Yeah, treat yourself to fork/shock service - far better use of funds.
More folk should have a go really and save £££s/landfill. Yeah some stuff is beyond home diy, but you don't know until you try.
I had the PCB go on a Samsung last year and it was £200 for the part
We surely must be into the realms now of this being little more than a scam.
our Samsung machine had a power surge last year. Pcb was fried, just out of warranty. Local repair outfit said it was a right off. Refurbed pcb was 64 pounds on ebay. If you sent them the old one you got a discount.
Machine still going, but don't trust it!
Whilst dozing in the bath this afternoon I heard some odd noises from downstairs. Like somebody knocking very fast and very persistantly at the front door even tnough we have a doorbell. Max, the mentalist-collie would normally go ape-sh1t mental beserk about this but no, he was quiet. I decided that it would probably be a good idea to see what's what, so came downstairs to a kitchen filled with acrid grey smoke and a washing machine that would do any drum troop proud. Smoke detector silent- so that's getting replaced in the morning! Unplugged the WM, emptied it and new one now ordered from AO. The drum is loose and clanking, the smoke was coming from every orifice inc. inside the drum itself.
All is not lost though, I emptied the pump access and found 50p.
I went with the reviews on AO and purchased the Chinese thing that they recommended. Do I really need 15 different wash cycles?