Washing machines are not the most complicated machines in the world (by a long shot!), and with a little background knowledge and enterprising spirit you may be able to fix the problem yourself, or at least get a better idea of whether the problem is worth fixing and how extensive it is. Moreover, some people even decide a washing machine should be junked when in fact it may have years of good performance left on it and only needs a minor repair. The opposite situation can also occur - people can spend time and money fixing a machine that should simply be junked. Generally, a 15 year old machine that has been used several times a day is not really worth repairing. You're much better off getting a new one and starting with a clean slate in those cases, but not in many others.
All that said, let's take a look at a few common problems and their causes. If you find your machine is exhibiting some of the following types of behaviors, you may be able to fix these problems yourself rather than calling in a repair man. In this short article there isn't time to hit all the potential problems, even all the simple ones, but here a few to give you some ideas.
One of the simplest problems is a dead washing machine - a machine that does nothing. This may seem basic, but it is possible to overlook simple things such as whether the machine is plugged in, whether the knob is set to the on cycle, and whether the socket the machine is plugged into is electrified. You can test the latter by simply plugging another appliance in and seeing if it turns on.
Sometimes the machine is dead but it hums quietly. That is, you can tell it has electrical power but no washing action occurs. This may be due to the fact that the washing machine's water supply hoses are not letting water in for one reason or another. It could be that the taps on the supply hoses appear to be turned but are cheaply made and so the valves in the hoses themselves are not open or are not completely open. You can unscrew them from the machine and check if they are indeed allowing water in. Pipes may also be frozen in the winter. At any rate, the general idea is to check water intake.
The drum does not rotate. This can have a number of different causes such as a jammed or broken belt, or problems with the machine's motor. Don't jump to any conclusions but investigate the problem thoroughly before proceeding.
The machine does not go into its spin cycle. This may be caused by the "unbalanced spin protection" feature. Make sure that it isn't because a single heavy item is in the machine. There could also be a short, a broken wire, or problems with the control system for the fill level.
Leakages while the machine is in use. This usually has causes such as gaskets, hoses, seals, or joints that need to be replaced, or with a pump that is leaking.
If you decide that you must replace a machine, you don't necessarily have to consider a new machine if it doesn't fit your budget. You can find used washing machines for sale in many different places, from the same sorts of sources that might sell an upright freezer or cheap tumble dryers.
Replacement is the final solution to washing machine woes, but try other options first, as both professional repair and replacement can be costly options. Develop your own know-how a little and you will potentially save yourself a lot of money and aggravation.
