When Should You Repair vs Replace a Washing Machine?
If you’ve ever stood in front of a washing machine that’s just stopped working, mid-cycle, water everywhere or no water at all, you’ll know the sinking feeling that comes with it. The first thought ” do I need a new one?”
As appliance engineers, this is probably the question we get asked more than any other. There’s no single answer that fits every machine, but there are some solid rules of thumb. With our fair bit of appliance experience, we can help you make the right call before you spend money either way.
What Is the Average Lifespan of a Washing Machine?
This depends heavily on its build quality and how much it’s used. In our experience, budget washing machines tend to last around 6 to 8 years, mid-range models 8 to 12 years. Premium machines from brands like Bosch, Miele or Neff can comfortably run for 12 to 15 years or more, sometimes longer with the odd repair along the way.
Of course, a large family doing daily loads will wear a machine down faster than a couple doing two washes a week. Maintenance matters too. Machines that get descaled, have their filters cleaned and aren’t routinely overloaded simply last longer.
Signs Your Washing Machine Is Worth Repairing
Plenty of faults are actually quick, affordable fixes. Drainage problems, for instance, are usually down to a blocked pump, filter or hose rather than anything serious. Door lock failures are another common complaint on and are typically a straightforward part swap.
Faulty heating elements, water inlet valve problems and pressure switch faults are all faults we see regularly, and none of them should automatically push you towards buying a replacement.
Signs It May Be Time to Replace Your Washing Machine
On the flip side, some faults are red flags. If you’ve had the engineer out two or three times in a year for different issues, that’s usually a sign of wider wear rather than bad luck.
One guideline we lean on a lot is what’s often called The 50% Rule. If the cost of repair comes to more than half the price of a new machine, replacement usually makes more financial sense.
With older models, you sometimes run into the problem of lack of parts. If a control board or specific component simply isn’t manufactured anymore, repair may not even be an option.
Which Washing Machine Brands Are Most Worth Repairing?
In our experience, brands like Bosch, Siemens, Neff, Miele and LG tend to justify the cost of repair thanks to solid build quality. They also produce readily available parts and benefit from long lifespans. Entry-level Beko models, older Indesit machines and budget Hotpoint units can be more costly to repair. This is simply because the there’s less parts available and they’re older/budget made. That’s not a knock on those brands, it just changes the maths.
Get in touch!
For washing machine repairs in Alton and across East Hampshire, our team at Service 87 will work hard to get your vacuum back in top working order safely and efficiently. Over the years we’ve helped lots of people get their appliances working again! Our expert team in Alton is here to help you too, if you live in the GU or RG postcode near the Hampshire-Surrey border. We fix a wide range of household appliances including laundry appliances, cooking appliances including gas hobs, cookers & ovens, refrigeration repairs including fridges, freezers, coolers & combinations, and dishwashers.
We cover Alton, East Hampshire, the Hampshire/Surrey border and the A31 corridor including Aldershot, Basingstoke, Bordon, Bracknell, Farnborough, Farnham, Fleet, Godalming, Guildford, Liss, Petersfield, Reading, Slough, Windsor and Woking. Call in our professional team of appliance repair engineers from Service 87. Book a repair online, email us at jobs@service87.co.uk, or call 01420 481120.
