According to Energy Star, “The average American family washes about 300 loads of laundry each year.” Could you imagine doing laundry with a wash board? With 300 loads of laundry washed per year, there is no doubt the washing machine is an invaluable appliance making our lives easier. Due to wear and tear, there unfortunately comes a time a washer stops working, begins to leak, or decides it doesn’t want to spin (yes, appliances have a mind of their own). Depending on the cause, you may need to replace the drain pump or lid switch, for example; a do-it-yourself repair mentioned prior is normally low cost and can be fixed with relative ease without having to replace your unit.
Quick Tip: You are more likely to find low cost parts online that are cheaper than at a physical store location. When to Buy While a lid switch can be easily replaced at a low cost, you may wonder, when it is time replace my old washer? Typically, if your washer has a bad tub, bearings or transmission, it is best to look at buying a new clothes washer—as these serviced repairs can run anywhere from $300-$450, easily. Most manufacturers offer a 1 year standard warranty with the purchase of your appliance. Life Expectancy and Regulations Speaking to some in-house techs with over 30 years of experience, the average life expectancy of your washer today lasts anywhere from 7-12 years. A decade ago or so, you could find your washer to last you anywhere from 10 to even 25 years! How are old appliances outlasting the new? The Wall Street Journal suggests beginning in the 1990s, federal ‘energy standards’ were implemented for washers. Due to these regulations, many features on new washers have been eliminated, thus lack in performance and lifespan may be attributed due to government standards manufacturers must meet. While this holds the debate of energy/money conservation of electricity and water, is this the best option for consumers as quality decreases? This topic certainly holds debate from both sides; appliances are just not made how they used to be. Plan Ahead With the decreased lifespan of appliances, Money Crashers notes it is important to plan in advance when it comes to buying a new appliance, or washer in this case—which makes sense…don’t wait until the last minute. Money Crashers has a breakdown of the best times of the year when to purchase a new appliance that will save you money that can be read here. Front Load vs Top Load These two types of washing machines have pros and cons in their style and mechanisms—some of which are personal preferences. The video below discusses the differences and what to look for when you are in the warehouse looking to make your new clothes washer purchase. Photo by: kozumel | Flickr
