You’ve just bought a new washing machine. It’s shiny. It’s quiet. It’s energy efficient. But, how long should it last? Well, let’s find out!
What is the average lifespan of a washing machine?
Let’s cut straight to the chase. A new washing machine should last around 10 years. However, as we all know, this isn’t always the case.
So, what factors affect your washing machine’s lifespan?
1 > Usage frequency. The more cycles you run, the faster the components wear down. As you might expect, a large family running the washer daily will see higher amounts of wear and tear compared to a single person who might only do one or two loads a week.
2 > Maintenance schedule. Simple habits like cleaning the filter regularly will help your washing machine last much longer.
3 > Type of loads. Overloading the drum is way more common than you might think. Heavy loads strain the motor and the bearings, which are both costly repairs if they break.
4 > Quality of the machine. We all love a good bargain, however, cheaper machines, as you might expect, will be lower quality. We always recommend buying a Bosch, Neff or a Siemens appliance. They are incredibly reliable and usually cost effective to repair should it come to that point years down the line. They also usually come with a 2 to 5 year warranty period.
5 > Water quality. If your property has a problem with hard water, it can cause limescale buildup in your washing machine. In return, this can of course lower the lifespan of your washing machine as it can cause internal blockages.
Signs Your Washing Machine Is Nearing The End Of Its Life
Every washing machine will eventually need to be replaced. While the process can be time consuming, it’s always helpful to prepare ahead.
Here’s a few signs your washing machine might be closer to the end than you might think.
1 > Loud noises. If your washing machine is loud when in use, specifically, if the noise is more of a rumble, it could be a sign of a drum problem, more specifically, it could mean the bearings have failed. This is a very costly repair and it’s usually best to replace the machine entirely.
2 > Cycles take longer or fail to complete. If your machine gets stuck at a certain point within the cycle, while it could be many other things, a very common cause for this type of problem is a control board malfunction. This is once again quite costly to repair and usually means a new washing machine is needed.
It can be quite difficult to say when a washing machine is nearing the end. Try to think about how many previous repairs the machine has had, its age, and its original purchase price. If the machine has had 3 previous repairs over the years, it’s 8 years old, and it was only £300 when purchased, it’s safe to say that repairing it when it next breaks wouldn’t be worth it and a new machine is a safe bet.
Repairing Versus Replacing
The biggest question in the industry. Should I repair my washing machine or replace it? Well, here’s what we recommend.
1 > Firstly, think about how many previous repairs your machine has had. Has it been repaired several times throughout the years? If so, repairing it again might not be worth it.
2 > Next, we recommend thinking about the price of the machine when you first bought it. Was it an expensive, high end model? Was it something more budget friendly? If the machine was £1000 when new, then repairing it a couple of times when it goes wrong would make sense. On the other hand, if the machine was £200 when new, repairing it more than once throughout its life really wouldn’t be our recommendation.
3 > Lastly, try to consider the age of the machine. If the machine is over 8 years old, has had several previous repairs and wasn’t too expensive to begin with, consider buying a new machine.
There really isn’t one answer in whether you should repair or replace your washing machine, but, if you consider the above three factors, you will have a pretty good idea when it’s time to bite the bullet and get a new one.
If you’re not 100% sure on what to do, feel free to give us a call and we’ll happily guide you over what we recommend. It doesn’t cost anything to speak to us over the phone and we’re always happy to point you in the right direction.
How To Make Your Washing Machine Last Longer
We all want our hard earned money to give us as much value as possible. So, how can you make your washing machine last longer? Here’s a few tips.
1 > Don’t overload the drum. Every drum has a dedicated drum capacity ranging from as low as 4 kilograms to as high as 8 kilograms and beyond. Avoid going above this capacity as this can damage the machine and lead to costly repairs.
2 > Clean the filter regularly. This will help avoid blockages and keep your machine smelling fresh.
3 > Run a maintenance wash. Try to run a maintenance wash without any laundry once in a while. Buying a drum cleaner would be recommended as they are quite affordable and good at what they do.
4 > Leave the door open after use. This will help ventilate and prevent mould buildup.
Common Questions
> Is it worth repairing a 10 year old washing machine?
Depending on the brand of your appliance and how many previous repairs it has already had, it may not be worth repairing. If the machine’s brand is generally considered good (Bosch/Neff/Siemens) and it has had one or two previous repairs in the past, it may be worth repairing one more time to get a few more years out of it.
> Which brand of washing machine lasts the longest?
We love recommending Bosch, Neff & Siemens as brands, they are often super reliable, easy to repair and usually come with a lengthy warranty period! You can expect a brand like Bosch/Neff/Siemens to last up to 10 years if not more without many issues.
> How often should I clean my washing machine?
We recommend cleaning your washing machine’s filter every few weeks. If you can, use a cleaning product as well during an empty cycle to help keep your washing machine fresh. The fresher your washing machine, the fresher the clothes!
> What is the most expensive washing machine repair?
If you overload your drum, the bearings can break over time. This can be very expensive to repair. Refer to our appliance repair costs guide for more information.
Conclusion
In this blog, we have explained how long a washing machine should last. We have also covered several other topics which you might find helpful!
Something you probably didn’t know is that we also repair appliances ourselves!
You might not need us now, but, why not save our number? You never know when our help will be needed. You can always find our up to date contact details on our contacts page.
We’re also always happy to help over the phone in any way we can, should you just have a question, contact us! We don’t charge anything to answer your questions!