Author Topic: Aaaand the washing machine went out...what do we do?  (Read 3166 times)

englishteacheralex

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Aaaand the washing machine went out...what do we do?
« on: October 11, 2017, 08:18:02 PM »
Bought this condo in 2015, and it came with a stacked Samsung washer/dryer.

Yesterday I did a load of laundry and the drum is banging around like crazy. The spin cycle didn't really work.

Husband is usually a pretty great DIYer on repairs, but this washing machine thing is getting him down. We don't have a garage or any out-of-the-way kind of place to take the machine apart, and we have a 9 month old who is prone to putting things in her mouth and a three year old who is just generally a handful.

We're in a fine financial position--no debt, steadily building stache, plenty of money in a slush fund to just throw at the problem.

My instinct is to just go out and buy another Samsung front loading washing machine that can have the dryer we already have stacked on top of it. The stacking thing is imperative--our place doesn't have room for any kind of awesome old school side by side top loaders. I went to two appliance stores today and was told by both that I'll have to stick with Samsung if I want to do that.

$597 plus some money on a new hose and maybe an extended warranty, plus an afternoon of cussing while Mr. ETA installs the thing and hauls off the old one, and the problem is solved.

Better idea than trying to repair it, right? Is there an option C I've not considered?

MBot

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Re: Aaaand the washing machine went out...what do we do?
« Reply #1 on: October 11, 2017, 09:33:31 PM »
Well, your other option is to call a repair person.

But For what it's worth, we repaired a front loader LG by sliding it into our bedroom (which is located right by the bathroom it's normally stacked in ). . Same situation - stacking room only, can't move it anywhere. It wasn't awesome but it saved us a LOT of money. A washer isn't that many parts when apart and isn't that complicated.

I would identify the problem first. There's a ton of YouTube videos about taking them apart. See how it works.

Ours I stupidly tried to wash a heavier mat and it unbalanced it enough to pop a spring that suspended the drum off. We popped it back on and also replaced 2/3 of the things possibly causing a leak (which seems to have fixed it) for about $120. Ordering parts online in the US was super cheap.

Sibley

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Re: Aaaand the washing machine went out...what do we do?
« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2017, 08:00:00 AM »
Take the kids elsewhere for the day. Family, etc. They're out of the way, and with any luck, you also get a break from them! If you can fix the washing machine, great. If not, well, you tried.

dycker1978

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Re: Aaaand the washing machine went out...what do we do?
« Reply #3 on: October 12, 2017, 08:10:34 AM »
Well, your other option is to call a repair person.

But For what it's worth, we repaired a front loader LG by sliding it into our bedroom (which is located right by the bathroom it's normally stacked in ). . Same situation - stacking room only, can't move it anywhere. It wasn't awesome but it saved us a LOT of money. A washer isn't that many parts when apart and isn't that complicated.

I would identify the problem first. There's a ton of YouTube videos about taking them apart. See how it works.

Ours I stupidly tried to wash a heavier mat and it unbalanced it enough to pop a spring that suspended the drum off. We popped it back on and also replaced 2/3 of the things possibly causing a leak (which seems to have fixed it) for about $120. Ordering parts online in the US was super cheap.

Chances are it is one of the 4 springs.  This is a very common issue for front load machines. 

frugaliknowit

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Re: Aaaand the washing machine went out...what do we do?
« Reply #4 on: October 12, 2017, 08:23:04 AM »
I'd hate to see you lock into "Samsung Stackable"...

I would try the DIY, or try a repairman off of "Angie's $80 HR List" or via a recommendation (risk of maybe $100...). 

Another thought:  The last time I checked, when GE sends out a repairman for a GE Appliance, if it's not viable to fix it,
they give a credit in the amount of the repair call toward a new machine...(maybe Samsung has a comparable offer...?)

sokoloff

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Re: Aaaand the washing machine went out...what do we do?
« Reply #5 on: October 12, 2017, 09:25:37 AM »
Roll the drum around by hand. If it growls (or has been sounding like a jet engine missing a blade), it's likely the bearing.

Then, push the drum up, down, in, out, left, right. If there's an excessive amount of motion, the drum outer housing is suspended on some large springs and damped by some shock absorber type things that might have failed or come dislodged.

Washers aren't complicated, but there are a fair number of parts and a certain amount of "what the hell have I just got myself into?!" when you're midway on the repair.

Honestly, $600 to solve the problem isn't the end of the world. It's not a route I'd take, because I'm constitutionally a DIYer (even when it doesn't make much sense, frankly). If you take the machine apart to diagnose on weekend 1, order part(s) on Monday, you're probably back in business by the end of the second weekend. Is spending 2 weekend days with tools, 5 weekdays tripping over parts, $50-100 in parts, and some uncertainty of the outcome worth $500+? That's a call for you to make; neither way is "wrong" for everyone.

Miss Piggy

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Re: Aaaand the washing machine went out...what do we do?
« Reply #6 on: October 12, 2017, 09:44:34 AM »
If you end up buying a new one, can you not find a seller that offers free delivery, setup, and haul away of your old machine? That's pretty standard around here.

sokoloff

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Re: Aaaand the washing machine went out...what do we do?
« Reply #7 on: October 12, 2017, 09:45:22 AM »
Oh, and don't buy the extended warranty.

Lanthiriel

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Re: Aaaand the washing machine went out...what do we do?
« Reply #8 on: October 12, 2017, 05:44:50 PM »
We're not the most handy people, but I've been able to fix my old washing machine a number of times. Do some Googling to diagnose the issue before you throw in the towel.

Also, after reading tons and tons of reviews due to needing a washer and dryer when we bought our new house (neither my realtor or I spotted they didn't make it into the contract...), I wouldn't buy a Samsung. They were consistently poorly rated. We went with LG and couldn't be happier.

KarefulKactus15

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Re: Aaaand the washing machine went out...what do we do?
« Reply #9 on: October 13, 2017, 02:02:51 PM »
Roll the drum around by hand. If it growls (or has been sounding like a jet engine missing a blade), it's likely the bearing.

Then, push the drum up, down, in, out, left, right. If there's an excessive amount of motion, the drum outer housing is suspended on some large springs and damped by some shock absorber type things that might have failed or come dislodged.

Washers aren't complicated, but there are a fair number of parts and a certain amount of "what the hell have I just got myself into?!" when you're midway on the repair.

Honestly, $600 to solve the problem isn't the end of the world. It's not a route I'd take, because I'm constitutionally a DIYer (even when it doesn't make much sense, frankly). If you take the machine apart to diagnose on weekend 1, order part(s) on Monday, you're probably back in business by the end of the second weekend. Is spending 2 weekend days with tools, 5 weekdays tripping over parts, $50-100 in parts, and some uncertainty of the outcome worth $500+? That's a call for you to make; neither way is "wrong" for everyone.

This.   Really if ur worried about kids and parts throw all the tools and parts in the drum and duct tape the metal sides back on while waiting for parts. 

Also take lots of pictures!     Very simple mechanical things get fuzzy in memory....

englishteacheralex

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Re: Aaaand the washing machine went out...what do we do?
« Reply #10 on: October 13, 2017, 04:21:45 PM »
Ok, sorry everyone. This was a stupid thread for me to have started. I wasn't going to take anybody's advice and I kind of already knew what we were going to do.

After a lot of research, we knew that Samsung washing machines suck. HOWEVER, the dryer is still perfectly good, and because of space considerations in our 850 square foot condo, we have to have a stacking washer/dryer. Since the washer/dryer came with the condo when we bought it, we have no understanding of their provenance. It seems easier to just start over with a washer.

The research we did suggests that washers, dishwashers, and refrigerators are pretty universally terrible nowadays. Our hope is that the Samsung washer we just bought new will last for about 5 years before it goes out, and then we'll replace both the washer and the dryer with a Whirlpool, GE, or LG. Hopefully the dryer is still going at that point. Apparently dryers last longer and are easier to repair than washers.

SO: To get a brand new bottom of the line Samsung washer that is compatible with the dryer delivered, installed, and the old one hauled away cost us $620 total at Lowe's. We tried the Sears outlet store and called up every other place to see if they had a scratch/dent Samsung, but no dice. In Hawaii, it seemed like a pretty good deal, especially if it actually does last five years. It's worth $620 for me to avoid two weekends' worth of husband cussing and a washing machine taken apart in our 150 square foot bedroom. I'll tell you, I was pretty tempted to buy the five year extended warranty for $120, but the advice here plus my husband's scoffing made us forego it.

If you have facepunches for us on this decision, I'm happy to receive them, but also ask for more advice for such purchases in the future. We've never had to buy this stuff before and are sort of babes in the woods.

Thanks!

« Last Edit: October 13, 2017, 04:24:21 PM by englishteacheralex »

ohsnap

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Re: Aaaand the washing machine went out...what do we do?
« Reply #11 on: October 14, 2017, 05:07:48 PM »
...

The research we did suggests that washers, dishwashers, and refrigerators are pretty universally terrible nowadays. Our hope is that the Samsung washer we just bought new will last for about 5 years before it goes out, and then we'll replace both the washer and the dryer with a Whirlpool, GE, or LG. Hopefully the dryer is still going at that point. Apparently dryers last longer and are easier to repair than washers.
...

Fingers crossed that you get more than 5 years!  But I'm not sure why LG is on your list of desired replacements. We had an LG washer that we purchased in 2015 that worked 9 days before it died. :(  It took 3 service calls over 2 weeks to get it fixed.  Although it was working at that point, I was so disappointed in the whole process that I called Costco to come get it, and replaced it with a Maytag.  After 2 years, it's working great, but it has so many electronics in it that I'm with you on just hoping to get 5 years before something breaks.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!