Washing machine - fixable?

VfM4meplse

My washing machine is 14 years old and today started to cause problems. Today's wash was very wet, so I thought the problem was with the spin function. Being a boiling hot day I thought it might be a good idea to try another wash on v old clothes to see if the problem was a one off. The machine made a funny hissing noise whilst in the "wash" cycle but no water was actually emitted.

Although it is old, there is only me, and I doubt it has done as many as 900 washes. My first instinct is to buy another because of the age, so have just been browsing the washing machine buying advice thread but am now wondering whether it's too wasteful not to at least explore fixing.

Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong with it? And are there any quick checks I could be doing for myself?

wallbash

14 years and used 900 times, looks like a case of buying a cheap as possible replacement. With my family , is the exact opposite, I buy an expensive machine, because is seems always on.

A little over £200 seems to get you a reasonable machine.
Against that , get someone to look at it........must cost the best part of £100 to man to arrive and spend any sort of time there. But if you get away with ONLY ( unlikely ) £100, you will have then a 14 year old machine with one brand new part.



Conclusion ...........go buy a new machine, now more economical.

Hasbeen

VfM4meplse wrote: »

My washing machine is 14 years old and today started to cause problems. Today's wash was very wet, so I thought the problem was with the spin function. Being a boiling hot day I thought it might be a good idea to try another wash on v old clothes to see if the problem was a one off. The machine made a funny hissing noise whilst in the "wash" cycle but no water was actually emitted.

Although it is old, there is only me, and I doubt it has done as many as 900 washes. My first instinct is to buy another because of the age, so have just been browsing the washing machine buying advice thread but am now wondering whether it's too wasteful not to at least explore fixing.

Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong with it? And are there any quick checks I could be doing for myself?

MFG and model number would help?
Have you checked pump filter usually located behind pull away bottom panel.


See your instructions to do this.

EssexExile

The trouble with watching a machine go through its cycle to see what's wrong is that you never actually watched it when it was working properly, so you've no idea whether what it's doing now is normal or not!
If you can get someone to give you a free quote, as opposed to estimate, it's worth a try, otherwise 14 years ain't bad.

loracan1

I second trying the filter, some are quite difficult to get to but mostly located behind a panel at the bottom. No water leaving in the spin cycle is one of the symptoms.

Buying a new machine is a little overkill if there's only a few bits of fluff to remove.

poppellerant

I'm wondering if your brushes have gone, the machine is detecting this when trying to watch, then aborts the cycle when it detects a fault.

What is the make and model of the machine?

Brushes, at worst, can cost £30. Solenoids, I can't say without knowing the make and model of machine. I'd be very tempted to give the machine a good slap on the top above the dispenser drawer, about half way towards the back - this may loosen the solenoids, but be prepared to change them.

wallbash

Would Glotech Repairs like to publish the cost of sending a man to have a look? Cost of for example supple and fitting a new heating element ??

Therefore we would know how much 'our' 14 year old machine owes us. But as I posted , 14 year old machine with a brand new heating element, next week the brushes could go. ???

Sometimes ( 14 years) time to buy a new machine.

VfM4meplse

The machine is a Hotpoint Aquarius WMA33.

Encouraged by this thread, I've googled repairs and one website suggests that if a machine has been overloaded this is not an option worth considering. In truth, I regularly do this, esp with bedding and towels etc - obsessed with getting them clean without the hassle of frequent loads, esp as for 7 months of the year you really have to pick your washing days to dry them outside, so it tends to be weekends when I can keep an eye out for rain.

Perhaps I should be looking for a new washer-dryer?

Norman_Castle

The machine made a funny hissing noise whilst in the "wash" cycle but no water was actually emitted.

Emitted where?. Into the drum or out of the drain pipe?. Its likely to fill with water in small amounts. At times this wont be noticeable through the door.

If the filter is blocked clothes will come out wet. Have you checked it?. Clean the filter and clean in the filter hole if needed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86hYg6a6AJE

My washing machine is normally full to the point that getting more in would involve forcing things in. Its normally full to the top. Possibly overloaded based on the weight. This is more likely to damage bearings than cause water issues.

EssexExile

That is a pretty basic machine, before spinning it tries to distribute the load evenly to stop it shaking itself to bits during the spin. If it can't spread the load evenly after several attempts it just gives up on the spin altogether. Take some of the stuff out & put it on a spin again, it should be OK.
Washer dryers are best avoided, you can only dry half a load & you can't wash & dry at the same time. So it's wash a load, take half out & dry, take that out put the other half in & dry again. Several hours have passed & you've done one load.

jaygrunt

This sounds like the washing machine isnt draining properly.If it isnt draining then the pump will be blocked.On most machines the pump (or filter) is at the bottom and front of the machine behind a rectangular plastic panel that will just clip off.
Place a bowl or lots of towels in front of the filter and unscrew it.Lots of water will come out and there will probably be some money stuck inside the pump.If you cant see it straight away it is really easy to take off (couple of screws) and you should be able to see what the blockage is