Repair or Replace a Washer? How Long Washers Last

Repair the washer if it is well short of the end of its expected life and the repair costs less than half the price of a comparable new machine. Replace it if it is near or past the typical lifespan, the repair would run more than half the cost of a new one, or it keeps breaking. Fixr cites about 11 years for a front-load washer and about 14 years for a top-loader, and HomeAdvisor gives a range of 11 to 14 years.

How long washers last

Lifespan is an average, not a deadline. A washer that runs several loads a day for a large family wears faster than one used twice a week. Overloading, overdosing detergent and running an unlevel machine all shorten the life of the bearings, suspension and motor.

Design matters as well. In the published averages, top-load washers outlast front-loaders by about three years. Front-loaders also depend on a door seal and a door lock, two parts that wear with use. Our guide to front-load vs top-load washer problems covers the differences in more detail.

The 50 percent rule

Fixr's rule of thumb is that if a repair would cost more than half the price of a comparable new washer, replacing it is usually the better buy. HomeAdvisor makes the same point: once the repair runs past half the cost of buying and installing a new washer, replacement tends to make more financial sense.

To use the rule, you need two numbers. The first is the repair quote, with parts, labor and the service fee included. Our washing machine repair cost guide lists typical prices by part. The second is what a similar new washer would cost you, installed. Fixr puts a new washer, including labor, at roughly $650 to $2,100, and lists installation alone at $150 to $300 for a washer and dryer where the hookups are already in place.

Then factor in age. A $300 repair on a three-year-old washer is an easy yes. The same $300 on a washer at the end of its expected life buys you time on a machine where the next part could fail soon.

Repairs that are usually worth doing

Many washer failures are small parts that wear out on schedule. Fixr's published ranges put these at the low end of washer repair costs:

• Lid switch: $85 to $160
• Drain hose: $95 to $170
• Water inlet valve: $95 to $190
• Door lock: $110 to $200
• Drive belt: $120 to $175

Some problems cost nothing. A washer that won't drain often has a clogged pump filter or a kinked hose, and a washer that won't spin often has an unbalanced load or too many suds. Check our guides to a washer not draining and a washer not spinning before you decide the machine is finished.

Repairs that often tip the decision

The expensive repairs are the ones that make the 50 percent rule bite. Fixr lists a control board at $250 to $400, a drain pump at $300 to $400, a motor at $300 to $500, and an agitator at $350 to $575. On an older washer, any of these can push the bill past half the price of a new machine.

Watch for a pattern, too. If the washer has needed two or three repairs in a short stretch, the suspension, bearings and electronics are likely aging together. A single repair may get it running, but it rarely resets the clock on everything else.

Safe checks before you decide

Before you reach into the pump filter, pull the washer out or open any panel, unplug it and turn off both the hot and cold supply valves. GE Appliances notes that pressing the power button does not disconnect the washer from the electrical supply.

Then look at the basics. Is the washer level, with the leveling-foot locknuts tightened? Whirlpool's installation instructions note that loose locknuts can cause vibration. Are the fill hoses in good shape? Whirlpool says to replace any hose that shows bulges, kinks, cuts, wear or leaks. These checks can solve the problem outright, or at least tell you whether the machine has been installed well enough to be worth fixing.

When to call a technician

Call a pro when the washer shows an error code that returns after a reset, the drum won't turn, you smell burning, you hear grinding during spin, or water reaches the floor. A technician can tell you which part failed and quote the repair, which is exactly the number you need for the 50 percent rule. Ask whether the service fee is credited toward the repair if you go ahead.

Find a local tech through our washing machine repair directory. If your dryer is also aging, a company that handles washer and dryer repair can look at both on one visit.

What you gain by replacing

A newer washer can lower running costs. ENERGY STAR says certified clothes washers use about 20 percent less energy and about 30 percent less water than regular washers. ENERGY STAR also notes that heating water accounts for most of a washer's energy use, so washing in cold or warm water cuts energy use substantially, and a high spin speed shortens drying time.

Those savings help, but they rarely justify scrapping a young washer that needs a modest repair. They matter most when you are already close to the line.

If you replace it

• Use new fill hoses. Whirlpool's instructions call for new inlet hoses rather than reusing old ones.
• Check the drain setup. Whirlpool limits the drain hose to no more than 8 inches inside a standpipe at least 2 inches across, and Maytag warns against an airtight seal between hose and standpipe.
• Level it. Set the washer on a solid floor and tighten the leveling-foot locknuts.
• Make the old one safe. GE Appliances says to remove the lid or door before a washer is discarded or taken out of service so a child cannot become trapped inside.

Some owners choose heavy-duty brands built for long service. You can compare technicians who work on Speed Queen and Maytag washers, or browse every topic in our washer repair guides.