I have an older whirlpool washer that has a messed up timer and a hot water valve that wont let the hot water in. Otherwise it still seems to work fine except we can only use one of the wash cycles. Is it worth the time and money to fix (about 17 yrs old, had new pump put in about 6 yrs ago) or should I just look for another washer? TIA B
Probably not unless you get a great price on parts.
At 17 years, that washer doesn't owe you anything. Timers are pretty expensive to be putting one in a machine that old. Whirlpool still makes some pretty good low and mid-range machines that are probably comparable to what you have. I'd say it's time.
CWM
I would buy another washer. The transmission and other mechanical parts have seen a lot of wear after 17 years.
If you are talking about buying a lot of new parts, no it probably isn't worth it but if you think you can figure out exactly which contact in the timer is bad (clean/adjust) and you can just put a kit in that valve (or just clean the crud out) it is worth taking a shot at. Worst case is you buy a new one and that is where you are now. You might be able to get a few more years out of yours. I have a Kenmore/Whirlpool that was here when I bought the house 23 years ago and it is still going. I am not sure a new one would work any better. I only have some agitator dogs and a coupler kit in this one. The (bad) lid switch is jumpered out. (no kids) People actually used to fix things but the cost of running a shop and putting stocked vans on the road pretty much killed that business. The good news is you can buy parts for these at any Sears or online. That valve is generic to lots of things. I wouldn't bet that will be true with a new machine and you aren't fixing the computer in the new machine with an emory board like that mechanical timer.
Like everyone else said, time for a new one. But if you need further convincing, call a local repair shop and ask what their fee is to even show up. Double that, at a minimum, for any parts. Then go to Sams or whatever your local discount place is, and check the prices on washers with the features you actually use. (Most people only use 2 or 3 different settings.) I bought the second-from-the-bottom GE last year, and have been quite happy with it.
aem sends...
Are you sure the valve is bad, and not that the input screen is clogged. I found a machine on the street in Brooklyn that wouldn't let water in because the screen was clogged. The only other problem was that the lid switch was bad, and some cosmetic issue.
I only use Permanent Press cycle. Except yesterday for the first time in more than 10 years..
Is it worth the time and
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