A washing machine or dryer that’s stopped working properly puts a genuine dent in daily household routine – and the decision about whether to repair it or replace it isn’t always obvious. Platinum Trade Services has been repairing domestic and commercial appliances across Australia since 2008, and this is one of the questions we help customers work through regularly.
Common Washing Machine Faults
Washing machines commonly develop faults with the drum bearing (often signalled by a loud grinding or rumbling noise), the water inlet valve, the drain pump, or the electronic control board. Some of these, like a drain pump replacement, are straightforward and relatively inexpensive repairs. Others, like a major bearing failure on some machine designs, can be more involved and costly to fix properly.
Common Dryer Faults
Dryers typically develop issues with the heating element, the drive belt, or the thermostat and sensor systems that regulate temperature and cycle timing. A dryer that’s running but not heating, or that’s making unusual noise during the tumble cycle, usually points to one of these specific components rather than a fault with the whole unit.
How to Think About Repair vs Replace
The right decision generally comes down to a few factors: the age of the appliance, the cost of the repair relative to the cost of a new unit, and whether the appliance has a history of repeated faults. A relatively young machine with an isolated, moderately priced repair is usually worth fixing. An older machine with a major component failure, or one that’s had multiple unrelated faults over a short period, is often better replaced – because further faults tend to follow.
As a rough guide, if a repair cost approaches half the price of a comparable new appliance, it’s worth seriously weighing up replacement, particularly for an older unit.
Why a Proper Diagnosis Matters Before You Decide
Guessing at a fault, or assuming the worst – often leads to an unnecessary replacement, or a repair that doesn’t actually address the real problem. A proper diagnostic assessment from a qualified technician gives you an accurate picture of exactly what’s wrong and what it will cost to fix, so you can make the decision based on real information rather than assumption.
Our Technicians Are Also Qualified Electricians
Because our technicians at Platinum Trade Services are qualified electricians as well as appliance specialists, we can handle the full scope of electrical faults associated with appliance failures – without needing to bring in a separate trade to complete the job.
Book an Assessment
If your washing machine or dryer isn’t performing the way it should, a proper assessment is the best starting point – whether the outcome is a straightforward repair or an honest recommendation that replacement makes more sense.
To book a washing machine or dryer repair assessment, contact Platinum Trade Services via our contact page or call 1300 358 703.
