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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Would you just fry a new washing machine

18 replies

Ceci03 · 18/12/2023 23:43

So seal went in washing machine tonight. I've been googling whether to try and get it fixed. Friends husband said it's a tricky job. Don't want to spend money on calling a guy out and then seeing if he can get a new seal and waiting etc and then ending up getting a new one.

Ps I cried when I saw the floor flooded. Just before Xmas it's only 3 years old but out of warranty

OP posts:

Mornusting · 18/12/2023 23:46

Have a look on You Tube and see if there is a help video for your model. A repairman will take about 80/90 pounds for a callout or hour of labour.

TinselTitts · 18/12/2023 23:46

It's not that tricky, honestly.

My machine is about 12 years old and we've had the seal changed twice.

Google which one you need, order it and then get someone to come and fit it if you're not confident yourself.

Scarletttulips · 18/12/2023 23:48

I don’t have a pan big enough but do make a vid for us all to see.

TinselTitts · 18/12/2023 23:48

Ooh meant to say, I got a local handyman who was highly recommended in my local FB group.

He only charged £30 to fit it and he was done in about 20 minutes.

SausageChopsBellyFlops · 18/12/2023 23:48

Most of them are really simple to replace yourself, have a look on YouTube for your model of machine, and see if it's one of the easy ones to do.

Mumof2teens79 · 18/12/2023 23:49

Agree YouTube...I fixed our oven and tumble dryer.....then If its still too big a job then I would say buy new. Last time I looked they were more reasonably priced than lots of other purchases and a new one will be under warranty.
You could depend £100 fixing this one...only for something else to fail next month

Circumferences · 18/12/2023 23:50

Don't buy a new one if it's only three years old

Bogeyes · 18/12/2023 23:53

It's an easy job. Youtube is my go to manual for everything.

Original poster

Ceci03 · 19/12/2023 00:25

I looked on YouTube and it seems very complicate you have take the whole machine apart. I couldn't do it so that means a man and parts and a long wait over Xmas I'd say. Why did it have to happen

OP posts:

Jas5mum · 19/12/2023 00:29

I hear you. My door isn't currently attached to my machine! I have to pop it back on to use it... only 2years old as well. We just make do. Seal keeps falling off on the oven too...

Ortila · 19/12/2023 00:35

Just because it's out of warranty doesn't mean it's okay for it to break down.

For the seal itself there'll be a 10 year parts replacement service. Doesn't matter if you added it at the time or not - just phone the company and ask them to add it on. Then get them to send you it. For the work, contact the retailer. Be polite but also be clear that you've got an appliance you spent a few hundred quid on that's now broken and ask them what they can do to help. They should really be arranging to fix it for you or at least giving you money towards a fix.

I've had good results doing this with AO. I don't buy warranties. Big purchases like white goods should be lasting more than a couple of years and decent retailers know this. Don't fret, you'll get it sorted.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 19/12/2023 01:31

Just because it's out of warranty doesn't mean it's okay for it to break down.

Yes, this. The warranty is just the starting point of what a company will willingly offer; not a way for them to legally limit their reasonable liabilities.

You wouldn't accept a restaurant promising to refund the next of kin of anybody who ate there and subsequently died of food poisoning - and then them expecting to point to that in avoiding any consequences if all of their diners on one night 'only' ended up laid in hospital for two weeks, but all survived.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 19/12/2023 01:34

I can't remember fully, but I'm sure I read (in Which magazine, maybe?) that an expensive electrical appliance (i.e. a washing machine costing hundreds, but not necessarily a £6 toaster) should be expected to last for a minimum of 6 years - and could be reasonably argued to be faulty and not of merchantable quality if it doesn't.

BarbaraofSeville · 19/12/2023 04:19

It depends on the machine whether the seal I easy to replace. Some are quick and easy but others do require a lot of work.

I think I'd get it replaced if it's an otherwise decent machine. Our washing machines have lasted 11 and 15 years so 3 is nothing.

margotrose · 19/12/2023 05:57

Whether the seal is easy to replace or not depends on the brand.

We have one that's notoriously difficult to fix if the seal goes and it took DH about five hours and a lot of swearing. Even all the DIY tutorials for the brand say it's bloody difficult.

It went again a few months later and we gave up and just put a towel down to stop floods.

stepfordwifey · 19/12/2023 07:44

Consumer Rights Act 2015 says a washing machine should last 6 years so replace the seal if you can. You can go back to retailer if it breaks down after that.

BarbaraofSeville · 19/12/2023 08:43

Consumer Rights act is fairly clear that the washing machine is unsatisfactory, but the problem is that the OP is unlikely to get a free repair unless she really badgers the supplier and even then might not succeed without court action. All the time being without a washing machine....

One of those times to suck it up and get the seal replaced unfortunately, unless it's a really cheap one, in which case, it's probably time to replace it and if possible look for one that is easier to repair.

I did want to replace the seal on our last one, not because it was leaking but because it was all gunged up because we don't treat it well (rarely clean the seal and use it for washing cat beds and all sorts of muddy sports kit). But both the top and the back needed to come off to access it. Unlike our new one which can be swapped out from the front without even having to pull the machine out.

Original poster

Ceci03 · 19/12/2023 11:16

@BarbaraofSeville yes you talk a lot of sense. I've looked on YouTube and to replace the seal you have to dismantle the whole machine . Can I ask what machine you got that has an easy seal replacement

OP posts:

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