Machines that live outdoors
Inside a house, a washer is sheltered from most of what happens in a Warilla carport. Out there, the cabinet sits in air carrying salt off the ocean and moisture off Lake Illawarra, and it never fully dries between washes. Rust starts along the bottom edge of the cabinet and around the detergent drawer, where powder and water collect and sit.
A cover helps, provided it lets the machine breathe. A tight plastic sheet traps moisture against the panels and can make matters worse. Standing the machine on a proper laundry stand keeps the base out of puddles after rain. Wiping the top and the drawer recess dry after the last load of the day, and leaving the drawer pulled out a little so it airs, slows the rust on the parts that go first.
Tripping the safety switch
When the earth points inside a washer corrode, the machine can start leaking current, and the safety switch cuts the power to protect whoever is touching it. It usually happens at the start of a fill or during a spin, and it might only happen once in a while. Treat every trip as a warning. Unplug the machine and get it checked instead of flicking the switch back up and carrying on. The safety switch article explains what is going on electrically.
Grit from the beach
Every trip to the beach brings a little sand home, and in a Warilla laundry plenty of it ends up in the washer. It's heavy, so it settles in the bottom of the outer tub, and each drain drags some of it through the pump. Over a summer that's enough to scour the impeller and pack the filter. A gravelly sound as the machine empties, or a pump that runs while the water leaves slowly, both suggest grit has got in.
Rinse sandy gear under the outdoor tap first, put swimmers and small items in a mesh wash bag, and open the pump filter every few weeks between December and March to see what has collected. What sand does to a washing machine has more on the damage.
Pests in an open laundry
Cockroaches like warm, dark hiding spots, and the base of a washer in an open laundry suits them well. They get into the control area through gaps in the cabinet, and their droppings can cause faults on electronic boards. A clean, dry laundry, gaps sealed around the pipes, and no lint or spilt detergent left lying about all make the spot less attractive. If you've found droppings behind the machine or the control panel has started acting up, say so when you book, because the technician will want to look behind the panel before replacing anything.
Worth keeping, or time to go
Older Warilla washers are often worth fixing, because faults like a pump, belt or valve cost little next to a new machine. The point where it stops making sense is a cabinet rusted right through at the base, or a sealed tub with failed bearings. The technician looks at both before giving you a price, so you aren't paying to fix a machine that is about to fall apart around the new part. If we do recommend replacing it, the technician will point out what failed and why, which is useful when you're deciding where the next machine should live.
Fisher & Paykel, Electrolux, Haier and Beko are the washer brands that come through our Warilla jobs most often, and we are authorised for each of them.
Questions from Warilla
Can cockroaches get into a washing machine?
Yes. They shelter in the warm base and behind the control panel, and their droppings can cause faults on electronic boards. Keeping the laundry clean and dry and sealing gaps around pipes makes it far less inviting.
Why is my washing machine not draining?
The pump filter is the first place to look, and in beach suburbs it often holds sand along with coins and hair ties. Check that the drain hose isn't kinked behind the machine. If both are clear and it still sits full, the pump itself may have failed.
Is a rusty washing machine safe to use?
Surface rust on the lid is cosmetic, but rust around the base can reach wiring and earth points. If the machine has ever tripped the safety switch, stop using it until it has been checked. The technician will tell you whether it's worth saving.