How long do washing machines last? When to repair and when to replace

The machine's limping along, the repair bill is a guess, and there's a shiny new one in the shop for a few hundred quid. Repair or replace is a fair question. Here's how we'd weigh it, as people who fix them for a living rather than sell them.

How long should a washing machine last?

There's no clean number, and anyone who gives you one is guessing. Look after a machine and it'll give you a good many years. The cheaper end wears out sooner, the mid and upper models last longer. How you use it matters as much as the badge. Daily heavy loads, cramming the drum full and hard-water limescale all take years off it. Sensible loads and the odd hot maintenance wash add them back.

A quick way to decide

Three things settle most of these.

First, the age and condition. A machine that's had an easy life and one clear fault is usually worth saving. One that's been hammered for years and is now on its second or third different problem is telling you something.

Second, the cost of the repair against a new machine. Our washing machine repairs usually land between £75 and £210 depending on the fault and any parts. Put that next to the price of a comparable new machine. If the repair is a fraction of a replacement, it's easy maths.

Third, whether it's a common fault. A worn door seal, a drain pump, motor brushes, a heating element. These are everyday jobs and cheap enough to be worth doing. Bearings on an old budget machine are a different story.

Where a repair wins

If the drum, motor and bearings are sound and it's one known fault, a repair almost always makes sense. It's better value, and it beats scrapping a working machine over one part. Our engineers carry the common parts, so about 95% of repairs are finished on the first visit, and you get the price confirmed before any work starts.

When a new machine is the answer

Bearings gone on an older, cheap machine. A cracked outer tub. A run of separate faults arriving together. Those are the times a new machine is the sensible spend, and a straight engineer will tell you so instead of selling you a repair that won't hold.

Book a washing machine repair

Not sure which way to go? Book a washing machine repair and the engineer will diagnose it and give you a straight answer on whether it's worth fixing. You can also find your local washing machine engineer first.

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth repairing an old washing machine?

Often, yes, if it's one common fault and the drum and bearings are sound. Weigh the repair cost, usually £75 to £210 with us, against a comparable new machine. If the repair is a fraction of that, do it.

When should I replace rather than repair?

When the bearings or tub have gone on an older, cheap machine, or when several different faults turn up close together. That's the point where repeated repairs stop paying off.

How long does a washing machine last on average?

It varies a lot with quality and use. Sensible loads, the right amount of detergent and an occasional hot wash all help. Overloading and limescale shorten it.

Do you sell machines too?

No. We only repair, so the advice you get from us isn't a nudge towards a new one.