Sand in the system
Living near the beach shows up in the laundry. Sand from towels, wetsuits and kids' clothes ends up in the drum, then the drain filter and the drain pump. A little is fine. A lot packs the filter and wears the pump impeller, and the machine starts stopping with water in the drum or making a grinding noise when it drains.
Shake beach gear out outside, rinse wetsuits before they go in the machine and clean the drain filter every few weeks over summer. If the pump is already noisy or slow, it is a straightforward replacement.
Machines outside the house
Some older Shellharbour homes have the washer in a carport, a back verandah or a laundry with louvre windows open to the weather. Salt air reaches the cabinet, the hinges and the detergent drawer, and rust starts at the edges and the base. The motor and drum usually outlast the rust, so a repair is still worth doing on most machines. If the base has rusted through, we tell you before quoting a repair.
Leaks and smells
A front loader that leaves a puddle at the front usually has a split or dislodged door boot seal, often caught by a zip or a clip. A puddle at the back or underneath points to a hose, the pump or the tub seal. A musty smell comes from damp lint and detergent build-up in the seal and the drawer. Leave the door ajar between washes and run a hot empty cycle once a month.
Price
The assessment for Shellharbour and Shell Cove is $125, and the repair is priced before any work starts. Tell us the brand and model, and whether it is a front or top loader, when you book.
