Highlights
Your costs to repair your washing machine can range anywhere from $50 to $450.
Professional repair services generally cost between $50 and $150 per hour.
The average life span of a washing machine is between 10 and 14 years.
You can extend your washing machine’s life through regular maintenance.
Minimize your costs by trying some DIY troubleshooting before you call a pro.
When your home’s washing machine isn’t running the way it should, it can cause a pretty significant interruption of daily life for you and your family. As with any complex machine, a washing machine has many different working parts, and consequently, many ways to break down. The average cost of a washing machine repair is $180, although it ranges between $50 and $450.
| Minimum Cost | National Average Cost | Maximum Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $50 | $180 | $450 |
How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Washing Machine by Part?
Your total cost for repairing a washing machine largely depends on the specific issue preventing your machine from functioning. Some issues are relatively inexpensive and require little to no expenditure for replacement parts, while others take more time and more materials to complete the repair. According to HomeAdvisor, these are the costs for the specific repairs or replacement parts:
Drum Bearings Replacement
Your washing machine’s drum bearings last around 10 years. If you’re hearing unusual sounds from your machine and recentering the load doesn’t rectify that, you can expect to pay between $150 and $200 to replace the drum bearings, including labor costs.
Clutch Repair
In a top-loading washing machine, the clutch is the part that moves and spins the tub inside. You may notice that your clothes are excessively wet after washing, or hear a squeaking sound while running a cleaning cycle (a wash cycle with an empty tub). If you don’t hear the motor running or water sloshing after the drum fills—or the machine isn’t spinning at all—then the culprit might be a clutch that needs repair. Repairing the clutch in your top-loading machine will cost about $250.
Pump Replacement
Accessing and replacing your washing machine’s pump is a bit more complex than some easier repairs and maintenance tasks, such as unclogging the drain or cleaning and deodorizing the tub. Most new washing machine pumps cost between $30 and $40, and you can expect to pay around $300 for labor.
Water Inlet Valve Replacement
The water inlet valve is responsible for filling the tub with water and controlling water flow. Replacing it costs around $160 or more, depending on the brand.
Transmission Repair
Did you know your washing machine has a transmission, just like your car? This is the critical part that makes the machine’s drum turn and tumble and moves the machine through the sequence of cycles to get your clothes clean. Expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $350 for this repair.
Motor Repair
The motor is the part that keeps your washing machine powered. Repairing it costs between $320 and $400.
Timer and Belt
The timer controls the length of each sequential cycle, and costs anywhere from $120 to $230 to repair. The belt is the part that connects the drum to the machine’s motor to help it spin. Repairing the belt costs between $140 and $150.
Drain Hose
As the name suggests, the drain hose is the part of the washing machine that drains the water from the tub. It costs between $130 and $250 to repair.
Washing Machine Repair Cost Breakdown
For washing machine repairs, the total costs break down into two major components: materials and parts and labor.
Materials and Parts
The cost of replacement parts for your washing machine depends on the specific part you’ll need to swap out. You can often save some money on materials and parts by comparing prices from various retailers in your area and online.
Prices also depend largely on the type of machine you have. For example, parts for portable and semi-automatic models generally cost less—between $90 and $250 on average. However, finding a repair pro with experience with these models might be more challenging.
Keep in mind that parts may cost about the same but labor can add dramatically to the total cost. For example, both couplings and washer pumps cost $10 to $15, but the total cost (including labor) for couplings ranges from $90 to $150. Meanwhile, the total cost for a pump can be as much as $350 or more.
Labor
Appliance repair pros charge anywhere from $50 to $150 per hour, according to HomeAdvisor. You may also have to pay an additional service charge to cover the pro’s time and costs while traveling to and from your home. That fee can add another $50 to $100 to your total.
What Will It Cost Me to Fix My Own Washing Machine?
There are lots of appliance repairs that an advanced-level DIYer can safely tackle. However, in the case of washing machines, the costs of a DIY repair job might outweigh its benefits.
Due to its many moving parts, a washing machine can be tricky to fix, even for handy homeowners. In addition, the machine’s use of water and electricity makes for an inherently dangerous combination. Since most repair visits are relatively inexpensive, it’s usually best to leave this work to a pro.
Doing a little initial troubleshooting yourself is a good idea. This includes simple checks like the following:
Making sure the machine is plugged in
Verifying that adequate power is running to the outlet, using a voltage checker
Ensuring the water valves are open
Tightening connections to avoid leaks and puddles
Recentering the load of laundry (distribute the clothes evenly around the agitator in the tub)
Drain the washing machine (if the drum has standing water)
If these basic troubleshooting steps don’t resolve your issue, it’s best to call in a pro. Hire a local washing machine repair company to handle the repair.
How You Can Save Money While Repairing a Washing Machine
One of the simplest ways to save money while repairing your washing machine is to follow general tips for washing machine care on a regular basis. Follow your manufacturer’s guidelines and recommendations for maintenance routines, so you don’t unintentionally void your machine’s warranties. Voiding warranties could cost more than you’d save by attempting a DIY repair in the long run.
Additionally, try to run through the simple DIY troubleshooting steps above before you call in a service pro for repair. If your troubleshooting solves the problem and returns the washing machine to a functional state, you’ve saved a few hundred dollars. If not, go ahead and call a pro.
Finally, if you decide to hire a professional repair company, try to get three quotes for the job from different repair services in your area. This is almost always the best way to ensure you’re getting a competitive price from a qualified provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following are all indications that your washing machine is in need of repair:
Excessive or unusual noises
The machine’s drum doesn’t fill with water
Water fills the drum but doesn’t drain when it should
There’s no spin or agitation of the drum during operation
There are puddles of water around the machine
The machine won’t turn on at all
Whether you should have your malfunctioning washing machine repaired or replaced depends on the total estimated repair cost, the machine’s anticipated remaining useful life if fully repaired, and the replacement cost.
When deciding to repair or replace an appliance, a good rule of thumb is to repair it if the repair cost is less than 50% of the replacement cost. Otherwise, consider investing in the cost of a new appliance.
Most commercially available washing machines that are relatively current in design and production will last 10 to 14 years. If you use your machine frequently—twice a week or more often—it will probably last on the shorter end of that range, or about 10 to 11 years. Less frequent use and proper regular maintenance can extend your washing machine’s useful life to the far end of that range.
