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What would we do without a washing machine? Most people have grown so accustomed to walking into a laundry room and
throwing in a load of laundry that they do not even think much about it until something breaks. The very thought of
having to load up the laundry and head to the nearest laundromat is dreadful. Therefore, to keep your washing machine
running like a charm so you can count on them working, some simple things can be done.
Once a month, close and then reopen the water faucets for the washing machine. This is especially important if your
water is hard, as it will help reduce or eliminate build up that can cause the faucet or hose to leak. Additionally,
you should look to see if the hoses have any bubbles or cracks.
Once a year, you should replace the washers or rings inside the hoses. If your hoses are bad, you might consider
replacing them with braided high-pressure hoses.
The washing machine belt (if your washer is belt driven) is also important. Most of the older models can be opened in
the back while the newer machines generally have access through a front panel. If the belt has any type of wear and
tear, rather than wait until it breaks, go ahead and replace it.
If you notice that the drum of the washing machine is struggle a bit but the belt looks fine, it may need to be lightly
greased as well as the slide bars around the belt.
Check for worn snubbers that can cause the washing machine to go out of balance.
Look around the pump area to see if there is any water leakage. If so, then the rubber hoses should be replaced before
the leak becomes large.
Most of the newer model washing machines have a variety of water temperature and water level settings. If your machine
has these options as push buttons rather than knobs you would turn, you should change the position ever so often to
ensure the panel does not freeze up. Unfortunately, both Whirlpool and Maytag have this problem.
Periodically check the drainage hose to ensure there are no kinks that would cause the pump action to be slowed or
stopped.
Some washing machines have a lint trap similar to that of a dryer, therefore, check that after a few loads to make sure
it is clean.
By following a few simple guidelines, you can help even the older model washing machine last many years. If you are in
the market for a used washing machine, keep in mind that the problem could be something very simple to fix overlooked
by the seller.
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