Come rain or shine, the washing machine is an appliance which is continuously put through its paces. Such use can, and very often will, take its toll on the performance and efficiency of the appliance.

Keeping your washing machine working to its full potential doesn’t need to be a difficult task. With a bit of regular maintenance you can keep your washing machine working like new for years to come.

To give you a helping hand, we’ve provided this quick guide to three of the most common faults your washing machine could face and how to resolve them. So without further ado….

Leaking Machine:

Any household appliance which uses water has the potential to leak, and the washing machine is no exception. If you’ve found that your washing machine is leaking, before carrying out any repairs, you’ll need to establish where the leak is coming from.

Some of the common places leaks come from are the:

• Detergent drawer
• Door seal
• Hose / Valve

A few simple checks will enable you to find where the leak is coming from, for example by checking there are no signs of damage on the detergent drawer will rule out a leak coming from this area. A quick check of the door seal will also help you to eliminate the seal as the root cause of the leak.

Obviously if either component shows signs of damage, no matter how small it may appear, it should be replaced to keep the washing machine working to its full potential.

If you’ve established that the leak is coming from the back of the appliance, there’s a good chance that the hose is the guilty component. You can check this by making sure your hose is connected to the machine and threaded on. We’d also recommend checking for any splits or holes, and if you spot even the smallest sign of damage to the hose, replace it.

Noisy Machine:

A noisy washing machine may be something which you think you can live with by turning the TV up a notch to drown the sound out or by putting the washing machine on as you leave the house. But ignoring the noise on your appliance will, over time, result in further damage being caused to the appliance.

The most common reason that your washing machine is noisy during its cycle is due to a fault with the drum bearings, which have most likely become worn. You can test this by seeing if the drum feels loose.

That said, faulty bearings aren’t the only reason for your washing machine producing an irritating noise. Loose components inside the machine or the machine not being even on its feet can also cause the appliance to produce a noise. These faults are not only easier but also cheaper to repair than worn bearings, with the latter being cost free.

Smelly Appliance:

You may not think that an appliance which cleans your clothes would become smelly, yet a smelly washing machine is a common occurrence for many of us. The cause of smells within your appliance will be the build up of mould and bacteria within the dispenser drawer and around the door seal.

Tackling such smells is thankfully an easy task, but one which should be carried out regularly. Within our “How to Cure a Smelly Washing Machine” we explain how to remove odours by using limescale and detergent remover you can get rid of and keep unpleasant odours at bay.

Being aware of common faults, having an understanding of how to fix them and carrying out regular maintenance will help you to prolong the life of the machine. So before you put your next washing load on, why not give the washing machine a quick once over?

Tags: Washing Machine Spares