Gauteng · Local appliance technicians
How much does it cost to fix a washing machine?
It depends on which part has failed. A blocked pump filter costs nothing. A pump, belt, door seal or hose is a normal repair. Drum bearings and control boards are the expensive ones, and the technician should say which it is before quoting.
Why there is no rand figure here
Each technician we work with prices their own jobs, and the one who takes yours quotes before any work starts. We are not going to copy a figure off another website or an industry average instead. You would plan around it, and it would not be the price of your repair.
What we can tell you is what moves the price and what to ask, so the quote makes sense and two quotes can be compared.
The longer answer
Do the free checks first. A machine that will not drain often has a blocked pump filter behind a small flap at the front. One that will not spin is often just an unbalanced load. Clear the filter and spread the load before anyone books a call-out.
The everyday repairs are a drain pump, a drive belt, a door seal, a door lock or a hose. They are standard parts on most makes, and the model number tells the technician which one to bring.
The two big ones are drum bearings and the control board. On many newer machines the bearings are sealed into the drum and are replaced with it, which can make the repair cost more than the machine is worth. That is the moment to ask whether to repair or replace.
What decides the price
| Call-out and diagnosis | Usually charged whether or not you go ahead, because somebody drove out and opened the machine. Ask up front whether it comes off the bill if you do go ahead. |
|---|---|
| The part | Most of the cost on most repairs. Whether it is still made matters as much as what it is: an obsolete part on an older machine is the usual reason a repair stops being worth it. |
| Still under warranty? | If it is, the manufacturer's authorised service agent should do the work. Letting anybody else open it can void the warranty, which is a much bigger cost than the repair. |
| Repair or replace | A rule of thumb worth applying: if the repair is approaching half what the machine is worth today, and the machine is past halfway through its life, it is usually the wrong spend. Ask the technician what they would do. |
| Front loader or top loader | The make, the model and the type decide which part fits and how long it takes to get at. Send the model number from the sticker inside the door when you message. |
Ask before they start
- Which part has failed, and can you show me?
- If it is the bearings, are they sold on their own or only with the drum?
- Is the part in stock, or does it have to be ordered?
- Is the call-out taken off the bill if I go ahead with the repair?
- Is the part new or reconditioned?
- Under the Consumer Protection Act, parts and labour carry three months. Are you giving longer, and in writing?
- Is it worth fixing, honestly, or should I put the money towards a new one?
- Is that including VAT?
Questions people ask
Is it worth repairing a washing machine?
For a pump, belt, seal or door lock, usually yes. For drum bearings sealed into the drum, or a control board on an older machine, the repair can come close to the price of a new one. Ask what has failed and what it costs before agreeing.
Why does a washing machine repair start with a call-out fee?
Somebody drives out and finds the fault before anything is fixed. Ask before they come whether the call-out is separate and whether it comes off the bill if you go ahead.
The job, and other price questions
Tell us what is wrong
Takes under a minute. An appliance technician near your area phones you back and quotes before any work starts. There is nothing to pay to be put in touch.