Cost your washing machine repair.

A washing machine repair in the UK typically costs £70–£200 all in, depending on the fault. The classic ones — failed pump, worn drum bearings, broken door interlock, or a leaking drain hose — are well-trodden territory for any appliance engineer and parts are widely stocked for the big brands.

Most machines are worth repairing up to 6–8 years old; after that the maths gets tight, particularly for budget-brand units. A Bosch, Miele or AEG machine is almost always worth fixing — they're built for 12–15 years of service.

Typical repair costs by fault

Bearings replacement is often the threshold case — at £200–£320 it's right on the line where replacement may be the better call for budget machines.

The five-minute checks before you book anyone

• Pump filter — bottom-front of the machine, usually behind a small panel. Coins, hair grips, lost socks and lint clog it. Empty it over a tray (it'll have water in it). This single check fixes a huge proportion of "won't drain" calls.
• Drain hose — check it's not kinked behind the machine, and not pushed too far into the standpipe (siphons water back). The U-bend should be 60–90 cm above the floor.
• Inlet hoses — make sure both taps are turned on and the inline filters at the back of the machine aren't furred up with limescale.
• Spirit level — a machine that's not level will walk on spin and sound like a bag of rocks. Adjust the front feet.
• Error codes — most modern machines flash a code on the display. Look it up against the manufacturer's site before assuming the worst — half the time it's a sensor reset, not a part failure.

When repair vs replacement makes sense

Use the 50% rule: if the repair quote is more than half the price of an equivalent new machine (factoring in spec, energy rating, drum size), replace. A bearings repair on a 7-year-old £350 machine at £270 is borderline. The same repair on a 4-year-old £700 Bosch is a no-brainer.

Also worth thinking about energy use — a new A-rated machine uses ~30% less electricity than a 10-year-old one, recovering some of the replacement cost over its life.

Things people often miss

• Transit bolts — if you've recently moved house and the machine vibrates badly, check the rear: the four transit bolts should have been removed before first use. Easy to forget on a self-move.
• Limescale build-up — hard-water areas (most of southern England) cause heater elements to fail 2–3 years sooner than soft-water regions. A monthly hot-empty cycle with a service descaler extends life noticeably.
• Detergent overdose — too much detergent leaves residue in the drum and dispenser, eventually causing pump and seal issues. Use the half-dose mark for a half-load.
• Standing the machine on a soft floor — vinyl over chipboard amplifies vibration. A non-slip mat or solid plinth makes a noticeable difference to noise and longevity.

Frequently asked questions

Want a local pro to handle this? A washing machine engineer can usually diagnose and fix the common faults in a single visit. Most carry pumps, seals and elements in the van for the major UK brands.