Need advice on a washer/dryer repair/replacement

[PeterB]

I STF'd first, and had seen some old threads on these kinds of issues... I'm a relatively new homeowner, so this is the first time I've had to deal with something like this.

I have a Frigidaire "laundry center" (integrated washer / electric dryer), where the dryer is no longer working (washer part is still working OK).

I've looked up and found error codes (on a Sears parts site) that the dryer is giving. I called a local repairman and told him about the error codes ... obviously he'd have to come out and look at it to figure out exactly what's wrong, but from what I was describing, he seemed to think most likely was the drive motor... which would not be a cheap repair. (He charges $80 for the service visit and said that if it is the drive motor, the whole repair could end up costing up to $500, $300 or so for the parts and $200 or so for the labor... could be less than that, depending on what's wrong with it.)

So ... I'm looking at a few different options, considering that I'm rather cash-strapped at the moment:

1) Trying to repair it myself; found a pretty good website which has all the parts for sale and tells you what could be wrong under each situation. The advantage here would be the price... the parts are all reasonably priced, and obviously I wouldn't be paying for repair. As you all know, I'm reasonably handy... but I did watch a video on how to take the thing apart, and it's really quite involved, maybe beyond my skill / patience level;

2) Getting the repairperson to just do the repair, and just coughing up whatever cash is required;

3) Maybe considering to buy a home warranty program, waiting a bit, then trying to claim it under that (this would have the advantage of also covering other appliances). Seems like most warranties fall around $500-600/year + $60-80 per service call. I'd previously had a home warranty when I first bought the house, but let it expire... wasn't too impressed with the company or their service;

4) Buying a new (used) dryer or possibly the combo washer/dryer ... these are being sold locally for very cheap, much less than the repair estimate. The problem here of course is that you don't know what you're getting with a used appliance, and also ... since I have an integrated washer/dryer now, if I bought just a dryer, it would mean having to find space for an extra dryer somewhere in the house;

5) Buying a whole new washer/dryer (stackable, would have to be compact to fit in the space where the current laundry center is) ... I have a relative who is willing to help me out with buying new, and I've done some initial research that suggests that LG is a pretty popular brand, but I also notice that the compact versions of washer/dryers seem to get not as good reviews as the normal sized. (The problem for me is that I don't really have anywhere else in the house that I could easily put a whole normal sized washer/dryer...)

What do you all think? Any useful advice appreciated... TiA

[D-Rod]

Maybe post the model and codes and link to the repair site. Someone else might have better insight like on your other project with the battery. If the washer works would they really have a separate drive motor when it goes to dry? That seems strange. Maybe some relay isn’t telling the drive motor to turn on?

[3d]

Like trying to shoehorn a round peg into a square hole. Find a better spot for the new washer and dryer. Yeah, it'll cost some cash upfront. You deserve it. Make the house your own.

I hate corner sinks in the kitchen.
I hate too few closets.
I hate laundry areas that are "hidden" or way too small.

[Speedy]

3d wrote:
Like trying to shoehorn a round peg into a square hole. Find a better spot for the new washer and dryer. Yeah, it'll cost some cash upfront. You deserve it. Make the house your own.

I hate corner sinks in the kitchen.
I hate too few closets.
I hate laundry areas that are "hidden" or way too small.

This^. You won’t regret it.

[mattkime]

I do think you could likely fix it yourself buuuut - what if you buy a part and it doesn't fix it? What if you run into trouble fixing it? Are you okay with those outcomes?


but to echo what others are saying - what would you prefer? If It were me, I'd find room for a new separate washer and dryer and spend more than you're willing, but we're a family of four so we might be doing a lot more laundry than you.

[macphanatic]

Number 3 may be considered insurance fraud in your state.

[mikebw]

Get a new washing machine, keep the drum from the old one and use it as a fire pit. /realtalk

[GGD]

Model numbers and error codes would help. Dryers are very simple appliances, just something to produce heat and something to turn a drum.

Factory manufacturing has gotten pretty good so that everything coming off the assembly line is pretty much identical, and they are all likely to fail in similar ways. Some of the appliance parts sites I use lists the parts by "popularity", so it's a pretty good indicator of what parts will fail first.

Since I don't know the exact model, I just searched on Frigidaire Laundry Center and came up with this page. For the dryer, the drive belt and thermal limiter seem like the most frequent to fail. The drive motor didn't make the first page.

https://www.appliancepartspros.com/parts...42cs0.html
https://www.repairclinic.com/ProductDetail/595595

So, tell us how it's mis/behaving, and more details on the model number and we might be able to diagnose it better than the guy you called and point you to a DIY fix.

[Bill in NC]

Over 20 years I fixed various problems on my old-school Whirlpool dryer:

1. dead heating element (also required new sheet-metal enclosure)

2. dead thermostats (regular, high-limit, and safety all seemed to go at once)

However, when the motor finally died I chucked it for a new one...replacing the motor would have required near-complete disassembly of the dryer, and as I had found during previous repairs the internals were composed of stamped, SHARP sheet-metal (sliced up my hands on previous repairs) so I said" forget it."

[Ombligo]

You said the washer works but the dryer doesn't, and you are short on cash... So two options.

1) Get a used dryer, for now, figure about $150. Continue to use the washer you have. Then start saving and buy both when you can. My son bought a used Whirpool dryer three years ago and it is still going strong.

2) Hang your wet clothes out or take them to a laundromat to dry them for a while. Either will be cheaper than buying and you can save for a new combo even faster. I have taken clothes to the laundry when the ignition on my gas dryer went out. It wasn't that bad and actually faster than doing it at home since I could put all my loads in at once and be dry and folded in about 45 minutes.

you know you want the new units but if you can't afford it right now then just wait a bit.