I learned a valuable lesson last week. I need to be better about checking pockets when putting clothes in the wash.
Last week our front-loading washing machine wasn't draining right. When you have four boys in the house, one of which is not quite potty-trained, you need a working washing machine.
At first I took the frugal approach: searching online for answers and trouble- shooting what is in my very basic skill set. (My husband is even less tool-savvy than I am, so not much help there.) But after almost losing some parts inside the machine (parts that should not be lost inside the machine), I decided to call a repairman.
The first guy I called no longer travels to my area. He recommended guy #2. Since I'd had a good relationship with guy #1, I called guy #2.... and called, and called, and got quite the run around. Guy #2 told us he would come on Tuesday. He would call before he came. Guess what? No call, no show. And then, he did the same thing to us Wednesday! When we called Wednesday evening, he said, "Look, I have a lot of customers, what was your problem?" and said he would come Thursday.
At this point, I was frustrated, so my husband asked a co-worker for his opinion. (His co-worker is an appliance repair instructor, so he knows his stuff). He suggested guy #3, who not only returned our calls, but arrived when he said he would and solved the problem!
It turns out that a quarter had gotten caught by the drain hose in our washer. As soon as that quarter was gone, the washer began functioning normally again.
The repair set us back $56, which wasn't fun to pay, but far better than having a broken pump, at a cost of $200, as the second guy had estimated!
I will definitely be more diligent in checking pockets. Our repairman said that it's a common problem: golf tees, coins, empty shell casings (from hunters), and toys, can all end up causing drain problems. I also know how to check that part of the washing machine now if the problem happens again.
I have also learned that I will not blindly accept the first recommendation given to me when it comes to repair people. I'm glad I learned this lesson before it became a very expensive mistake.
And by the way... Guy #2 still has not returned our phone call from two weeks ago!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
The Quarter that Cost $56
6 comments:
This is so frustrating!! I just had a larger object go through my front load - got behind the drum. Not very good - over $500 to replace drum and repair machine - plus 8 days without a washer.
And I thought it was bad that I had to sit at home all day and wait for the repairman to call an show up!
Appliances, computers, cars - why can't they just work???
Thanks for reminding me that I need to be better about checking the pockets.
Good think you got guy #3 - he sounds like the best!
This is probably the most common problem with frontload washers today, and the manufacturers need to make it clear in the owner's manual how and when to check the filter. This shouldn't be a problem which requires a visit by a technician.
That is what happened to us also! Except our 52 cents costs us about $94 to get out of the pump! Crazy. But now I have learned to check the pockets each time!
I found a piece of string cheese in the dryer with the clean and dry laundry last week. I consider myself lucky to find the dried up piece of string cheese, rather than whatever the alternative. How'd that get there? Not sure- however my husband tells me little boys will put anything in their pockets to save for later. I, too, will be more of a vigilante when it comes to laundry day.
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