13 washer/dryer problems you’ll regret ignoring

This is one to look for especially if your dryer is in an enclosed tight space or up against a wall. “Condenser tumble dryers can be installed just everywhere in your home, but if the space is less than ten square metres, or [has] poor ventilation, expect condensation, mould, mildew, and even flaking paint to appear,” Smith says. Even just a smell of mould can be indicative that you have a bigger problem. When you’re installing a new machine, “make sure to place the machine in a well-ventilated and large enough room,” Smith says. She suggests measuring a minimum of 20 millimetres between the edges of the dryer and all of its surroundings.

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In addition to the dryer itself, the hoses that feed it can show signs of wear, too, and you should keep an eye on them as well. “An eroded drain hose can cause a water damage situation, costing you a lot of nerves and money down the drain,” Smith warns. To prevent this, she says to “look for bubbles, discoloration, and blisters along the hose and replace them right away if you notice damage.” She says that once you have new hoses, it’s a pretty straightforward repair, but you should hire a pro if you’d rather be safe than sorry.

You know washing machine leaks (even small ones) are an issue, but you should also keep an eye on the way water behaves inside your machine. “If it’s not filling up the way it used to be, there may be problems with the hose, taps, filters, inlet valve or water control unit,” says David Cusick, Chief Strategy Officer at House Method. That’s a whole lot of potential problems, so you might want to call in an expert to get to the bottom of it. Jordan Collins, home appliance expert at Two Lions 11, adds that you’ll also want to keep an eye on how the water in the washing machine empties. “If you spot that, once finished, the washing machine still has water in its drum, be sure that there’s a fault,” he says. Specifically, there’s probably a drainage issue or blockage. And, finally, if it seems to be draining too fast, that could signify that you have a leak on your hands.

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Is your washing machine failing at its one job? “There’s nothing more frustrating than waiting all that time for your washing machine to finish its cycle, only to find out that your clothes are no cleaner than when they went in,” says Josh Brooks of OnBuy.com. Luckily, though, he says that this could be a quick fix: specifically, a clogged detergent tray. “Over time, bits of residue can combine together, making a sticky mess that prevents your detergent and softener from travelling down to your clothes,” Brooks specifies. “To fix this, simply clean out both your detergent and filter drawer before loading up your laundry and starting the next wash cycle.” With any luck, that’ll fix the problem. You should also make sure you’re not overstuffing the machine. That can short-change the clothes-cleaning process too.

Check out these handy hints that make doing the laundry less of a hassle.

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Source: RD.com