Life Expectancy of Front Loading Washing Machines

Life Expectancy

• Front-loading washing machines have average lifespans of 12 to 14 years, according to HouseLogic, which is similar to top-loading machines. Front-loading washers have doors on their fronts through which clothes are loaded into the washer, hence the name. Clothes are dropped into top-loaders through a door in the top.

Treat Washers Well

• The lifespan of a front-load washer, like most appliances, depends on the care you give it. Read and follow the manufacturer's instructions. The owner's manual will tell you, for example, how much weight the washer's tub will accommodate. In general, most front-loaders wash better with larger loads, according to Lowe's. But really big loads should be broken up into smaller loads to extend the motor's lifespan. Overloading can also add pressure on hoses, causing them to burst.

Provide Balance

• Make sure that the wash load is also balanced and that the washer's feet are level. Washer parts can wear faster with unbalanced heavy loads, and added vibrations from a machine that isn't sitting level can also damage washer components and shorten life expectancy.

Replace Hoses and Belts

• Keeping water faucets in good shape and replacing incoming hot-and-cold hoses every five years, even if they look fine, also helps to keep washers in top shape. Older hoses generally become brittle and more likely to burst. To increase hose lifespan, Rosie on the House suggests replacing rubber hoses with flexible, stainless steel hoses, which can take higher water pressure. Appliance Repair Buena Ventura recommends turning faucets on and off before and after washing to extend the life of hoses and to prevent hard-water buildup. Check that drain hoses do not have kinks that impair draining, which might cause the pump to burnout. Also, replace worn or stretched belts, which make the washer work harder than it should.

  If you're taking a long vacation or are otherwise not expecting to use your washer for a while, Lowe's advises turning off the water flow to the washer, as constant water pressure can cause leaks or make small ones worse.

Cleaning

• Avoid both mildew and odors by keeping the washer door open between washings to let the drum air dry. If your washer doesn't have a self-cleaning cycle, Good Housekeeping recommends adding liquid chlorine bleach to the dispenser and running a normal cycle with hot water, or using a cleaner specifically intended for washing machines. To prevent it from becoming moldy, a front-loader's rubber gasket, which is the rubber that seals the door and outside of the machine from the tub, should be wiped after each washing. (And be careful of the gasket when loading and unloading clothes.) Good Housekeeping also advises cleaning the inlet hose filter inside water inlet connections. The filter prevents minerals and debris in the water from getting inside the washer.

Replacement

• Washers will naturally need more repairs as they near the end of their expected lifespan. Consumer Reports recommends replacing appliances when repairs will cost more than half the price of a new one.