A washing machine that stops halfway through a load leaves you with a drum full of water and a basket of wet clothes. We repair washing machines at home across Johannesburg, from compact front loaders in flats to big top loaders in busy family laundries. The technician comes to you, finds the fault and tells you what the repair involves and what it will cost before any work starts.
We work on the machines you find in South African homes, including Defy, Samsung, LG, Bosch, Whirlpool, Hisense, AEG and Speed Queen. If yours is showing an error code, note it down or take a photo of the display. It points the technician straight at the right part of the machine.
Common washing machine faults we fix
Won't drain
Water left in the drum at the end of a cycle usually points to a blocked pump filter, a kinked or blocked drain hose, or a drain pump that has failed. Coins, hair clips and tissues are regular culprits. Our guide shows you how to check the filter safely.
Won't spin
A machine that washes but won't spin may have an unbalanced load, a drain fault (machines won't spin while water is still in the drum), worn carbon brushes, a broken belt, or a motor or control fault. See washing machine not spinning.
Leaking
Water on the floor can come from a perished door seal, a loose or split inlet hose, a cracked detergent drawer housing or a leaking pump. Where the water pools tells the technician where to start looking.
Door won't open
Front loaders lock the door during a cycle. If it stays locked afterwards, the cause is often water still in the drum, or a faulty door lock or control.
Not heating
Clothes coming out cold, or not as clean as they should be, can mean a failed heating element, a faulty temperature sensor or a control fault.
Banging or grinding
Banging during the spin is often an unbalanced load or worn shock absorbers. A rumble or grinding that gets louder over weeks usually means worn drum bearings, one of the bigger repairs.
Won't start or stops mid-cycle
A dead machine can be as simple as a faulty plug, a tripped circuit or a door switch. A machine that stops mid-cycle and shows an error code is telling us where the fault is.
Smells or leaves marks on clothes
A musty smell or grey marks usually come from detergent and fabric softener building up in the drum, door seal and drawer. A slow-draining filter makes it worse.
Is it worth repairing a washing machine?
Usually, yes. Pumps, door seals, door locks, belts, carbon brushes, heating elements and inlet valves are standard repairs, and on a machine that is otherwise sound they cost far less than a new washing machine. The bigger jobs are drum bearings, a damaged drum or tub, the motor and the main control board. On an older machine, those are worth weighing up against the price of a new one.
If you're not sure, try our repair or replace check. It looks at the machine's age and the size of the repair, and gives you a plain answer. If the technician thinks a repair isn't worth your money, they'll say so.
Front loaders and top loaders
Front loaders use less water and usually spin faster, which gets clothes drier, but their door seals and drum bearings work hard. Top loaders are simpler and cope well with heavy loads, but they rely on a gearbox or a direct-drive motor that wears over time. We repair both, along with washer-dryer combinations.
Keeping your machine running
A few habits keep a washing machine out of trouble for longer:
- Clean the pump filter every few months, more often if you wash work clothes, towels or pet bedding.
- Fill the drum, but don't pack it. Overloading strains the bearings, the belt and the motor.
- Use the right amount of detergent. Too much leaves residue that blocks filters and causes smells.
- Leave the door and the detergent drawer open after a wash so the seal can dry out.
- Check the inlet hoses once a year for bulges, cracks or drips at the tap.
- During long power cuts or load shedding, switch the machine off at the wall so a surge can't reach the electronics when the power returns.
No call-out fee when we repair it.If no repair is done, a R500 call-out applies. The technician finds the fault and explains the repair before any work starts, so you decide whether to go ahead.
Book a repairWashing machine repair questions
Why is my washing machine not draining?
Usually a blocked pump filter, a kinked drain hose, or a drain pump that has jammed on a coin or a hair clip. Check the hose behind the machine, then clean the filter at the bottom front with a towel and a tray ready. Our guide to a washing machine not draining walks you through it safely.
Why is my washing machine not spinning?
Most often it senses water it can't drain or a load it can't balance, so it refuses to spin rather than shake itself apart. Clean the filter, spread the load out and try a spin-only programme. If it still won't spin, a belt, the motor or a sensor is at fault: see washing machine not spinning.
Why is my washing machine making a loud noise when it spins?
A rumble or roar that grows as the drum speeds up usually means worn drum bearings. Banging points to an unbalanced load or worn shock absorbers, and a rattle can be a coin caught between the drum and the tub. Check for loose items first. Worn bearings get worse quickly, so book a technician before they do more damage.
What does the error code on my washing machine mean?
It tells you which part of the machine has a problem, and codes differ by brand and model. On a Samsung, 4C or 4E points to the water supply and 5C or 5E to draining; on an LG, IE is a water inlet error and OE a drain error. Check the table in your manual first. If it doesn't help, photograph the display and the model sticker, and book a technician.
How much does it cost to repair a washing machine in South Africa?
It depends on what has failed. A blocked filter, a door seal or a door lock is a small job. Drum bearings or a control board are much bigger ones. The technician finds the fault and tells you the price before any work starts. No call-out fee when we repair it. If no repair is done, a R500 call-out applies. See how our prices work.
Is a 7-year-old washing machine worth fixing?
Usually, yes. A seven-year-old machine that's otherwise sound is worth fixing for a pump, a door lock, a seal, a belt or a heater. The case to think twice about is worn drum bearings on a machine with a sealed tub, where the repair price gets close to a new machine. Our repair or replace check does the sum with you.
Why is my washing machine not working after a power outage?
Often the electronics just need a reset, or something tripped when the power came back. Check the plug point and the DB board, switch the machine off at the wall for a few minutes, then on again and choose drain or spin. If it's still dead or shows an error, the surge may have damaged the control board: book a technician.
How do I get my washing machine door to unlock?
Front loaders keep the door locked while there's water in the drum or the lock is still warm. Wait a few minutes after the cycle, then run drain or spin to empty it. If the drum is empty and the door is still locked, many machines have an emergency release cord behind the filter hatch: use it only once the water is out. Book a technician if it's still stuck.
