My washer is broken...

[UlrikeDG]

ILs gave us their old washer when we moved. Yeah, free stuff! Unfortunately, we discovered today that it's leaking. We can't tell exactly where, except that it's not any of the in/out hoses. The water coming out was soapy, and was coming out the bottom-center of the machine. It is an older machine. ILs replaced it when the matching drier died on them last winter. I'm not sure if we'll have to replace it (only possible if we can get a really cheap one or a 2-years-no-interest deal) or if it will be possible to repair it.

I guess I'm looking for advice either way.

[celestialdreamer]

If you or your DH might be able to take it apart to fix it, I would say it would be worth a try since its an older model. I do think that if you take it in some where there is a big possibility that the money spent on it would have just bought you a new model. Sometimes the older ones *are* easier to fix since they dont have the computer issues that the newer ones have. Our dryer broke last year and its a newer model - it took my (very stubborn) DH 3 months and 500 dollars to fix it

[BabyBumblebee]

definitely look up the model online, and check the newsgroups for hints on common problems/how to fix them. you may find that it's a relatively simple and inexpensive fix, especially if you can source the part from a wholesaler.

We repaired our dryer, dishwasher and stove this way....and although it involved some work it was a whole lot cheaper than getting a repairman involved

[melissa17s]

You could put a "wanted: washing machine" on freecycle to see if you can get another hand-me down. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Desmoinesmetrofreecycle/

Or you could call a local repair place and ask if they give quotes...