Rant: My washing machine flooded my kitchen last Tuesday and I fixed it with a $3 part

I was making dinner when I heard a weird gurgle from the laundry closet. Opened the door and there was an inch of water on the floor. The machine was mid-cycle and just dumping water out the bottom. Panic mode. I pulled it out, unplugged it, and mopped up the mess. After a quick search online, I figured it was probably the drain pump hose. Took the back panel off, and sure enough, the little plastic connector on the hose had cracked. Drove to the appliance parts store, bought a new hose for three bucks, and swapped it in twenty minutes. The whole thing was less about skill and more about not being scared to open it up. Has anyone else had a simple fix save them from a huge repair bill?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_dylan4mo ago

Totally get that. It's amazing how many appliances fail from cheap plastic bits. My dryer stopped heating because of a ten cent thermal fuse. Dishwasher wouldn't drain, just a clogged filter under the spray arm. YouTube tutorials make it possible for anyone. The hardest part is just convincing yourself to take the first screw out.

lewis.diana4mo ago

My fridge door hinge snapped from a three dollar plastic bracket.

spencer_johnson222mo ago

My dad's 1998 Kenmore fridge that's still running with all original parts would beg to differ. I've seen people toss out perfectly good fridges because they couldn't be bothered to look up a replacement hinge online for like eight bucks. Half the time these "snapped" parts just need a dab of super glue and some patience while it cures. Not saying yours isn't a real issue, but I've fixed three different fridge door hinges over the years with nothing but a screwdriver and a YouTube video. Your mileage may vary, but I think we jump to "this plastic crap ruined everything" way too fast.