my washing machine is dying

[pianistimo]

it started making occasional noises. now, it's constant "brawwr, brawwrr, brawwrr" everytime it goes around.  i feel like it's going to walk out of the laundry room on it's own.  if ti's not one thing it's another.  how long do washing machines last anyway?  we bought it new about 10 years ago.  it's a kitchn-aid and lasted pretty well until now.  maybe it's just a part that needs fixing.  how do you know when you should just ditch the whole thing?

[contrapunctus]

Buy a new one, did you know that things today are bilt with intentional obscelesence? That means they are designed to only last  a certain amount of years/uses. So ditch it.

[ted]

We just keep on using our appliances until they crash completely. Our washing machine is into its eleventh year, the fridge into its twenty-fifth and the stove is at least forty years old. The small cost of a diagnostic visit from a serviceman is usually easily justified before taking any action and spending a lot of money. At least you will be certain that replacement is absolutely necessary.  I hazard a guess in your case that mechanical parts are wearing out and one day everything will come apart with a crash during the spin cycle;  that's what happened with our first machine. On the other hand if it's just a couple of bolts getting loose you've saved yourself a big expense.

I am just tight by nature and actively go against the philosophy of imposed consumerism. If it isn't provably necessary to buy a new version of anything I do not do so.

[pianistimo]

come apart during the spin cycle?  yes!  that's what i'm afraid of.  and, i agree - if we can just get the serviceman over quickly.  of course, murphy's law rules our house.  my four yr. old daughter went swimming the day before, and occasionally gets sick from accidentlly drinking pool water.  so of course, last night threw up on the couch/blankets/clothing.  so the washing machine cannot just be silent.  i have to hear 'brawwr, brawwr, brawrr...'  i'm  going crazy.  must call 'appliance wizards.'  hopefully the cost of repair/parts won't outweigh just buying a new one.  we usually do what you do ted.

[pianistimo]

this happens every year at least once.  everything goes wrong in two or three days time.  now our 2nd car won't even turn over.  second child is sick.  can someone just shoot murphy.  ok.  this is only a few hours later - a half can of soda (whoever put it in the fridge is in trouble) spilled all over the middle shelf of the fridge.  arrgh.  my earphones won't work now (was enjoying listening to the audition room thread until now).

[ted]

I always think of John Cleese when that happens to me. He once said in an interview that he had a lot of mental problems until he realised that, contrary to what we are inclined to expect, it is actually abnormal for things to go smoothly and normal for things to go wrong. It is normal for the coffee to be cold, the car not to start, the bus to be missed and the power to go off. He said that, having accepted that these things were going to occur, he found he could be reasonably happy.

[berrt]

this happens every year at least once.  everything goes wrong in two or three days time.

So hopefully, youre through with it for this year -

[pianistimo]

thank you, ted and berrt!  it wasn't a laughing matter earlier but you've both lightened my load now.