How to tell if a new apartment washing machine is broken
Apartment washing machines often arrive with hidden defects like failing to agitate clothes or leaking water during washes. This leaves tenants unsure whether to attempt DIY fixes or demand landlord repairs, risking unwashed clothes and potential water damage.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1checking if the agitator turns both ways
- 2taking the top part off the agitator to check for worn teeth
- 3submitting a repair ticket
- 4ensuring the machine is not overloaded beyond 3/4 full
- 5avoiding delicate cycles
- 6Check easy components like inlet hoses and door seals
- 7Clear the filter in the hatch on the bottom left
- 8Clean the soap dispenser thoroughly
- 9Turn down the water a little bit on hot and cold taps
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I recently moved to a new apartment and all the appliances are sh!t. So I’ve been checking them one by one and maybe I’m wrong but it seems like my washing machine doesn’t really move while washing. I feel there’s no way my clothes will ever get clean this way. Am I incorrect? Should I ask for it to be repaired? Please help 🫠”source ↗
“Could someone please confirm if this is a problematic sound and, if so, what could be the cause?”source ↗
“I have this washer/dryer that has been leaking water around the highlighted area for a few washes.”source ↗
“Is there anything I can try to fix it myself, before calling a plumber (if it's worth it) or replacing it?”source ↗
“We've almost never tried using it in dryer mode, so the leak has always occurred in washer-only mode.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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- 11Why do modern appliances break down all the time?
- 2Why is my dishwasher wash arm not spinning?