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 the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- This comes up 48.3× more often in r/appliancerepair than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1checking if the agitator turns both waysDid this help you?
- 2taking the top part off the agitator to check for worn teethDid this help you?
- 3submitting a repair ticketDid this help you?
- 4ensuring the machine is not overloaded beyond 3/4 fullDid this help you?
- 5avoiding delicate cyclesDid this help you?
- 6Check easy components like inlet hoses and door sealsDid this help you?
- 7Clear the filter in the hatch on the bottom leftDid this help you?
- 8Clean the soap dispenser thoroughlyDid this help you?
- 9Turn down the water a little bit on hot and cold tapsDid this help you?
- 10Removing and cleaning dishwasher filtersDid this help you?
- 11Checking sink drain pipe for blockagesDid this help you?
- 12Pouring vinegar into the bottom of the tubDid this help you?
- 13Turning off power at the fuse box to reset the machineDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, 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 ↗
“Currently afford a repairperson so I’m wanting to troubleshoot it myself.”source ↗
“Any help would be appreciated because I have no clue what to do next tbh.”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
- 2New appliance installed wrong and broken
- 6How to identify unknown loose parts found in the washing machine
- 4Why does my washing machine smell musty even with the door open?
- 9Can a chipped washing machine drum be repaired?
- 2How to get a stuck washing machine spider off
- 5Is it worth replacing a noisy washing machine gearbox?