Doug from A&E Factory Service came last week to fix our dryer. It'd been broken for several months, but we were just living with it since mom usually hangs all our laundry in the sun anyway.
The problem was whenever we opened the door to the dryer, it would not stop. I had to unplug it to make it stop. I did learn later that I could have just turned the entire dryer off manually to make the dryer stop rotating, but I didn't know that.
I forgot that we'd bought the extended warranty and it was still valid. I found the warranty when I was actually looking for the LifeProof iPhone cover guarantee.
Doug found the problem right away. He said the door switch was broken.
A new door switch would have cost $34.15 + labor.
Doug removed the top of the dryer so he could remove the broken door switch.
Art and I hovered over him watching everything he did. Art, the engineer was fascinated, I know.
Besides, if it broke again, he'd know what to get and how to replace it.
I asked Doug if Maytag was still a reliable dryer and he said he felt it was.
Art has been wanting a front load washer and dryer for the longest time because he'd heard it used less water. The salesperson at the appliance store had told us that it wouldn't be a good idea with Hawaii's salt air, especially since our washer and dryer is outside. Doug said he thought it would be fine because most of the electrical systems are protected these days.
It was a quick fix and we had a great time chatting with Doug talking about how Hawaii has changed, vanishing opihi, living on the leeward side, etc. He gave us what would have been the bill. It could have cost us $193.88! Our extended warranty was $69. It's one of the rare times it actually paid to buy that extended warranty.
Woo hoo!
The problem was whenever we opened the door to the dryer, it would not stop. I had to unplug it to make it stop. I did learn later that I could have just turned the entire dryer off manually to make the dryer stop rotating, but I didn't know that.
I forgot that we'd bought the extended warranty and it was still valid. I found the warranty when I was actually looking for the LifeProof iPhone cover guarantee.
Doug found the problem right away. He said the door switch was broken.
A new door switch would have cost $34.15 + labor.
Doug removed the top of the dryer so he could remove the broken door switch.
Art and I hovered over him watching everything he did. Art, the engineer was fascinated, I know.
Besides, if it broke again, he'd know what to get and how to replace it.
I asked Doug if Maytag was still a reliable dryer and he said he felt it was.
Art has been wanting a front load washer and dryer for the longest time because he'd heard it used less water. The salesperson at the appliance store had told us that it wouldn't be a good idea with Hawaii's salt air, especially since our washer and dryer is outside. Doug said he thought it would be fine because most of the electrical systems are protected these days.
It was a quick fix and we had a great time chatting with Doug talking about how Hawaii has changed, vanishing opihi, living on the leeward side, etc. He gave us what would have been the bill. It could have cost us $193.88! Our extended warranty was $69. It's one of the rare times it actually paid to buy that extended warranty.
Woo hoo!
Glad you got your dryer fixed. We can't dry our washing on lines in our neighborhood. It is against the HOA rules, so we have to rely on our dryer.
ReplyDeleteWe had a rule like that in Illinois too. Although they said you could hang it in the back where nobody could see it, people really didn't. I did for a few years which astonished the neighbors, but then gave up when we built the renovation to the house.
DeleteI saw an article recently about front-loading washers and the danger of their developing mold. I'd check into that before purchasing one. Just a word of caution. Congratulations on having a working dryer again!
ReplyDeleteI saw that too. Art just wouldn't believe it since his sister has one in California. However, now that he's heard from -L and L...w and you, he's giving up.
DeleteThat was a lucky impulse, to get the extended warranty. I find that my things tend to fall apart apart three weeks after the warranty expires.
ReplyDeleteOh definitely! We've had that happen more than once or a dozen times, I'm sure.
Deleteglad your dryer is fixed now!
ReplyDeleteThat is great news, Kay. I don't usually buy extended warranties on anything, but I might have to reconsider, after reading this. :-)
ReplyDeleteWe usually don't buy extended warranties, but for just a few things we do. I think Consumer Reports did a report on what things you should get the extended warranty for and maybe AARP also.
Deletethats a great savings, I'm still smiling about doing wash outside, I can just see me digging through a snowdrift to get to my washer, ;), I have wash day envy,,
ReplyDeleteMy mother had to buy a new dryer a few weeks ago. The one stopped working and the guy rewiring the electrical wire at the house got it back on but with no heat. The delivery guys come to the house and plug in the new dryer and it's turning on but with no heat.
ReplyDeleteTurns out it was like a bad fuse. Whoops.
Ooopsie! :-)
DeleteSounds like your extended warranty was a good idea, especially until the manufacturers can "Hawaii-proof" items! DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteGood for you. I'm sitting here like Art fascinated. What a deal. :)
ReplyDeleteLike you, I watch in case it should happen again and is something I could have fixed. I never buy an extended warranty but this time it proved to be just the thing. Nicely done.
ReplyDeletedon't you love time like that...lol!
ReplyDeleteEven if you would have had to pay $194 for the repair, that's still a whole lot cheaper than a new dryer. Have you priced those machines lately? Maybe it's because I want one with all the different settings, but they are very expensive. I think you should keep fixing the old ones as long as you can. I love my dryer and will gladly pay to have it repaired should it need be.
ReplyDeleteIf you ever do get a front loader just make sure you do all the things you need to do to maintain the sweet odor. For some reason mine came with an unpleasant odor and I have been trying to wash that out. There are many more things you will have to do with a front loader than with a top loader to keep bad moldy odor at bay. Keep the door open or make sure to get one that can hold the door ajar. Wipe the seal and door after use. Rig up a fan to the back vent so it will dry it and keep air circulating between uses and keep it sweet. Clean the lint filter twice a month. Run the tub clean cycle once a month, more if it stinks. AND be careful about putting in too much HE detergent. It could suds over.... if you have soft water that could make you have to measure your detergent very carefully and match it to the amount of laundry in there.
ReplyDeleteWhen you go to buy, find out which ones have a "Quck Wash" cycle that is short enough for you.
I just got a front loader last week.
~L.
What ~L said....that is the reason we opted not to go with front loaders. It would be a challenge to remember to keep the doors open and not banged closed by accident, whereas a top load lid can stay upright. Our high efficiency washer uses one third the water as our old non HE, weighing the wash each time before it fills and it spins the water out with greater force so the dryer needs less drying time. We've had our LG washer and dryer for a year and so far we're pretty satisfied.
DeleteL...w
I'm determined to reduce our water and electric bill as low as it can go....which means higher efficiency appliances. Next in our sight is an electric vehicle with a decent range. On that, I'm hoping time will make electric vehicles more reasonably priced as technology catches up.
DeleteL...w
Thank you very much -L and L...w! I've heard the reports about the mold and odor and have tried to warn Art, but he wouldn't listen to me. It took the both of you to finally convince him to stay away from it.
DeleteWhen we lived in San Francisco, the laundry room had both top loading and front loading machines for the same cost to do a load of wash. Sometimes, if the top loaders were in use, I would use the front loaders. Now, right there that should tell you something. Those front loaders were not popular. They definitely take longer to do a load of wash, you cannot open them after you start them unless you go through a series of steps, and I felt they were much harder on the clothes. Everything I took out seemed to be wrung to the inth degree.
DeleteMy mother had an ancient dryer with the same problem but she actually liked it & never had it fixed. She discovered that the clothes didn't wrinkle as she pulled each one out to hang or fold & the rest kept tumbling. My dad kept offering to have it fixed for her but she loved her new "function." When the dryer finally died for real & she had to get a whole new dryer, she asked how to make the door switch malfunction like her old one. Like me, she hates to iron. ;)
ReplyDeleteGee... That didn't occur to me, but now that you mention it...
DeleteWoo hoo! indeed. That just never happens.
ReplyDeleteIt's cool that you found your extended warranty! Sometimes they do pay off.
ReplyDeleteWe have a front loading washer at the Whidbey cabin, and the odor is a problem. We must leave the door open when it is not in use.
Glad to hear the good news. Doesn't it feel good when these things get taken care of? It's one thing to hang your clothes outside just because you want to. It's another thing altogether to be forced to do it. Yea to Doug.
ReplyDeleteThis is what my son-in-law would do!
ReplyDeleteWatch like mad.
He used to run his car on cooking oil, though. Seriously.
You folks have so much fun!