Same-day service available across Ottawa and Gatineau. Washer leaking, not draining, roaring on spin, or dead on the floor with a load inside, and you are trying to decide whether to fix it or replace it? This guide is the math B&M Canada Appliances uses when a technician is standing in a laundry room in Barrhaven, Kanata, Orléans or Aylmer and has to give a straight answer. The short version: most washer faults are cheap to fix; one of them is not, and that one decides. Call 613-301-0016 for a same-day diagnosis.
In business since 1995 • 3-month warranty on repairs • Bilingual technicians • Honest answer, both numbers
Service call: $89 + tax residential ($129 + tax commercial). That covers travel and a full diagnosis; the technician then quotes a firm repair price, tells you what a comparable new washer costs, and you decide.
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🔧 Washer repair Ottawa
The 50% rule for washers
If a repair costs more than half the price of a comparable new washer, replace it. A mid-range washer in Ottawa runs roughly $900 to $1,500 new, so the 50% line sits around $450 to $750. Almost every washer repair lands well under that: pumps, valves, lid switches, door locks, belts, shocks, boots and even most boards. One repair does not: the tub bearing (and, on older top-loaders, the transmission). That single fault is why the washer decision is more interesting than the dryer one, and why the machine’s age matters more.
Decision table by age
| Washer age | Recommended action | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 years | Repair, including a bearing | Most of the machine’s life is ahead of it; even the expensive job resets it for years. |
| 6 to 10 years | Repair anything except a bearing or transmission; compare on those | Pumps, valves, locks, boots, shocks and boards are easy math. A bearing at this age is the classic 50% moment. |
| 10 to 14 years | Repair cheap parts; replace on a bearing, transmission or board | Remaining life is shorter, so the ceiling drops to roughly 40% of new. |
| 14+ years | Replace unless the part is trivial | A new HE machine uses far less water and power; the old one has done its job. |
Repairs that almost always pay off
- Drain pump or pump filter clean-out (will not drain, error code). See washer not draining in Ottawa.
- Water inlet valve (will not fill, or keeps filling).
- Lid switch or door lock (will not start, or will not unlock). See washer not starting in Ottawa.
- Drive belt, coupler or clutch (will not spin or agitate). See washer not spinning in Ottawa.
- Door boot on a front-loader (leaking at the door). See washer leaking in Ottawa and front-load washer repair in Ottawa.
- Shocks, dampers, springs, suspension rods (shaking, walking). See washer shaking in Ottawa.
- Fill hoses (leaking at the back). Replace with braided stainless; the cheapest flood insurance there is.
The repairs where the math gets harder
Tub bearing (front-load) or rear bearing/seal (top-load). The roar on spin that gets louder every week. Replacing it means splitting the outer tub, and on some models the bearing is not sold separately, so the whole tub assembly is the part. This is the one washer repair that routinely crosses 50% on a machine past eight years. Under six years, do it; six to ten, compare; past ten, usually replace. See washer making noise in Ottawa.
Transmission or gearcase (older top-loaders). Labour-heavy and the part is not cheap. Same age logic as a bearing.
Main control board or motor control board. Usually still under 50%, and boards often come back as refurbished OEM with a warranty. On a washer under eight years, repair. Past ten, compare, and check availability first.
Direct-drive motor or stator (LG, Samsung). Less common than the internet suggests; the hall sensor is the usual culprit and is cheap. A true motor failure on an older machine is a comparison.
Typical Ottawa repair ranges by part are on our washer repair cost in Ottawa page.
Four things that tip the answer toward replacement
- A bearing on a machine past eight years. The big one.
- Two expensive faults at once. A bearing and a board, or a pump and a motor, on an older machine.
- Rust through the cabinet or a cracked outer tub. Structural faults on an old washer are not worth chasing.
- You want a stacked pair, a different size, or an HE upgrade anyway. Put the repair money into the new set and let us do the washer and dryer installation in Ottawa properly, with new hoses and the drain at the right height.
Four things that tip it toward repair
- The fault is on the “always pays off” list. That is most washer calls.
- It matches a dryer you are keeping, especially a stacked pair where a new washer may not take the old dryer.
- It is a simple, well-built machine: a Speed Queen, an older Whirlpool or Maytag direct-drive top-loader, a basic Kenmore. These are built to be repaired for decades.
- Delivery, haul-away and hook-up. The sticker is not the whole price of a new washer.
What the diagnosis gives you
The technician reads the fault codes, finds the fault, spins the drum by hand to feel the bearing, checks the pump, valves, lock, shocks and hoses for wear, and gives you two numbers: the firm repair quote, and a realistic replacement figure for a comparable washer. Then it is your call, with no pressure either way; we repair washers and we install them, so we have no reason to steer you. The diagnostic is $89 + tax residential ($129 + tax commercial), charged whichever way you decide. Every repair carries a 3-month warranty on parts and labour. After 9 PM and before 7 AM a $100 flat emergency fee applies on top of regular rates. Addresses more than 30 km from downtown Ottawa may carry a travel charge, confirmed when you book.
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Brand notes from Ottawa homes
Whirlpool and Maytag top-loaders are cheap to keep going; their front-loaders are known for bearing wear past eight years. Samsung and LG direct-drive front-loaders have cheap pumps, locks and sensors but pricier boards; check board availability on units past ten years. Frigidaire and Electrolux compact front-loaders in Centretown condos are repairable but their bearings are a tub-assembly job. Across the river the same rules apply; see washer repair in Gatineau and, in French, prix de réparation de laveuse à Gatineau.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth repairing a 10-year-old washer?
For a pump, valve, lock, belt, boot or shocks, yes. For a tub bearing or transmission, usually not; that is the one repair that crosses the 50% line on an older machine. The technician gives you both numbers.
How long should a washer last?
Ten to fourteen years is typical; simple top-loaders and commercial-grade machines often go much longer. Overloading and too much detergent are what shorten a washer’s life.
My washer roars on spin. Is that the bearing?
Almost always. A roar that gets louder week by week, sometimes with rust-coloured water, is the tub bearing. Age decides whether to repair it; see the table above.
Should I replace the dryer at the same time?
Only if it is also failing or you want a matched stacked pair. A working dryer does not need replacing to match a new washer.
Do you charge the diagnostic if I decide to replace?
Yes. The diagnostic ($89 + tax residential, $129 + tax commercial) covers the visit and the assessment, and it is charged whichever way you decide. You get a firm repair quote and a realistic replacement figure to compare.
Can you install the new washer if I replace it?
Yes. The same crew fits new braided hoses, sets the drain height, removes the transit bolts and levels the machine, and handles stacking kits. See our washer and dryer installation page.
