Dryers are generally the cheaper of the two to fix — their common failures (belts, thermal fuses, heating elements, rollers) are inexpensive parts. Washers get expensive when the failure is structural: drum bearings or an outer-tub problem on a front-loader can approach the cost of a new machine. Every visit starts with a $100 diagnostic/service call, credited toward the repair if it’s completed on that same visit; beyond that, cost depends on which part failed, so ask your technician for an itemized quote once they’ve diagnosed it. Here’s what each symptom usually points to, plus the repair-versus-replace lines that actually matter.
Washing Machine Repair Costs
| Repair | Symptom It Fixes |
|---|---|
| Pump filter / coin trap cleanout (free, DIY) | Won’t drain — try this first |
| Drain pump replacement | Won’t drain, hums during drain, drain error codes |
| Door lock / latch (front-loader) | Won’t start, door won’t release |
| Lid switch (top-loader) | Fills but won’t spin |
| Drive belt | Drum won’t turn, burnt-rubber smell |
| Water inlet valve | Won’t fill, fills slowly, fills when off |
| Shocks / suspension rods | Violent shaking, walking across the floor |
| Control board | Dead panel, erratic cycles |
| Drum bearings / outer tub | Jet-engine roar on spin |
The bearing trap deserves its own sentence: a front-loader that has gotten progressively louder on spin until it roars almost always has failed drum bearings, and on many models that repair means splitting the machine and replacing the outer tub. It’s the washer repair we most often advise against making on machines out of warranty.
Dryer Repair Costs
| Repair | Symptom It Fixes |
|---|---|
| Thermal fuse | Runs but no heat, or completely dead |
| Heating element (electric) | Runs but no heat — full guide |
| Igniter / gas valve coils (gas) | Gas dryer tumbles but won’t heat |
| Drive belt | Motor runs, drum doesn’t turn |
| Drum rollers / idler pulley | Thumping or squealing while tumbling |
| Cycling thermostat | Overheats or underheats |
| Blower wheel | Weak airflow, long dry times, rattling |
| Motor | Hums but won’t start, shuts off mid-cycle |
| Exhaust vent cleaning | Long dry times; prevents repeat fuse failures |
The $100 diagnostic/service call is not credited if parts must be special-ordered or a return trip is needed. Stacked units, pedestal installs, and premium brands (Speed Queen commercial-style, European compacts) can add to labor or parts. Prices may vary case by case — your written, itemized quote is the real number.
One pattern worth knowing: a dryer that blows a thermal fuse, gets fixed, then blows it again months later doesn’t have a fuse problem — it has an airflow problem. A lint-restricted exhaust vent makes the dryer overheat until the fuse does its job. Pay for the vent cleaning with the fuse and the cycle stops. It’s also a fire-safety issue: our dryer vent cleaning guide covers it.
Repair or Replace?
Washers and dryers typically last 10 to 13 years (full lifespan guide). The lines we draw honestly:
- Repair without hesitation: belts, fuses, elements, rollers, latches, lid switches, pump cleanouts — at almost any age, these are cheap enough to be worth it.
- Do the math first: drain pumps, inlet valves, control boards, motors on machines past 8 years. The 50% rule applies: over half the cost of a comparable new machine, replace.
- Usually replace: front-loader bearings/outer tub out of warranty, cracked drums or spiders, a board plus something else on the same visit.
Check your machine’s age from its serial number with the Appliance Age Decoder — brands like Whirlpool, GE, and Samsung all encode the manufacture date.
What You Can Check Before Paying Anyone
- Washer won’t drain? Clean the pump filter behind the front-loader’s lower access panel and check the drain hose for kinks — the full walkthrough is here. This resolves a big share of “broken washer” calls for free.
- Electric dryer runs but won’t heat? Check both breakers. Electric dryers use a double 240V breaker; if half trips, the drum spins but the element gets nothing. (Full guide.)
- Machine shaking violently? Check that it’s level and that a front-loader’s shipping bolts were removed (a machine that has recently moved house is the classic case).
- Error code on the display? Look it up before assuming the worst — our error code hub covers Whirlpool, GE, LG, and Samsung. Many codes point to a hose or filter, not a part.
Get a Straight Answer on Your Washer or Dryer
Texas Temp Masters repairs all major laundry brands across Central Texas — and when a repair isn’t worth making, we say so before you spend.
Helpful resources:
- Washing Machine Not Draining — the free fixes first
- Dryer Not Heating — diagnose electric and gas
- How Long Do Washers and Dryers Last? — lifespan and what shortens it
Call us at (817) 704-0706 for washer and dryer repair — a $100 diagnostic fee, credited toward the fix when completed on that same visit. If a technician is already in your area that day with an opening, same-day service is billed as that standard $100 call; if not, same-day emergency dispatch may be available instead for a flat $300 up front (authorized by you first, replacing the $100 rather than adding to it) — call to check the day’s schedule and pricing for your area. These prices may vary case by case.
