Our washing machine broke last week and the first thought was to buy a replacement but I wanted to at least attempt a repair first.
The machine would still fill and empty water, but the dishes remained dry and there was a burning smell. So, I unplugged it, tipped it over and popped open the bottom cover.
Aside from the controller, the dishwasher was very simple: a drainage pump, a circulation pump, a heating element and some solenoid valves. A multimeter showed the (main suspect) circulation pump still had continuity which narrowed the search down to the pump’s starting capacitor. Seven euros and a few days later and it’s back in action!
The simple fix really gave me a sense of joy and satisfaction. It feels great to extend the use of something that I already have rather than need to consume more.
Can anyone relate? Any good repair stories?
I’m a big fan of the right to repair movement.
I keep having better salaries in time. I noticed, I still manage to not save any money from one year to the next. Why? Objects require maintenance/repair/cosmetic care a lot faster than I can afford to keep replacing them. Buying something new feels profoundly shallow and ungrateful based on what good objects I have. Example: i had a xiaomi robot vacuum. Almost replaced it when I realised I’m better off replacing the battery (that’s what I assumed was broken). For 20$ i extended its life for another 2-5 years. Respect for the object, respect for the time I spent earning how much it cost, and by extent, respect for myself and my life.