Appliance Spares
Usually, yes. Most washing machine faults are a wear part: a door seal, drain pump, inlet valve, door lock, belt or set of suspension rods. Fitted yourself the common repairs cost about A$35 to A$90 with delivery; with a repairer, about A$230 to A$280. A comparable new mid-range machine is A$900 to A$1,500. Repair while the fix is under half the new price and the machine is inside its typical 8 to 12 year life.
Three ways to fix the same fault.
Take the most common washing machine job, a door seal. Here is what each path costs, before you know anything about your machine.
| Path | Cost |
|---|---|
| Fit it yourselfDoor seal, typically A$49 to A$90, plus delivery. About an hour with basic hand tools. | aboutA$90 |
| RepairerAverage call-out and labour of about A$200, plus the part. | aboutA$280 |
| New washing machineComparable mid-range model, before delivery and removal of the old one. | A$900toA$1,500 |
Estimates, rounded, November 2026. The repairer figure is an Australian average; your quote will differ. New-machine figures are typical retail prices for a comparable machine.
Your machine
Work it out for your fault.
Three answers and the sums are done. Part prices are from our catalogue today.
Fit-it-yourself total is the typical part price plus delivery ($10.60 flat, $14.95 for heavy parts, free over $149). Repairer total adds an average call-out and labour of about A$200. Machines under a year old may be covered by the maker; consumer guarantees may also apply.
What the common faults cost.
Typical price of the part in our catalogue, then the two totals. Most of these are an hour or less with a screwdriver and a torch.
| Part | Part price | Yourself | Repairer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door sealLeaking from the door, or black mould on the rubber | A$49toA$90 | aboutA$90 | aboutA$280 |
| Drain pumpWill not drain, or hums and stops with water in the drum | A$30toA$60 | aboutA$60 | aboutA$250 |
| Bearing kitLoud rumble or grinding on spin, drum has play | A$51toA$66 | aboutA$75 | aboutA$260 |
| Inlet valveWill not fill, fills slowly, or a fill error shows | A$22toA$40 | aboutA$45 | aboutA$230 |
| Suspension rodsBanging or walking on spin, drum sits low (top loader) | A$47toA$70 | aboutA$75 | aboutA$260 |
| Door lockDoor will not lock, or the cycle will not start | A$29toA$46 | aboutA$50 | aboutA$240 |
| Drive beltMotor runs but the drum does not turn | A$19toA$30 | aboutA$35 | aboutA$230 |
| Heating elementWashes cold, or a heating error shows | A$36toA$44 | aboutA$55 | aboutA$240 |
Part price is the middle half of listings for that part type (the top and bottom quarter trimmed), November 2026. Totals rounded up.
Step-by-step guides for the common faults.
Each guide shows where the model sticker is, which part is listed for that brand, and how the job goes.
| Door sealLeaks and mould on the rubber. | Samsung · LG · Hisense · Haier · Fisher and Paykel · Bosch |
|---|---|
| Drain pumpWill not drain. | Samsung · Bosch · Fisher and Paykel · Beko |
| Inlet valveWill not fill. | Samsung · LG · Hisense |
| Suspension rods and door lockBanging on spin; door will not lock. | Samsung rods · Fisher and Paykel lock |
The half-price rule, and when to ignore it.
Repairers and consumer bodies use the same test: if a repair costs more than half the price of a comparable new machine, replace it. Fitting the part yourself puts almost every washing machine fault well under that line, which is why the first table leans so hard one way.
Three cases where the rule is wrong:
- Under a year old. Check the manufacturer warranty before you buy anything; the fault may be covered.
- Past 12 years with a sealed drum. A rumble on spin is the bearings, and on a sealed-drum front loader they cannot be changed. That machine has reached the end, whatever the sums say.
- A control board or motor on an entry-level machine. The part alone can pass half the new price. Get the part price before you decide, not after.
What a new one costs.
| Bracket | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Entry levelTypically 7 to 8.5 kg, basic programs. Hisense, Esatto, CHiQ, Solt and similar. | A$500toA$750 |
| Mid-range8 to 10 kg, inverter motor, steam or quick programs. Samsung, LG, Bosch, Fisher and Paykel, Haier, Electrolux, Westinghouse, Beko. | A$900toA$1,500 |
| PremiumBuilt to be serviced, long parts support. Miele, Asko, AEG, Siemens, Smeg. | A$1,800toA$3,000 |
Typical retail prices for a new front loader, November 2026, before delivery, installation and removal of the old machine (commonly A$50 to A$150 together).
Questions people ask before they decide.
How much does a washing machine repair cost in Australia?
If you fit the part yourself, the common repairs cost about A$35 to A$90 including delivery: a door seal, drain pump, inlet valve, door lock, belt or bearing kit. With a repairer, add an average call-out and labour of about A$200, so most jobs land between about A$230 and A$280. Control boards and motors cost more and are worth a quote first.
Is it worth repairing a 10 year old washing machine?
Often yes, if the fault is a wear part (seal, pump, valve, lock, belt, rods) and you fit it yourself for well under A$150. At 10 years the machine is inside its typical 8 to 12 year service life, but a repairer visit at A$250 to A$400 starts to approach half the price of an entry-level new machine, which is where replacement becomes the sensible call.
What is the half-price rule?
A simple test repairers and consumer bodies use: if the repair costs more than half the price of a comparable new machine, replace it. If it costs less, and the machine is inside its typical service life, repair it. Fitting the part yourself keeps almost every common washing machine fault well under that line.
How much does it cost to replace a washing machine seal?
A washing machine door seal is typically A$49 to A$90 for the part. Fitted yourself, that is about A$90 all up with delivery. A repairer will typically charge about A$280 including the part, call-out and labour.
Can you replace the rubber seal on a washing machine yourself?
Yes on most front loaders. The seal is held by two spring wire bands, one at the door opening and one at the drum. The job takes about an hour with a flat screwdriver and patience, and no part of the machine needs to come off except the door-opening clamp. Our seal fitting guides show it step by step for each brand.
How long do washing machines last?
Typically 8 to 12 years. Front loaders with a sealed drum tend to sit at the low end because the bearings cannot be replaced; machines with a serviceable drum, a top loader on suspension rods, or a machine that has had its seal and pump replaced can run well past 12.
My washing machine is leaking. Repair or replace?
Repair, almost always. Leaks come from the door seal, a split hose, the drain pump housing or the detergent drawer, and each is a part under A$100. A leak only argues for replacement when it comes from a rusted-through outer tub on an old machine.
Washing machine not draining: what does it cost to fix?
Clear the pump filter first; that fixes it most of the time for nothing. If the pump has failed, the part is typically A$30 to A$60, about A$60 fitted yourself or about A$250 with a repairer.
Is a washing machine bearing replacement worth it?
The kit is typically A$51 to A$66, so if you can do the job yourself on a machine with a serviceable drum, yes. With a repairer the labour is the cost: it is a long job and quotes commonly run A$300 to A$500, which fails the half-price test against an entry-level new machine.
What does a repairer call-out cost in Australia?
About A$200 is a fair average for call-out plus the first block of labour, before the part. It varies by city, by brand specialist and by whether the repairer has to come back with the part, so treat it as a planning figure, not a quote.
My washing machine is under a year old. Should I still fix it myself?
Check with the manufacturer first. A machine under a year old is usually inside its warranty, and consumer guarantees may also apply; a fault in that window may be repaired for nothing.
Should I bother repairing a cheap washing machine?
If you fit the part yourself, yes: a A$90 seal on a A$500 machine is a small fraction of its value. A repairer visit on an entry-level machine is the one case where the sums often say replace, because the call-out alone is close to half the new price.
Sources: part prices from the Oz Appliance Spares catalogue, November 2026. Repairer figure is an Australian average of call-out plus the first block of labour, rounded to the nearest A$50. New-machine prices are typical Australian retail for a comparable machine. Service life of 8 to 12 years follows manufacturer and industry guidance. Everything on this page is an estimate for planning, not a quote.
Appliance repairers: trade account holders see trade pricing on approval.
Disclaimer: this article is general information only and is provided without warranty of any kind. Appliance designs vary between models and production runs — always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, switch off and unplug the appliance before starting any work, and confirm parts against the model number on your appliance’s model sticker. Any repair is undertaken at your own risk and Oz Appliance Spares accepts no liability for injury, loss or damage arising from work performed after reading this guide, to the maximum extent permitted by law. If in doubt, use a qualified technician.
