Summer Storm Takes Out Washing Machine

Let me relate an expensive and frustrating lesson I learned firsthand recently. I am sure you have heard many environmentalists tout the virtues of unplugging your appliances when not in use. Appliances can drain a steady stream of electricity when not in use but left plugged in. While this is a low-level drain, it is still a drain and collectively, it can have a high impact on electrical use. It is called “vampire load” and the name is appropriate.

I have heeded their advice, for the most part. I unplug my cell phone charger, I use surge protectors on many of my outlets and turn them off when I’m not using things. But let me tell you about another way that plugged-in appliances harm the environment and your wallet. Our town had a power outage a few weeks ago and when the power came back on, there was a power surge. It killed my cable box, which wasn’t too big of a deal. But the most devastating loss of the outage was my washing machine. A few years ago, I traded in my old, 1980’s model washer and dryer for a new energy efficient front loading set. I spent a little money on the pair and I have been happy with the purchase since the start. However, a few days after the outage, I went to do a load of laundry but when I hit the start button . . . nothing. I checked the circuit, it had been tripped but resetting it did not fix the problem. I checked the outlet to see if the problem was in the wall but no, the outlet was fine. My relatively new, high efficiency washer was fried!

I had a decision to make. Do I have the machine fixed or do I buy a new one? It is fairly new and works great (except for the no power part). But I am a woman with a budget. Can I afford a complex repair to a computerized machine? I called the local appliance repairman and explained my predicament. They actually had many similar calls after the power outage so they assured me that it would be a relatively simple fix and they gave me a budget of about $200.00. This was doable (but still uncomfortable) but well below the cost of a new washer so I agreed to the repair. It was not as simple as that. Four house calls, four days off work and $500.00 later, my somewhat new washer was good as new again! Do I regret the decision to repair vs. buy a new one? Many have asked but my answer remains the same – no. If I trashed this perfectly good washer, I would have contributed a big hunk of metal to the landfill prematurely. With good care, this machine should last me another 10 years or so.

The lesson here is that repair is a viable option, or at least one we shouldn’t dismiss right away. We sometimes have a tendency to subscribe to a “disposable” mentality. But this adds unnecessary bulk to our landfills. Many people who I spoke with during this ordeal thought they would have bought a new one instead of choosing repair. Sure, I could have bought a new washer for about the same as the repair cost, but why? Of course, each decision on repair vs. replace needs to be made on a case by case basis, taking into consideration the age of the item and the cost for repair. But take some time to think it over and try to reduce waste when possible.

The other lesson, unplug your appliances – including your washing machine! I bought a simple stick-on hook that I attached next to the outlet. I unplug and hang the cord there so I don’t have to climb over the washer to find the cord when I want to use it. It is so easy! Take inventory of your electrical items and see if there are ways that you can make unplugging easy and convenient. Such a simple practice can save you a little on your electricity bill and save you from an unnecessary repair bill. However, I would draw the line at your refrigerator. Leave that one plugged in!

Originally posted on www.greenwala.com on 7/15/2010