Washing machines are designed to last for a long time and as such, not many homeowners pay much attention to keeping them well maintained. As long as it is doing your laundry, chances are you do not give this workhorse much thought. However, the heavy usage that these appliances are put through will make them susceptible to wear and tear over time if they are not receiving regular care and maintenance. Spotting the signs of this decline is crucial to ensure that the problem does not become exacerbated and compromise the functionality of your appliance. So how do you know if your washing machine requires appliance repairs?

There is always water left behind in the drum

If you have finished doing your laundry but find there is still some water that is standing in the drum of your washing machine, chances are there is something that requires repair. The first thing that you should do is take out all your laundry to ensure that none of your clothing items has become entangled in the drains, causing a blockage. If this is not the case, then the underlying problem could be a hose that has developed a clog. On the other hand, it could also be caused by a water pump that has started to malfunction. You would be best advised to cease using the washing machine until a professional technician has had the chance to fix the problem.

The washing machine has started to be loud

Your washing machine may vibrate and hum while it is in use but these noises should not be overwhelming. When you begin to notice that your washing machine has started to develop extreme clunking noises or is visibly shaking when it is in use, chances are there is a serious problem at hand. If this begins to happen mid-cycle, the first thing that you should do is open the washing machine and ensure that your laundry load has been distributed evenly in the washer. In some cases, the loud clanking may be caused if heavier laundry items, such as blankets, have become tangled around the washing machine's centre. Rearranging your laundry load or decreasing the number of garments in the machine should be able to sort this out. However, if this is not the issue, the underlying problem could lie with the washing machine's motor mount. Alternatively, its drum could have come loose—this would have to be inspected by a professional technician.