A few days ago, our washing machine broke. We bought it new last autumn that means it's less than one year old 😢
The cause may have been a small coin left in my daughter’s pocket. Somehow, the coin got inside the machine and seems to have hit a plastic part while the drum was spinning, making a hole and causing water to leak.
Of course, it was my responsibility to check the pockets properly. But having a small coin in a pocket really such a rare situation? Was I simply lucky that none of my washing machines had ever broken like this before, or are newer appliances just built more carelessly? I was honestly surprised that something so small could cause such a damage.
The repair by the manufacturer would cost several hundred euros. At that point, buying a new washing machine could almost make more financial sense, which felt something wrong to me. Throwing away a large appliance because of one damaged plastic part just did not feel reasonable. Could it be made in the way easier to replace parts???
We had already opened the back panel to clean up the leaked water, and we were told that this kind of damage was not covered by the warranty anyway, so we decided to repair it ourselves.
Looking online, we found that other people had experienced similar problems. Learning from their repairs, we decided to use plastic repair putty that hardens after application. We sanded the damaged area, degreased it using cleaner I normally use for my 3D printer, applied the putty, and waited for it to cure.
So far, it works!
We have already tested a normal 40°C wash cycle, and the machine does it job.
Moments like this make me happy to be a “maker,” and remind me how important a maker spirit can be.
In our society, when something breaks, it is often easier to buy a new one than to repair it. Manufacturers do not always seem to design products with long-term repair and maintenance in mind.
Of course, experiences vary between companies and even between individual staff members. But in our case, two out of three people we talked on phone from company S spoke to us in a rather arrogant way. The technician who came to inspect the machine was also quite blunt and spoke as if we were simply to blame, so in the end we asked him to leave.
It made me wonder: where is the pride in making things? Where is the responsibility for the products we create?
Since I also make things part of my work, I felt there was a lesson in this experience for me as well.
I am genuinely happy that our washing machine is working again. When it gets a little colder, we will nervously try the dryer function too... Fingers crossed that it survives that test as well!
Happy making 🛠️
先日、まだ購入して一年もたたない洗濯機が壊れました 😱
原因は子供のポケットに入っていた小銭・・・かな？この小銭が洗濯機の内部に入って、スピンする時にプラスチックの部品にあたって、穴が空いたようで、水漏れしました。
ポケットの小銭をきちんとチェックしなかったのは私の責任ですが、小銭などの小さなものがポケットに残っているってそんなにレアケースなのかな。これまで私の人生でこんなふうに洗濯機が壊れなかったのは奇跡だったのか、それとも近年の製品の作りが甘いのか。こんなことで壊れるんだとびっくりしました。
メーカーの修理には数百ユーロかかるとのことで、下手すると新しいものを買った方が金銭的にはメリットがあることになり、簡単に洗濯機のような大きなものを捨てることに違和感を感じました。
漏れた水を掃除するために背面パネルは開けてしまっているし、こういう修理は保証対象外とのことで、自分たちで直すことにしました。ネットで見てみると、こういう故障をした人たちは他にもいるようで、先人たちの知恵に学んで、硬化するタイプのプラスチックパテを使って補修してみることにしました。割れた部分をやすりで整えて、3Dプリンタのクリーナーで脱脂して、パテを盛って、固まるのを待って完成。今のところ、40度の通常洗いコースではきちんと使えています。
こういう時、「メイカー」でよかった、「メイカースピリット」って大事だなと思います。今の社会では、何かが壊れると「修理する」より「新しいものを買う」ほうが簡単なことも多いです。メーカー側も、必ずしも長く修理しながら使うことを前提に作っているわけではないようです。メーカーごとの違い、担当者ごとの違いはあると思いますが、うちであたったS社の担当者は3人中2人は人を見下したような態度、修理に来てくれた会社の人もぶっきらぼうで私たちを責めるような言動があってお引き取り願いました。ものを作る誇りは？責任は？と思ってしまいます。ものを作ることを仕事にしている私への教訓でもあるように感じました。
洗濯機がまた動いてくれて本当にうれしいです。もうちょっと寒くなったらドキドキしながら乾燥機もまわすことに・・・無事動きますように！
Happy making 🛠️