1. Check washer water fill hoses for cracks, blisters, corroded fittings and leaks. Cracks are a sign of aging and a breakdown of the rubber. Blisters signal a rupture in the inner lining of the hose, which means the hose may burst at any time. Corroded fittings mean the hose has leaked or is leaking now. If you don't replace the hose, you may find the corroded fitting is virtually impossible to remove from the faucet when you need to remove it.

Replace the hoses if they have any of these conditions. (Washer water fill hoses generally need to be replaced every three to five years, regardless of whether there is a visible defect.) RepairClinic.com recommends these stainless steel replacement water hoses.

2. Check that the washer is level and sitting on a well-supported sub-floor. A leading cause of washer failure and customer complaints is a washer that bangs around unbalanced for many loads.

Check to be sure no water is dripping into the washer when it's turned off. If water is dripping in, even just a little, it's a sign the water inlet valve is defective and should be replaced. Use the PartDetective to find a replacement water inlet valve for your model.

1. Dryer lint build up is the leading cause of dryer failures, and it often causes drying times to increase dramatically, which wastes energy and costs more money. Lint build up is also responsible for thousands of house fires a year. It's important to vacuum out the internal ductwork in your dryer. Some disassembly of the dryer might be required to allow access to all of the internal ducts. For the duct leading to the outside of your home, use a dryer vent brush to remove lint build up. We offer 10 ft. and 20 ft. dryer vent brushes, which work great for this messy task.

10 ft. brush
20 ft. brush

2. If your dryer vent is white vinyl, replace it with a rigid or semi-rigid aluminum vent. (White vinyl ducts no longer meet building codes. They are flammable and are less likely to contain vent fires.) You can find replacement aluminum ducts in our dryer accessories section.

Washer and dryer accessories

You'll find more than water fill hoses and dryer lint brushes in our washer and dryer accessories sections. We also carry electrical cords, gentle wash bags, dryer racks and much more. Take a look.

Washer accessories
Dryer accessories