Washer and washing machine repair in Ottawa and Gatineau
RepairWell repairs washing machines in homes and businesses across Ottawa and Gatineau. A technician comes to you, diagnoses the fault ($89 + tax for an electric home appliance, $129 + tax for a gas appliance, a business or a Thermador, Miele, Viking, Wolf or Fisher & Paykel model; waived when you proceed with the repair) and gives you the finding in writing before any work.
Most washing machine calls come down to water that won't leave, a drum that won't turn, or water where it shouldn't be. Each of those has a handful of possible causes, from a sock in the drain pump to a failed motor control board, and the price difference between them is large. RepairWell finds the actual cause, writes it down with the cost, and lets you decide.
We repair front-load, top-load (agitator and impeller), stacked laundry centres and compact washers in houses, townhouses and condo laundry closets across Ottawa and Gatineau. Condo closets and second-floor laundry rooms shape the job as much as the machine does, and the technician plans for that before arriving.
Pick a preferred day and arrival window online; we confirm by email once a technician is assigned.
- $89 + tax diagnostic ($129 + tax gas, commercial or high-end brands), waived with repair
- Written finding
- 90-day warranty on parts replaced
- Insured
- English & French
Washing machine problems we fix
Pick the symptom for safe checks you can do first, or book and tell us what it's doing.
- Water left in the drum at the end of the cycle
- Drum won't spin or clothes come out soaking wet
- Water on the floor
- Machine walks or bangs in the spin
- Nothing happens when you press start
- Door stays locked after the cycle
- Drum won't fill or fills slowly
- Grinding, squealing or a roar during spin
- Washer smells musty or mouldy
- Top-load washer not agitating
- Washer stops mid-cycle
Types and configurations we service
- Front-load washers — Door boot, drain pump filter and bearing problems are the typical reasons for a visit; most models also need the machine pulled forward to service.
- Top-load with agitator — Older and simpler; lid switches, drive couplers, belts and transmissions are the usual repairs.
- Top-load high-efficiency (impeller) — Suspension rods, drain pumps and control boards; long cycles and unbalanced loads generate many of the calls.
- Stacked laundry centres and washer-dryer combos — One cabinet, two appliances; access takes longer and the dryer sometimes has to come off to reach the washer.
- Compact and condo washers (24-inch) — Common in downtown Ottawa and Hull condos; parts are model-specific and often ordered.
Parts we commonly test and replace
- drain pump and filter
- door lock and lid switch
- door boot and inner door glass
- inlet valves and pressure sensor
- drive motor, belt and coupler
- suspension rods, dampers and counterweights
- drum, spider and bearings
- control board and user interface
Repairs a technician may recommend
- Clear the drain pump and filter and, if the impeller is damaged, replace the drain pump
- Replace the door lock assembly or lid switch
- Replace the door boot (gasket) on a front-loader
- Replace suspension rods, dampers or shock absorbers and re-level the machine
- Replace the drive belt, motor coupler, clutch or transmission on top-loaders
- Replace the water inlet valve, pressure switch or hose assembly
- Replace the motor control board or main control after confirming the fault
- Replace drum bearings or the outer tub assembly where the finding shows it's worth it
Possible causes behind the symptoms
These are possibilities, not a diagnosis. The technician confirms the cause on site and writes it down before any repair.
A drain pump filter or pump impeller blocked by coins, hair pins or a small sock, which GE lists as a cause of slow or no draining
A drain hose kinked behind the machine, pushed too far into the standpipe, or lifted higher than the pump can push (GE gives about 2.4 m, or 8 ft, for standard models)
A worn door boot, a cracked drain hose, or a loose fill-hose connection at the tap
A failed lid switch or door lock, so the control refuses to spin
An unbalanced or very small load that the machine cannot bring up to speed
Worn suspension rods or shock absorbers, or shipping bolts never removed on a front-loader
A worn drive belt, motor coupler or clutch on top-loaders; a failed motor control board on direct-drive machines
A failed drum bearing or spider on a front-loader, which is the expensive one
Safe checks before you book
- Open the drain pump filter door (usually a small panel at the front of a front-loader) and clear it with towels ready; check your manual first
- Look behind the machine for a kinked drain hose or one that is pushed deep into the standpipe
- Rebalance the load: take out a heavy towel or add two similar items, then rerun a spin
- Make sure the detergent drawer is fully closed; GE notes some front-loaders won't spin with it open
- Check the taps are open and the fill hoses aren't kinked, and test the outlet with a lamp
- Unplug the washer for a minute and try again; a control reset clears some locked-door conditions
Stop using it if
- A burning rubber or electrical smell from under the machine
- Water leaking near the outlet, a power bar or a laundry-room heater
- Loud metal-on-metal grinding in the spin, which can mean a bearing or spider failure that will damage the tub
- The drum won't stop or the door lock won't release with a full drum of hot water: cut power at the breaker and call
Never work on gas lines, wiring, refrigerant or microwave components yourself.
Washing machine repairs we've done
Real photos from RepairWell jobs. No stock images.
What to expect during diagnosis and repair
The technician asks what the machine does and doesn't do, then runs it: a short fill, a drain, a spin. Water left in the drum is traced from the pump filter back to the hose and the standpipe; a spin fault is traced from the lid switch or door lock through the motor and its control; a leak is found by running the cycle with the panels off and watching. You get the written finding with parts, labour and total before anything is replaced. Pumps, locks, lid switches and belts are commonly on the truck. A door boot or a control board is usually ordered by model number. Bearing and tub work is a longer job and the finding will say whether it makes sense against replacement.
On an LG? Our LG washer repair guide explains the LG error codes, links symptom guides and covers what’s specific to LG washing machines.
Repair or replace?
Drain pumps, door locks, lid switches, belts, valves and suspension parts are modest repairs and almost always worth doing. The two repairs that change the calculation are the drum bearings on a front-loader and the transmission on an older agitator top-loader, both of which are labour-heavy. On a machine under about seven or eight years old they can still be reasonable; on an older one the finding will show the repair total against a replacement, and we will tell you which we would choose. Stacked and compact condo machines lean toward repair because the replacement has to fit an exact opening and be carried in.
Our repair-versus-replacement method →
What moves the price
The diagnostic visit is $89 + tax, waived when you proceed with the repair, and the quote is given on the spot. Gas appliances, commercial equipment, and Thermador, Miele, Viking, Wolf and Fisher & Paykel appliances: $129 + tax. Businesses: $129 + tax for any commercial appliance.
- Clearing a blockage versus replacing the pump
- Front-loader boot and bearing jobs take much longer than top-loader repairs
- Access: stacked units, condo closets and second-floor laundry rooms add time
- Model-specific control boards and door locks may need ordering
- Whether the drain hose or standpipe needs correcting
- Second appliance diagnosed on the same visit: $45
How the fee works → · Preparing for the visit → · Washing machine repair cost in Ottawa →
Serving
Ottawa (central), Downtown Ottawa, Centretown, The Glebe, Nepean, Kanata, Stittsville, Barrhaven, Orléans, Gloucester, Manotick and Riverside South, Gatineau (secteur Gatineau), Hull, Aylmer, Buckingham and Masson-Angers, Chelsea and Cantley, Rural Ottawa (Carp, Richmond, Greely, Navan, Cumberland), Kemptville, Carleton Place.
York Region: Aurora, Newmarket, King City, Richmond Hill and everywhere within 40 km of Aurora (York pricing on those pages).
Washing machine brands we service
Brand-specific repair and error-code guides
Independent service; manufacturer names and logos identify the brands we service and imply no affiliation.
What customers say about our washing machine repairs
I had a problem with my washer. The technician was very professional and quickly solved the problem. I am very satisfied with the service. Highly recommend!
Real reviews from Google. Read all our reviews on Google
Washing machine repair questions
Straight answers before you book. Anything else, call or text (613) 880-3013.
The washer hums but won't drain. Is that the pump?
Often, but not always. A blocked filter, a jammed impeller or a failed pump all sound similar. GE says a washer that fills and only hums needs service; the technician confirms which it is before quoting.
Why does my front-loader smell, and can you fix it?
Residue in the boot and drum from cold washes and liquid detergent is the usual cause. Cleaning the boot, leaving the door ajar and running a hot maintenance wash usually helps. If there is standing water in the drum after cycles, that is a drain issue and we repair it.
My washer shakes hard on spin even when level. What could it be?
Worn suspension rods or dampers, a loose counterweight, or shipping bolts still fitted on a newer front-loader are the common causes. It is worth fixing early, because the shaking wears other parts.
Can you install a new washer, or move ours?
We install washers and dryers: $189 per appliance where the existing connections are in place and correct; anything extra is quoted before we start. Moving an existing machine: ask when you book. See washer and dryer installation for what the service covers.
The door is locked with wet clothes inside. What can I do safely?
Unplug the machine for a minute; many models release the lock once the control resets and the drum is drained. Don't force the door. If it stays locked, book a visit and we'll release it and diagnose the lock or drain fault.
Do you repair washers in condo buildings with limited access hours?
Yes. Tell us the building's rules and elevator booking requirements when you book, and see preparing for a technician visit.
Are the same technicians repairing commercial laundry?
RepairWell services residential and commercial appliances. Coin-op and heavy commercial washers vary by make; call with the model and we'll confirm on the phone.
Sources
Sources checked 2026-09-24.
From the repair blog
Repair stories and guides, with real photos from our work.
Book a washing machine diagnostic
Tell us the symptom and your postal code. You'll get a confirmed window, then a written finding before any repair.
Pick a preferred day and arrival window online; we confirm by email once a technician is assigned.
- $89 + tax diagnostic$129 + tax for gas or commercial appliances and for Thermador, Miele, Viking, Wolf or Fisher & Paykel; waived when you proceed with the repair
- Written finding on every visitCause, price and our repair-or-replace verdict
- 90-day warrantyOn parts replaced; labour depends on the work done