Waywest Mechanical repairs top-load and front-load washing machines in Nanaimo and across Vancouver Island. Technicians fix washers that will not drain, spin, fill or start, that leak or shake violently, or that display error codes, by repairing pumps, lid and door locks, motors, belts, bearings and controls. As a licensed plumbing contractor, Waywest also repairs laundry supply hoses, valves and standpipe drains.
Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM · quotes within the hour
Washer problems we repair
- Not draining — pumps, filters, hoses and drain lines
- Not spinning — lid or door lock switches, belts, motor couplings, motors and control boards
- Not filling — water inlet valves, clogged screens and supply problems
- Leaking — door boot gaskets, hoses, pumps and tub seals
- Excessive shaking or noise — suspension, shock absorbers and bearings
- Won't start — door locks, controls and power issues
- Error codes on front-load and high-efficiency models
Top-load and front-load differences
Top-load washers often fail at lid switches, couplings, agitators and transmissions.
Front-load washers use less water and are gentler on clothes, but depend on door locks, a clean pump filter and a healthy door gasket. Bearing failures, often heard as a loud roar during spin, are a common late-life repair on front-loaders.
Laundry plumbing
Some "washer problems" are actually plumbing problems:
- Standpipe overflowing during drain — often a partially blocked household drain line; see drain cleaning
- Slow fill — clogged inlet screens or old, partly seized laundry valves
- Burst supply hose — the most common source of laundry room flooding
As a licensed plumbing contractor, Waywest replaces laundry valves, braided supply hoses and drain connections during the same visit. For laundry rooms above finished space, a washer drain pan and leak sensor are inexpensive protection.
Prevent the next breakdown
- Clean the front-loader pump filter every few months
- Use the correct HE detergent in the right amount
- Do not overload the drum
- Leave the door or lid open after washing
- Replace rubber supply hoses with braided stainless
Service area
Waywest repairs washing machines in Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Ladysmith, Duncan and across our Vancouver Island service area.
What happens when you call
- A person answers
You talk to the Nanaimo office, or our own crew on the 24/7 line — not a call centre.
- You hear the rate first
We explain the service rate, or the emergency rate after hours, before anyone is booked or dispatched.
- A licensed technician arrives
A Waywest technician with a stocked vehicle diagnoses the problem and explains your options.
- You approve the work
Repairs go ahead once you agree. Larger jobs get a written quote you can take time to consider.
Quick facts
- Emergency service
- 24/7 at 250-616-1446 — typically on site within an hour in Nanaimo
- Office hours
- Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM, 250-729-2394
- Service area
- Nanaimo and Vancouver Island, Victoria to Port Hardy
- Licensing
- TSBC licence LGA0004592; licensed, bonded and insured
- Quotes
- Reply within the hour during business hours
- Page updated
Common questions
Why won't my washer drain?
The most common causes are a clogged drain pump filter or pump, a kinked or blocked drain hose, a failed pump motor, or a blocked household standpipe drain. Front-load washers usually have an accessible pump filter near the bottom front that should be cleaned periodically.
Why does my front-load washer smell?
Odours come from residue and moisture left in the door gasket, detergent drawer and drum. Using too much detergent or non-HE detergent makes it worse. Wipe the gasket after use, leave the door open to dry, and run a cleaning cycle regularly.
How often should washing machine hoses be replaced?
Rubber supply hoses deteriorate and can burst without warning, flooding a laundry room. Inspect them regularly and replace them with braided stainless hoses every several years, or immediately if they show bulges, cracks or leaks at the fittings.
Why does my washer shake so much during spin?
An unbalanced load is the usual cause, but constant violent shaking points to worn suspension springs or dampers, failed drum bearings, or a washer that is not level. Shipping bolts left in a newly installed front-loader also cause severe vibration.
Need this sorted out?
Call the Nanaimo office and talk to someone who can tell you what the work involves and when we can get to it.