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I just moved into an apartment 2 weeks ago. The landlady has said she would repair the dishwasher or replace the dishwasher on numerous occasions, but she is a ditz and has now delegated this project to me.
The spring in the dishwasher door is broken. When you open it, it slams onto the floor. The dishwasher isn't anchored to the counter, so it moves around as you are opening/closing, etc. The previous tenant has pulled it out because there was insulation on the floor. There is also a very musty odor in the kitchen. I have my dehumidifier placed right next to the dishwasher and it is pulling out a gallon of water per day. (I live 3 miles from the ocean in what is essentially a reclaimed swamp so I'm not surprised that I need a dehumidifier). But I'm starting to wonder if the musty odor is caused by some sort of leak...the tenant pulled the dishwasher out, then jammed it back in to avoid dealing with it.
Is it possible to replace the spring in the door or should we get a whole new dishwasher??? (landlady is okay with either, she just can't decide and is out of town due to family emergency)
If we have it repaired we can take care of any leak and have it attached correctly. OR we can replace it and also resolve all those problems.
I have no idea how much repairing a dishwasher door spring would cost. Advice please!
The landlady should take responsibility for repairing, or replacing the dishwasher. It's part of the apartment right? Is there something in your lease that places responsibility on you? You shouldn't have to put up with a musty odor either. I would take a look at your lease and see where you stand. If you try to repair and botch it up, that's on you. If she is okay with either, get a new machine and make sure it's installed correctly. This shouldn't be on you, but look at the lease.
Put this back on the landlord. You don't know how much damage the previous tenant did. Once you start working on it, you're going to own all the problems and then some, whether you're the cause or not. Flakey landlords are going to twist everything and make it all your fault and will expect you to pay for it. It doesn't sound like your experience at this location is going to have a happy ending.
The landlady should take responsibility for repairing, or replacing the dishwasher. It's part of the apartment right? Is there something in your lease that places responsibility on you? You shouldn't have to put up with a musty odor either. I would take a look at your lease and see where you stand. If you try to repair and botch it up, that's on you. If she is okay with either, get a new machine and make sure it's installed correctly. This shouldn't be on you, but look at the lease.
Good luck!
I'm just trying to find out the information since she is out of town dealing with a family emergency. I would not actually do the repairs myself. She is willing to pay.
I just want to know of the repair of the spring in the door is expensive. New dishwasher on clearance at Lowes was $385.
About the most I would do in your shoes is try to contact an appliance store for a free examination and estimate. If the landlady refuses to pay and you have made the deal... you see where that is going. Any approval MUST be directly through her, not you.
FWIW, replacing a spring is nothing if you can find the proper part. Leaks could be anywhere in a kitchen and unrelated tot the washer, so the mold issue needs to be handled individually. I''d be poking around under the sink, pulling the refrigerator forward, and removing the access panel at the base of the dishwasher to look for leaks and mold. Sum total, that is about a half hour of peeking around with a good flashlight and using a screwdriver on a couple of screws.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Go for a new one. We had a DW that wouldn’t pump out the after and the tech even advised us to go new, though it was only 4 years old. Not only would it have been $400 to fix, but every year they become more efficient, using less water and electricity. Also, MUCH quieter.
It depends on make/model, but the spring for the door is often a spring, a nylon cord, and a plastic connector. The repair kit is about $50. Your landlady would have to pay a plumber for repair, minimum charge is likely to be in the $200+ range.
If there is a water leak due to a corroded fitting, broken drain or supply hose, etc that will be an additional cost as well.
If she can get a new one installed for the $400-$500 range, that would be her smart choice.
As a tenant you have done enough.
If you were a reasonably handy homeowner I would pull it out, find the source of the leak, if any, order parts and replace.
My wife suggested that you thoroughly document everything that's going on, take pictures, write notes. Just to protect yourself if or when you move. You don't want to lose your security deposit through no fault of your own.
My wife suggested that you thoroughly document everything that's going on, take pictures, write notes. Just to protect yourself if or when you move. You don't want to lose your security deposit through no fault of your own.
Well, she didn't keep the security deposit of the tenant who took the washer and dryer when she left, and she didn't keep the security deposit of the guy who broke the dishwasher (Because IMHO that spring did not just break spontaneously) so I'm pretty confident she's going to give me my deposit back!
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