A broken fridge or washing machine can be a nightmare, but there are some warning signs they're about to fail, according to a report from Reviewed.com.
The website, which is affiliated with USA Today, asked the product engineering director for Sears Home Services how consumers can know something is wrong with an appliance.
Two things consumers can keep an eye on with their their refrigerators: noise and cooling.
Any rattling or suddenly louder noises is a sign the compressor is failing.
Also, if the fridge is not cooling the way it should, it might be the sign of a leak.
Expert said the number one “tell” for problems with a washing machine is noise.
A grinding metal-on-metal sound is a sign something is about to break.
In many cases, consumers can fix these problems, but repairs might cost the same as buying a new one.