The hose on our washing machine broke. The hose has a part number stamped on it, but no manufacturer’s name. It’s a GE washing machine bought from Sears, about 5 years old.
The problem is that we can’t locate the model number of the machine. (Who puts the model number on a sticker under the hood, where it will get wet/steamy and fall off? GE does, that’s who). GE says they cannot re-order the part without the model number. Sears only keeps the purchase records for a year, so they can’t help us.
I did a search for the hose part number online and found a match through Amazon. However, the actual item for sale was linked by model number - the stamped part number was not in the item description. The picture matched, though, so I ordered it…but we got it in the mail today and it’s a different hose/different part number.
Surely there is a way to locate this hose, right? I’m sick at the thought that a $10 part is going to end up costing me a brand-new washing machine.
Ideas, anyone? I will be forever grateful to whoever can help me figure this out…
Washing machine hoses are usually generic. I just replaced mine a couple years ago.
To be safe, bring the old hose to a appliance parts store. I use MidSouth. But check your local area. The bigger stores carry parts for all the major brands. http://www.midsouthparts.com/
It’s probably a standard-ish V belt. If you take the broken belt to a good hardware store, or auto parts store, they may be able to match it.
It’s weird that your first attempt to order a replacement using the number on the belt ( IIRC, GE parts tend to start with something like WW or WH) failed. Did the one you bought have the same number on it?
The one I bought came in a GE bag, with a WH (like you said) model number on the bag. But the number stamped on the belt itself is totally different…it’s a long number that starts with 175. The new one did not have the exact same number as the old one - close, but the last couple of digits were different. It’s also ribbed instead of smooth and a couple of millimeters wider. So I don’t think it will work.
The GE woman told me that they did not manufacture the belts, but she had no way to know which manufacturer “my” belt came from without the washer model number. So frustrating!
ETA: It is strange…when I searched the part number and it came up on Amazon, the picture had the exact same stamped 175 number, so that’s why I ordered it. The belt I got didn’t match the picture on Amazon, though.
In my experience some appliances have the serial number/model number information in more than one place. Can you get to the back of the machine? There may be a plate or label there with the information you need. This drawing shows the location for this information for various GE washing machines.
Just a shot in the dark. But NAPA may be able to match that V belt. There are a lot of standard V Belt sizes. There’s even a gauge that they can use to measure the old belt.
It would be better to get an appliance belt. But, you may find it at NAPA too.
1/2" wide adjustable link belts might work. Sold in a 4’ length and can be shortened. When a 1/2" belt is needed, I’ve found this belt to work as advertised. Search term on Amazon for example is, “Power Twist V-Belt”.
If none of the above helps, take a couple of pictures of the data plate, exterior and interior of the machine and take it to your local independent appliance parts store. Most medium and larger towns have one. The guys who staff those places are usually wizards at identifying models and compatible parts.
Wow, you all are really amazing - thank you for all the advice! I followed Dag Otto’s link and found a product description with the same model number as the one I found on Amazon (which also had the same picture as “my” belt, but the product I received was a different belt). “My” belt ends in P003 but the one I received ends in P001.
Today I did a search on both belt numbers and apparently they are supposed to be interchangeable (including P001, P002, and P003). The new belt has 6 ribs instead of 5 making it about 2 milliliters wider, and appears to be slightly longer (edges of old belt are snapped and frayed so I don’t have an exact length). I’m surprised that would be considered interchangeable, so tomorrow I’m going to take both belts to the hardware store and get some advice.
But at least I feel better that a solution will be found. (And, truth be known, the laundromat is a bit of a pain but it’s also really nice to have the whole week’s laundry done in 90 minutes. So I’m not in a huge rush to get it fixed rightthisminute.)