Had a customer in Ann Arbor teach me something about old washers

I was at a house call for a 1980s Maytag, and the owner, a guy named Frank, just watched me work. He said, 'You know, the hum on that motor is the same pitch as my old record player when it needs a new belt.' I'd never thought to listen to appliances like that before. Now I always try to hear the hum first, before I even open my tool bag. Anyone else pick up a weird trick from a customer?

3 comments

3 Comments

davidkim4d ago

Frank's out here tuning his appliances like a symphony conductor. Next he'll be telling you the spin cycle is in the wrong key. Some people just have a gift for hearing the music in the mundane, I guess.

shane_hayes4d ago

Seriously? That's a bit much. It's just a washing machine, not a concert. I get listening for weird noises, but comparing it to a record player is a stretch.

pat_stone4d ago

Actually, the comparison makes sense if you think about it. A record player needs a steady surface to work right, and so does a washer on a spin cycle. It's all about balance and vibration. If the floor isn't solid, everything starts shaking and making noise. Maybe it's just me, but I've had both go wrong for the same reason.