For repair technicians, buying a broken machine of a popular brand (like Whirlpool, Maytag, or Samsung) is like buying a discounted parts warehouse.

If the bearings are gone (listen for a loud "roaring" sound when you spin the drum by hand), the repair is usually too labor-intensive to be worth it.

Stick to "direct drive" models or brands with widely available parts.

Whether you’re looking to save the planet by refurbishing or just want a cheap fire pit for the backyard, buying a broken washing machine is one of the smartest "trash-to-treasure" moves you can make.