Well Water, Broken Washers, and Guarantees

 As I sit and listen to my dryer tick away, it will have been the third time I have had to empty my stalled washer.  Tonight with a siphon, an amber piece of plastic tubing I have kept since the early 1970's, I retrieved three two gallon pails of water from the stopped washer basket.  (Misty Black basket)  I fixed the washer last night engaging in the process I have learned by rote.  Small thin nails slip through the strainer and clog the impeller.  I knew when I was washing in a rush last week that something would find its way to this impeller.  I have an uncanny sense for things to come.  As I suspected the washer stalled again, and I performed the routine maintenance of tilting it back and removing the hose from the basket to the impeller.  Usually when you tip the washer back up to let its water drain out, the culprit usually drops out on the bathroom floor.  I found a yellow bread tie, but I am not sure it was the item that caused the stall.  I put it all back together and it ran a run of clothes.  It ran fine all the way through the cycle, but the motor was exceptionally loud humming like it was in great pain.  I suspected it was on its last legs, and it was.  Today it stopped again mid wash and would not restart.  I was too tired to take the bathroom door down again, pull the dryer out, and do the routine all over again.  Instead I drained the water out of the basket, six gallons worth, and hand wrung my clothes in the sink.  Now they are drying, so at least I can get closure and think about purchasing another washing machine.  This machine was a Maytag, and it had a five year warranty.  Year six it decides to quit.  Also it has a ten year warranty on parts, but by the time I get a repairman and he orders the parts, I will be in need of clean clothes.  Time for a new washer.  All of this was a distraction from the main event of yesterday, which was the replacing of our backyard well pump.  I was quoted a price for a replacement unit, the same as what we have had for years, and when they came to do the work, "Presto, chango."  This pump was not available, and if it did become available it was going to be $400.00 more than the quote.  Instead they put in a lesser brand of pump with half the horsepower.  Needless to say it does not suck the water up.  It is a drizzle, and a drizzle is not acceptable for the amount of money I paid them.  I knew that this pump was going to be problematic, but they will make more profit from installing it.  If it does not do the job, they must make it right, and that is where we are.  I put a stop payment on the check.  Ouch!  That takes the worry squarely off of my shoulders and puts it on theirs.  It was too much money let the gamble ride.  Let's see what happens.