The best solution I've found to make electronic timers, and electronic devices in general, last and operate problem free is to simply unplug them or some how turn off the electricity to the device when not in use. Give them at least a half an hour per day not energized.

Pull the plug on that electronic washer when it's not in use. Or install a timer.
So easy.

This also holds true for cel phones, modems, and computers.

But I can bet that's TOO EASY, yes too easy for some and there are those who will scoff at the very notion.


For those who scoff and fail to implement such a simple idea that works- you deserve the problems you'll get.

Evidence this works?

When you call your cable company because you're having problems with your modem, what is something they are sure to suggest? "Can you please unplug it for at least 60 seconds?"
Sometimes they will suggest a total disconnect from the coax and power BECAUSE any type electric charge will maintain potential virus infections.

If you have problems with your cel phones, tablets, and other wifi devices, removing the battery and letting the device sit will often allow virus infections to be eliminated. I've experienced this several times.

Removing the battery on standard computers does a similar thing.

I purchased a $300 "NEW" but not charging smart phone for $60 in 2018. In original case and everything. It wouldn't recharge and thus wouldn't stay on.
I removed the battery for a half hour. That purged the virus that was keeping it from charging. I had to do that three times in a year and after that, never had the problem again.

On more than one occasion I've found electronic appliances that were giving off excess heat in the computer area and/or they were humming. The appliance itself was fine but the timer/computer, that was always energized, was wearing down and starting to overheat. Why? Because it had always been left ON.


I had a Whirlpool duet Sport washer I bought new. The timer started giving me problems about a year after I bought it.
I realized simply unplugging it reset it AND not leaving it plugged in when not in use solved the problem permanently.
Very simple.



Another ANALOG example. WHY do some people pine for those old appliances with analog timers?
Because they were/are reliable.

They may not have as many functions as an electronic timer but they usually work as needed, when needed.
And why do they work?
Because they are not running when the appliance isn't in use and thus don't wear out prematurely.
You turn the timer on, it turns on the small motor on the timer, it runs the cycle and then turns EVERYTHING on the appliance OFF when done.

An electronic timer doesn't do that. So what happens? They wear out or get infected and aren't reliable.  Typically cost $$$$ to replace.

How many times have we found a stove or wall oven with an analog or electronic clock. One of the problems: the clock no longer works.
Why should it if it's been running ALL THOSE YEARS.

If that analog or even digital clock had a toggle switch to turn it off when it wasn't going to be used for a timer or time baking it's probably fair to say it would still work WHEN IT's needed now.

On the flip side, what if we found that a washer, for example, with an analog timer was made so that timer motor ran ALL THE time and the on/off knob only turned off all the devices in the washer such as the motor,pump, water valve etc.
That timer motor was energized all the time. Do we really think that those old timers on these 50+ y.o. Maytags and others would still be working?

It's the same difference with electronic timers.

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Is it my or your fault that electronic dishwashers, washing machine, microwave ovens, computers, and other ELECTRONIC appliances don't have a HARDWIRED 120 volt ON/OFF switch installed?

Nope. Appliance manufacturers will cut corners where they can even if it means not installing a simple $1 toggle switch that would allow consumers to make a hard break of the 120 volt AC current to the machine.

And if a manufacturer can program in cheap electronic timers so customers have problems....you know the game.

No one in a group like this has any legit reason for not purchasing a few of these toggle switches and installing them in said appliance
AND
getting in the habit of simply cutting the power to those appliances when they are not doing their jobs.

It's also nice to know your electronics are protected from power surges, brown outs, black outs, and lightning strikes.

Another solution for things like electronic timered appliances like water softeners, lawn sprinkler timers, and modems is to install a simple $5 plug in lamp timer on the power plug and turn the power off when you know the appliance won't be running. Turn it off for at least a half an hour at say 3AM everyday. Most of these appliances have memory and will remember commands for several hours.

A refrigerator with an electronic timer: one can simply install an appliance timer at the plug.

Program it to turn off for 15 to 30 minutes in the middle of the night when no one will be opening the door.  That period of time is not enough to affect the temperature.

Cel phones were/are going through a trend of trying to make the battery difficult or impossible to remove.

Why?

In the now struggling and saturated cel phone market, this was a stupid decision, and just gives another reason not to "upgrade".

Not only will it make these devices more difficult to recycle, it's going to frustrate consumers who want/need to do a quick battery swap.

So why do it?  I think its probably because they know they can program in simple viruses that are easily removed by de-energizing (removing the battery) and thus people would be more inclined to buy new when they're having a problem. 

It's also because the policing agencies have installed tracking devices in phones that, when de-energized, stop working. 

I WON'T be buying a product without a removable battery or that can't be modified to get access to said battery.