Start at the machine, not the manual. Stand beside the washer for one full normal cycle, then listen again through the spin. You are building a baseline of how the machine sounds, how it sits on the floor, and how long each stage takes. Write that down in a few plain words. A sign only means something when you can compare it to how the machine used to behave.
What to notice first
Most early wear appears as a change in movement, sound, or time rather than one loud event. Watch for these.
The cabinet rocks or walks across the floor during the spin, even when the load looks evenly spread. A knock or thump that follows the drum around is a different sign from a steady grinding or rumble that rises and falls with drum speed. The second kind points toward the bearings, and a technician is the one to confirm it.
Cycles run longer than the dial suggests, or the drain stage slows down. Water stays in the drum or pools in the bottom at the end of the cycle. On a front-load machine, you may see a damp line at the door seal or a drip under the base after a cycle. A door latch that needs a second try, or a spin that stops earlier than it used to, is also worth logging.
What you can check yourself
Level the machine first. Set the feet so the cabinet does not rock when you push one corner, then lock the feet in place. Many walking complaints end here. Use a small level across the top to confirm.
Check the drain. Look for kinks in the hose, confirm the standpipe is at the right height, and make sure the hose is fully seated. On a front-load machine, place a towel and a shallow pan under the small cover at the lower front, open it slowly, drain the water, and clear out lint, hair, and small objects. Close it fully before running another cycle. The same job may improve a slow drain.
Wipe the door seal folds, since debris in them can cause leaks and odd smells. With the water supply closed, you can also remove the hose ends and clean the inlet screens. Test the load before you judge the machine. One heavy, bulky item such as a thick comforter can cause imbalance that looks exactly like wear. Run a smaller, evenly spread load before you decide the machine has changed.
What to hand to a technician
Bearings, drum noise that tracks with speed, motor faults, control board or water valve problems, pump replacement, and any leak that appears to come from inside the cabinet belong with a technician. So does any electrical work beyond plugging and unplugging the unit. Bring your baseline notes. A technician can act on a specific description of a sound, the cycle stage, and the load size far more easily than on a general complaint.
How age fits the plan
Find the install year on the paper or the sticker inside the door or on the back panel. Then check the clothes washer page for its typical service life and planning window. For a wider view of how the major appliances compare, the appliances ranked by typical service life page sets the same figures side by side.
Age is a planning input, not a verdict. If the machine sits in the middle of its window and the signs are light, check, clean, level, and keep your notes. If the machine is near the end of its window and the signs keep coming back, begin a replacement shortlist while the washer still runs. Measure the space, the water and drain connections, and the door opening before you start looking. That gives you time to choose, rather than deciding under pressure on the day it stops.
What to log
Keep a short running note. Record the cycle, the load size, what you heard or saw, and whether it came back. Three observations across several loads tell a technician more than one vague report, and they show you whether the change is steady or a one-off caused by a load.