Village, Winnebago County
Appliance Repair in Machesney Park, IL
Updated
Machesney Park in short
- 362
- mg/L water hardness (21.2 gpg)
- 1978
- median year built (county 1972)
- 92.1%
- heat with gas or propane (county 85.8%)
- 8,577
- occupied homes, 79.6% owned
- 362
- mg/L water hardness (21.2 gpg)
- 1978
- median year built (county 1972)
- 92.1%
- heat with gas or propane (county 85.8%)
- 8,577
- occupied homes, 79.6% owned
Water
How hard the water is in Machesney Park
Hard water is the norm in Machesney Park. Illinois EPA's lab tested North Park Public Water District water 3 times between 2022 and 2026, and the median result was 362 mg/L of total hardness, about 21.2 grains per gallon. The samples ranged from 309 to 367 mg/L, because each well draws on slightly different rock.
North Park Water (the North Park Public Water District) supplies an average of 3.6 million gallons a day to over 35,000 residents in Machesney Park and Roscoe.
Here is where that shows up in a house. GE says hard-water buildup can damage dishwasher components over time and that a freestanding ice maker may need cleaning as often as every six months in hard water, because minerals on the freezing plate stop ice from releasing. Angi notes that ice maker water inlet valves are prone to mineral buildup, and InterNACHI warns that the mineral content of water can shorten a water heater's life. If your dishwasher has a hardness setting, set it to your number; GE's SmartDispense models take it from a test strip.
Housing
The homes in Machesney Park
There is no single era to Machesney Park's housing. 54.4% of homes were built before 1980 and 18.2% since 2000, with a median year built of 1978 (Winnebago County: 1972).
78.9% of homes have three or more bedrooms and 16.7% have four or more (Winnebago County: 60.4% and 18.7%) . That is a typical family-sized housing stock for the Rockford area. 79.6% of households own their home.
Machesney Park vs Winnebago County
| Measure | Machesney Park | Winnebago County |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 22,630 | 283,292 |
| Occupied homes | 8,577 | 116,014 |
| Owner-occupied | 79.6% | 65.9% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1972 |
| Built before 1960 | 22.6% | 35.5% |
| Built 2000 or later | 18.2% | 13.6% |
| Single-family detached | 87.7% | 70.4% |
| Three or more bedrooms | 78.9% | 60.4% |
| Heat with utility gas | 91.1% | 83.5% |
| Heat with propane or tank gas | 0.9% | 2.3% |
| Heat with electricity | 7.3% | 13% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), tables B01003, B25003, B25024, B25034, B25035, B25040 and B25041.
Gas, propane or electric
What powers the appliances in Machesney Park
The Census asks how each home is heated. In Machesney Park, 91.1% of households use utility (piped) gas, 0.9% use bottled or tank gas such as propane, and 7.3% use electricity (Winnebago County: 83.5%, 2.3% and 13%). Heating fuel is not the same as cooking fuel, but a house with a gas furnace already has gas piped in, which is what makes a gas range or gas dryer an easy choice.
Natural gas dominates in Machesney Park. For a gas appliance the first checks are simple: Whirlpool says a gas dryer drum will turn but not heat if the shutoff valve is closed, and GE says most burners that click without lighting are wet, dirty or have a misplaced cap. If you smell gas, Nicor Gas says to leave first and call 888-642-6748 and 911 from outside.
Old appliances
Getting rid of an old appliance in Machesney Park
The village page does not single out refrigerators or other refrigerant appliances, so confirm with Rock River Disposal before setting one at the curb.
- Garbage hauler
- The village's Public Works Department oversees refuse collection through a contract with Rock River Disposal, which handles billing, new service and missed pickups at 815-965-2489. source
- Bulk items
- Standard weekly household trash is unlimited along with unlimited bulk items. Construction material is not collected with regular trash and costs $25 per hopper. source
Wherever Machesney Park's rule is silent, state law still applies: Illinois has banned white goods from landfills since July 1, 1994 unless their mercury switches, refrigerant and PCB components are removed (Illinois EPA, 415 ILCS 5/22.28), and federal rules put the refrigerant recovery duty on the final disposer, who must keep a signed statement for a fridge that arrives empty. Before replacing, see repair or replace.
About Machesney Park. Machesney Park is a village of about 23,000 people and part of the Rockford metropolitan area. Wikipedia
ZIP codes. 61115 (82% of its land), 61073 (9% of its land), 61011 (7% of its land), 61103 (2% of its land), 61111 (1% of its land). Census 2020
Common questions
Appliance repair questions, Machesney Park
How hard is the water in Machesney Park?
Illinois EPA lab samples of North Park Public Water District water from 2022 to 2026 had a median of 362 mg/L of total hardness, about 21.2 grains per gallon. The USGS calls anything over 180 mg/L very hard.
Who picks up an old appliance in Machesney Park?
The village's Public Works Department oversees refuse collection through a contract with Rock River Disposal, which handles billing, new service and missed pickups at 815-965-2489. Ask the hauler about appliances before setting one out: Illinois bans white goods from landfills unless their refrigerant, mercury switches and PCB parts are removed.
How old are the homes in Machesney Park?
The median home was built in 1978. 22.6% were built before 1960 and 18.2% in 2000 or later, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey.
Do homes in Machesney Park use gas or electric appliances?
For heating, 91.1% of households use utility gas, 0.9% propane or other tank gas and 7.3% electricity (Census ACS 2020 to 2024). Where gas is piped in, gas dryers and ranges are common.
What does appliance repair cost in Machesney Park?
National 2026 cost guides put a refrigerator repair at $150 to $400, a washer at $180 to $250, a dryer at $100 to $430 and an oven at $130 to $310, with a $70 to $130 service call for the visit and diagnosis. The technician quotes the exact price before any work starts.
Appliance down in Machesney Park?
Tell us the appliance, the brand and what it is doing. A local technician who covers Machesney Park calls back with a time and a price before any work starts.