When to Repair or Replace Your Appliance

​By: Douglas Trattner

Consider age, repair cost, pricing, energy efficiency, and whether to modify your kitchen to
accommodate a new unit. When an appliance is old and isn’t working efficiently, it may
seem natural to decide to replace it rather than repair it — may it rest in peace. But appliances often break before their time, making the repair-or-replace decision harder. Also, the replacement cost may give you second thoughts. If money is tight, you may have to repair the appliance and hope for the best. But if you’ve got some coin, replacing with a new,
energy-efficient model may be the better way to go. Those are a lot of ifs, and the repair-or-replace dilemma is often hard to resolve.

Here are some guidelines to help you decide.

Is It Really Broken?
When appliances stop working, we get so rattled that the obvious escapes us. Before you
panic, make sure:
-The appliance is plugged in.
-Circuit breakers haven’t tripped. (I once replaced a blender only to discover that the circuit
needed resetting.)
-Flooring hasn’t become uneven, which can stop some appliances from turning on.
-Vents and filters aren’t clogged with lint and dust.

Is It Still Under Warranty?
Check your owner’s manual or records to see if the sick appliance is still under warranty.
Most appliances come with a manufacturer warranty that will cover the cost of repairs
anywhere from one to three years after the initial date of purchase. If it’s still covered,
schedule a service call.

Is It Truly at the End of Its Useful Life?
Appliances have an average useful life — the typical lifespan after which the machine is
running on borrowed time. The closer your appliance is to its hypothetical past-due date,
the wiser it is to replace rather than repair.

Here are the typical lifespans of major appliances.
- Appliance Average Lifespan (Years)
- Compactor...................................6
- Dishwasher..................................9
- Disposal......................................12
- Dryer.............................................13
- Exhaust Fan..............................10
- Freezer.................................10-20
- Microwave....................................9
- Range, electric.................13-15
- Range, gas..........................15-17
- Range/oven hood..................14
- Refrigerator..........................9-13
- Washer....................................5-15

How to Follow the 50% Rule
In 2021, the cost to repair an appliance ranged from $100 to $300. Should you pay it? If an
appliance is more than 50% through its lifespan and if the cost of one repair is more than
50% of the cost of buying new, you should replace rather than repair. To do the math, you’ll
have to know the typical lifespan (see above) and get a repair estimate. Most service
companies charge a “trip charge” to diagnose the problem. These charges vary widely, so
be sure to ask when you arrange the appointment. If the company repairs the appliance, it
usually waives the trip charge.

DIY Whenever Possible
If you know your way around a socket wrench, you may be able to make simple appliance
repairs yourself and save labor fees. YouTube has lots of DIY repair videos, and user manuals
can help you troubleshoot. Can’t find your manual? Search online for “manual” along with
your appliance brand and model number. Most manufacturers provide free downloadable
PDFs of appliance manuals, and several websites specialize in nothing but manuals.