Appliances break all the time, that’s a fact. Regardless of their quality, the more you use your favorite appliances, the more they’re likely to break at some point… but sometimes it’s hard to know which ones are worth repairing or just replacing entirely.
But even if it doesn’t need to be replaced, what is the best way to repair them so that the cost is worth it? Discover below in which cases repair or replacement is the right solution!
Repair Vs Replace The Appliance
No doubt repairing your favorite appliance is the preferred way of putting it back to work; it’s cheaper, faster and easier than replacing it. But sometimes it isn’t enough – it’s not worth repairing an appliance that you know will break again very soon. That’s when you need to discover which option is the right for your appliance.
Repair
An appliance doesn’t stop working for no reason To find out how to proceed with the repairs, you need to first determine what is the problem. This usually involves opening the appliance and looking inside, which is difficult to do by yourself without special tools.
Call a professional to look into the broken appliance and they will know if it can be repaired.
Replace
An appliance replacement usually is only required when it surpasses or gets close to its maximum “age, which can vary from types of appliances, and sometimes their brand. This way, when an appliance breaks, be mindful of how old it is since it may be close to the end of its “lifespan.
The lifespan of appliances:
- Microwave: around 9 years
- Refrigerator: 11 to 13 years
- Freezer: 11 to 20 years
- Gas stove: 13 to 15 years
- Electric stove: around 13 years
- Induction stove: around 8 years
- Washing machine: 10 to 13 years
- Dishwasher: around 10 years
- Dryer: 10 to 13 years
But don’t worry that much. Even though there are situations in which it seems to be easy to choose between repair or replacement, most of the time there are other points to consider before deciding if an appliance repair is worth it.
For example, many appliances can continue to work just fine even after their “lifespan is over. The problem is that the older they get, the harder (and more expensive) it will be to repair them – so a replacement starts to sound more appealing.
Cost
If the budget is important for you, you should consider what cost is more adequate in your situation. The cost of an appliance repair can vary depending on the damage, if the cost is so high that it equals a new version of the same appliance… is the appliance repair worth it?
Compare the cost of each option. If the cost to repair gets closer to the price of a new appliance, consider which of them seems to be more efficient for you. And in this case, it’s recommended for you to take into account the appliance age as well.
Warranty
When bought, most appliances have a warranty of several months or years, depending on the type of the appliance. The warranty guarantees you a free repair if the appliance breaks within this period of time. If your appliance broke, check out if it is still within the guaranteed time. If it is, do not replace it just yet. Enjoy the warranty while it is still available, and avoid spending money.
Energy efficiency
Old models of appliances usually have a low energy efficiency compared to the new models. This way, replacing your appliance with a new one, which has better energy efficiency, is a great way of saving money in the long run.
The 50% Rule
Besides all the aforementioned points, there is a popular method you could use to decide once and for all:
The 50% method says that if the repair costs less than 50% of the replacement costs, you should opt for the repair.
For example: is it worth repairing an old washing machine?
Let’s say yours broke down, and now you’re in doubt: repair or replace the washing machine? The average cost of a new washing machine is usually around $1,500, totalizing its 50% as $750. This way, the 50% rule says that if the repair costs less or until $750, it is still a good option. But if the repair costs more than $750, then perhaps replacing it might be better.
This isn’t always accurate, but it’s a good metric to take into account because it’s easy to remember and makes sense most of the time. It basically summarizes everything we’ve discussed so far in a single equation.
Were you able to make a decision on this repair vs replace appliance discussion? Let us know!
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