When To Repair And When To Replace Your Household Appliances In King & Pierce County WA

For the cost-conscious consumer, major home appliances are a key expense, and it can be stressful when the time comes to repair or replace appliances. Whether you are facing issues such as your food spoiling in a broken refrigerator, an oven that refuses to heat at dinner time, or a dryer that stops spinning the clothes you need for the next work day, you’re probably weighing the options of what to do—repair or replace your appliance? Like any money minded consumer, you probably want to extend the life of your appliances as long as possible and choose the best time to replace them.

When your everyday appliances stop working, you need help fast. Before calling a repairman or visiting your local appliance store, follow these tips to determine whether to repair or replace your broken appliance. The following guidelines are set up to save you time and money.

1.

How much will the repair cost?

This is a given. If the repair costs more than 50% of a new appliance (including installation and removal), buy a new one. Luckily most common repairs won’t come even close to that amount, in which case you’ll save money by having the appliance repaired. For example, a high-end refrigerator/freezer or a gourmet cooktop can cost well over $2,000 new. If the cost and availability of replacement parts is considerably less, you’re best off getting it repaired. Many modern appliances have tech based defects that manufacturers are working to mitigate. So replacing the defective part would depend on the overall cost to do so.

You also need to keep in mind that installing a new appliance and scrapping your broken appliance adds an additional set of costs that need to be considered. Appliance repair would help you avoid the cost of the complex installation of a built-in appliance, as well as the cost to remove your previous appliance.

However, if an appliance tech diagnoses your machine as a “catastrophic failure,” requiring massive expenditures in parts and labor to fix, then we’d recommend replacing the unit.

2.

How old is the appliance?

The age of your appliance plays a crucial role in deciding whether to repair or replace it. As we mentioned in our previous tip, the 50% rule still applies. Basically, if your appliance is more than halfway through its expected lifespan and requires repair work that’s more than 50% its original cost, you may consider buying new. Luckily, most repairs don’t come close to this amount, and in most cases you’re better off hiring an appliance repair tech. That said, due to the rise in information via the internet, we are undergoing a DIY craze, so please consider that there are some home repairs you should never do yourself.

The following is a list that will help you determine the overall lifespan of your appliances, and whether it is better to replace or repair your broken appliances. The average life span (in order by year) of everyday major household appliances is:

The following is a list that will help you determine the overall lifespan of your appliances, and whether it is better to replace or repair your broken appliances.

The average life span (in order by year) of everyday major household appliances is:

• Gas range: 15 years
• Range hood: 14 years
• Electric range: 13 years
• Refrigerator: 13 years
• Dryer: 13 years
• Disposal: 12 years
• Freezer: 11 years
• Exhaust fan: 10 years
• Washer: 10 years
• Microwave: 9 years
• Compactor: 6 years

Also note that the overall life of your household appliances can greatly vary based on usage, maintenance, manufacturer/model, and reliability. For example, a large family that uses the washer on a daily basis versus a single person who uses it sparingly presents a greater variation in usage.

In addition to considering the age of your appliance, you need to determine whether it is still under warranty as well as how many times you’ve had issues with it in the past. Most appliances that are under a year old will likely have a warranty covering parts and labor, so getting it repaired could cost you nothing or much less than you expect.

If your appliance’s warranty has expired, but it has not had a history of breaking down, you’re likely best off repairing it. However, if it has cost you many repair bills over its lifespan, it may be time to purchase a new appliance.

3.

Do you need a more energy-efficient appliance?

Appliances are becoming more efficient and greener with time, which in the long run can save you money on energy costs. If your appliance is creeping toward the end of its lifespan, it’s likely to have a lower energy-efficiency rating than newer models. In this scenario, you may save more money in the long run by switching it out. If you’re unsure what your energy score is, check the yellow and black EnergyGuide label that should be attached to your appliances. This should give you a good indicator as to how to estimate how much an appliance will cost to operate. The U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency developed this label to certify that the appliance has met an international standard of superior energy efficiency. In General, these approved appliances use about 20 percent less energy than standard models.

4.

Have you maintained your appliance over its life?

You can skip the repair or replace debacle all together by adopting a few good maintenance practices. For instance, cleaning your refrigerators coils, properly seating your washer/dryer, annually cleaning the exhaust vents in your dryer, cleaning your range top and many more techniques will prolong the life of your major home appliances. For more detailed information about appliance maintenance check out our blog at http://pugetsoundtech.wpenginepowered.com/category/appliance-blog for a number of helpful articles on appliance maintenance that you can do yourself.

5.

Is the style and overall look of your appliances important to you?

If you want your appliances to look uniform, this can also play a factor in whether to replace or repair your broken appliance. For instance, if your older white refrigerator breaks down, this could signal a time to replace it with a model that better matches any newer appliances in the kitchen. This, of course, would also depend on your budget at the time of the break, so keep in mind the additional installation and scrapping costs that we outlined in the first tip.

Overall, the choice to repair or replace is entirely up to you, and we hope the above tips will help you make a decision that best fits your family, budget, and get you the most value possible

If you have an appliance that is broken, you need help now! Don’t hesitate to call us at Puget Sound Appliance Tech, as our skilled technicians can diagnose whether you’re better off fixing your current appliance, or investing in a brand new model that we’d recommend for you and your family’s needs.