Your oven refuses to heat up. Your freezer isn’t cooling properly. Your dishwasher isn’t doing its job. If these machine breakdowns seem to be happening more than once, you’re probably wondering if you repair or replace the appliance.
Home appliance breakdowns and problems can feel overwhelming, inconvenient, and time-consuming. Major home appliance repair can be rather expensive, and if the breakdown happens again, it’s just a waste of money.
That said, does this mean you should just replace the appliance all in all? Deciding whether you should repair or replace an appliance doesn’t always come with a straightforward answer. In fact, you should consider a number of things before arriving at an answer.
Like every cost-conscious consumer, you would want to extend the lifespan of your appliance for as long as possible, and only replace those when nothing else can be done. After all, you did spend a lot of money on it in the beginning.
Let’s take a look at the things you should consider before deciding whether to repair or replace the appliance.
To Repair or Replace?
We can all agree that home appliances are a big investment for every homeowner. Therefore, each time an appliance breaks down, it’s understandable to be unaware of how to move forwards.
Here are five things to consider when you’re stuck in this dilemma.
How Much Will The Repair Cost?
This is a natural thing to consider when deciding whether to repair or replace an appliance – the potential repair cost. According to experts, if the estimated repair cost is more than 50% of the new appliance’s price, then perhaps it’s better to replace the appliance rather than repair it.
It also depends on the type of repair work your appliance requires. There are chances of you having quick repair work done through a local home appliance servicer. However, if the appliance is old, broken beyond repair, or needs hours of service, you might want to reconsider.
Another way to evaluate the repair cost is to figure out if the appliance is still under warranty from the servicer or manufacturer. If the appliance is still under warranty, you can have it repaired or even replaced at a greater value.
The Age of the Appliance
The lifespan of your home appliance is a very important factor in deciding whether to repair or replace it. Every home appliance has an average lifespan. That said, the lifespan is just a mere guideline for your home appliances.
What affects your home appliance’s lifespan is its brand, model, and doing routine maintenance. Most home appliances have a lifespan of between 10 to 20 years. You should also apply the 50% rule here.
If the appliance has been used for more than 50% of its average lifespan, and its repair cost is also more than 50%, replacing it is a better solution.
Will Maintenance Extend the Life of Your Appliance?
Yes. It’s been said that the routine life of a home appliance and most appliance repair companies recommend it.
Regular check-ups, cleanings, and inspections keep home appliances working properly. Rather than having a breakdown, maintenance gives you the ability to come across potential issues in your appliance.
By having an understanding of these problems in advance, you can correct them beforehand. Moreover, routine maintenance costs are much lower than replacing the entire appliance.
Is Energy-Efficiency Essential for You?
After you’ve managed to calculate the total repair costs, the price for a new appliance, and the age of the appliance, you need to consider the appliance’s energy expenses. If the current appliance uses more energy as compared to a new one, it might just be better to upgrade it.
However, you need to calculate the expense very carefully through someone who has expertise in this.
Are There Hidden Costs to Replace an Appliance?
Last but not the least, it’s important that you consider hidden costs when it comes to replacing the appliance. You should also consider transportation costs and installation fees. In addition, you should also evaluate how compatible the new appliance is with your home wiring, etc.
Conclusion
Well, there you go! Repairing might not always be the solution, nor may replacing a home appliance. We have shared five major things to factor in when deciding to repair or replace your home appliance.
