When an expensive appliance breaks – and it’s past the warranty period, so you’ll be paying for any repair work – you need to decide whether it makes sense to fix it.
Start by finding out how much the repair might cost. You may be able to get an idea about that by calling the manufacturer’s tech support line.
“Tell them what’s wrong and see what they say a repair might cost. Or they might refer you to an authorized dealer that can give you a repair estimate,” said CR’s Mandy Walker. “If the repair is going to cost more than half the amount of a new model you probably want to replace it.”
The other factor is to consider: How old is that appliance?
“For refrigerators, or washers and dryers, the average longevity is about 10 to 14 years. For dishwashers, it’s about 12 years,” Walker told me. “So, if you’re approaching that time frame or you’re beyond it, you’re probably going to want to get a new model.”
Because technology changes so quickly, electronics tend to have even shorter lifespans.
“If you have a big screen TV that’s four or five years old, and it needs an expensive repair, you might find it cheaper to just buy a new one.”
On the bright side: Chances are that new appliance will be more energy efficient, and it might have more features than the old one.
More Info: Should You Repair or Replace Your Broken Appliance? CR’s interactive tool uses product costs, depreciation rates, and survey data to help you make the right choice.
