Repair or Replace? How to Decide When an Appliance Breaks

Rule of thumb: the 50% rule

If the repair costs less than half the price of a comparable new appliance, and the appliance is less than halfway through its expected life, repairing is usually the better value. As the appliance gets older or the repair gets more expensive, replacement starts to make more sense.

Typical appliance lifespans

• Refrigerators: 10 to 15 years
• Washers and dryers: 10 to 13 years
• Dishwashers: 8 to 12 years
• Ovens and ranges: 13 to 15 years
• Microwaves: 8 to 10 years
• Range hoods: 10 to 15 years or more

These are averages. A well-maintained, higher-end appliance often outlasts them, while heavy use shortens them.

When repair usually wins

• The appliance is relatively new or otherwise in good shape.
• The failure is a common wear part: a belt, pump, igniter, door gasket, fan motor, or switch.
• It's a built-in or premium model that would be expensive or difficult to replace.
• Replacing it would mean changing cabinetry, venting, or electrical work.

When replacement may be smarter

• The appliance is near or past the end of its expected lifespan.
• A major sealed-system or main control board failure on an older unit.
• It has needed several repairs in the past couple of years.
• Rust, cracked tubs, or structural damage.
• You were already planning to upgrade for capacity or efficiency.

Don't forget the environmental cost

Repairing keeps a large appliance out of the landfill and avoids the energy cost of making and shipping a new one. For many households that's worth factoring in, especially when the repair is straightforward.

Get a diagnosis first

You can't make a good decision without knowing what actually failed. A proper diagnostic visit tells you the part, the cost, and the condition of the rest of the appliance, so you can decide with real numbers rather than guesses. If replacement does make more sense, we can also install your new appliance.