Is It Worth Buying New Appliances OR Fix the Existing Ones?

Having an appliance technician fix the fridge once in a while – still, scarcely, is normal. Having fridge problems every other week is a sign it’s time to get a new appliance. But where do we put a red line? How can we tell it’s time to invest in a new oven, stove, or fridge? Or, if it is worth fixing the broken appliance instead of buying a new one?

Such decisions are hard to make, especially if we consider the considerable cost of new appliances. And then, the extra fee for the oven or the washer installation. If that wasn’t enough, it’s also the large number of appliances we keep in the home. It’s not just the fridge & freezer. It’s not just the washer & dryer. The number of major appliances in most homes is rather big and if you follow the rationale saying that if we bought them all together, we most likely need to replace them all together too, it doesn’t take much to go crazy. Relax. There’s more to it.

3 things to remember about home appliances

• The life expectancy of home appliances is not the same. It has to do with the appliance, the model, the technology, the brand. So, you may have bought your gas range and the dishwasher at the same period, but the former will most likely last for 15 years, while the latter will need to be replaced in about 10 years.

• Not all appliances are used daily, while some – like the freezers and the refrigerators, work non-stop. And so, the frequency of usage will also affect the condition of the appliance and shape your decision on whether or not to replace it.

• Then you need to consider the maintenance factor. With regular oven or dishwasher maintenance, the appliance lasts longer. And so, some problems that happen through the years can be fixed without costing you an arm and a leg. But if an appliance breaks down and never has been maintained, it’s highly likely that most components will be in bad shape. Suddenly, the appliance repair cost will be considerable. And in such a case, it’s best to replace than fix.

Replace or repair home appliances? Factors that affect your decision

While the expected lifespan of your appliances, how often they are used, and how often (if any) they are maintained affect your decision, there are also some other factors to consider.

How old is your appliance?

Say the appliance is rather old – almost completed its life expectancy, but it never really gave you any problems until now. To make the argument even stronger, let us assume that the appliance is also frequently maintained. Is it worth keeping or should it go? Although this decision also depends on the appliance, the time it breaks down, and your budget, it is also a question of whether or not you want to get a more advanced model. For example, a washing machine or a fridge with more sophisticated features.

And there’s one more thing. That of energy efficiency. All appliances consume a lot of energy. Refrigerators and dryers in particular are kings when it comes to energy consumption. And so, if they have already completed most of their lifespan, it’s best (for your pocket down the road) to get a new energy efficient fridge or dryer or any other appliance.

Does the appliance break down repeatedly?

Naturally, if your case is nothing like the above and the appliance keeps breaking down, while it has already served you for a long time, don’t think about it. Get a new one.

How much will the appliance repair service cost?

The cost of the home appliance service will also influence your decision. Let’s take the worse case scenario in which the appliance breaks often, the problems are rather serious, and the cost of the repairs is considerable. Your decision is easy here. You replace.

It’s a sum of things that determine whether the stove, the microwave, the dryer or any other appliance in your house is worth keeping or not. Take them all into consideration.