Repair or replace an appliance?

When the dishwasher stops draining or the refrigerator stops cooling, the first question is whether to call for a repair or start shopping. There's no single right answer, but three things usually decide it: how old the appliance is, what the repair costs compared with a new one, and whether parts are still available.

This guide walks through each one. For what common appliance fixes cost in HomeCloud reports, see the appliance repair guides.

Step 1: Check for a recall first

Before paying for a repair, check whether the appliance has been recalled. If it has, the maker may repair or replace it at no cost. Recall notices on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website list the problem and what the maker offers. [7] See how to check your appliances for recalls.

Step 2: Find out how old it is

Start with the model and serial number label, usually inside a door or on the frame. Give both numbers to the maker's customer service, and they can usually tell you when the appliance was made. The recall guide shows where the label usually is on each appliance.

Then compare the age with typical life spans. A study by the National Association of Home Builders and Bank of America Home Equity gave these average life expectancies: [2]

Appliance	Average life
Dishwasher	9 years
Microwave oven	9 years
Washing machine	10 years
Garbage disposal	12 years
Refrigerator	13 years
Clothes dryer	13 years
Range	13 to 15 years

These are averages, not deadlines. A well-kept appliance can last longer, and a heavily used one may not last as long. But an appliance near or past these ages is more likely to need another repair soon.

Step 3: Compare the repair cost with a new one

Consumer Reports' rule of thumb: don't spend more than half the price of a comparable new appliance on a repair. [1] A Consumer Reports editor has also said that an appliance that has already had several problems is probably worth replacing. [9]

Put the two together:

	Repair cost is low	Repair cost is over half the price of new
Appliance is fairly new	Repair	Usually repair, especially if it's under warranty
Appliance is near or past its average life	Repair can make sense for a simple fix	Usually replace

Some fixes are almost always worth doing on any appliance, because they're small and cheap compared with the appliance: a range anti-tip bracket, a refrigerator water filter, a light bulb or a grease filter.

The bigger calls come with expensive parts. A cracked glass cooktop, a failed control board, a refrigerator compressor that has quit or a dead dishwasher motor can cost a large share of a new unit. See range and oven repairs, dishwasher repairs and refrigerator and laundry.

Step 4: Ask whether parts are available

Parts for appliances are made for a specific make and model. Before you pay for a repair, ask the technician:

Is the part still made for this model, and how long will it take to arrive?
Is it a part from the original maker, or a substitute?
Is the repair itself covered by a warranty?

If the part is discontinued or weeks away, and you can't go without the appliance that long, replacement may be the practical choice even when the repair cost is reasonable.

Step 5: Think about energy and water use

Older refrigerators are the clearest case. EPA's ENERGY STAR program has said that refrigerators 15 years or older use about twice as much energy as a new ENERGY STAR model. [3] The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers gives 10 to 14 years as the average refrigerator life span and suggests replacing an older unit before it fails. [4]

An old second refrigerator in the garage counts too. Temperature swings in a garage or basement can make an older unit work harder. [4]

If you replace a refrigerator or freezer, make sure the old one is recycled properly. Many older units contain refrigerants that harm the ozone layer, and some utilities offer rebates for recycling them. [3]

Brands you'll see most

Many appliance brands belong to the same few companies. That matters when you look for parts, service or recalls, because the parent company often handles them.

Whirlpool Corporation sells Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir and Amana, among other brands. [5]
GE Appliances, a Haier company, sells GE, GE Profile, Café, Monogram, Haier and Hotpoint. [6]
Other brands widely sold in the U.S. include Samsung, LG, Frigidaire, Bosch and, for garbage disposals, InSinkErator. [8]

Brand matters less than you might think. The model, how it was installed and how it's been cared for usually decide how long it lasts.

When it's not the appliance at all

Some problems that look like a broken appliance are really an installation or home issue:

A dishwasher that drains poorly may have a drain line set up wrong. See dishwasher repairs.
A range hood that doesn't clear smoke may vent into a cabinet or the attic instead of outside. See vent hood and microwave repairs.
An appliance that won't power on may have a tripped breaker or a bad outlet. Have an electrician check it. See outlet repairs.

A new appliance won't fix any of these, so it's worth ruling them out first.

Next steps

Keep up with simple upkeep to stretch the life of what you have. See our appliance maintenance checklist.

HomeCloud is a licensed general contractor that evaluates homes, then prices and does repairs, including appliance repairs and installs. If a replacement is the right call, see your financing options.