There’s a rough rule of thumb worth knowing: if a repair costs more than about half of what a new comparable appliance would cost, and the appliance is already past half its expected lifespan, replacing is usually the better call. Below that line, repairing is almost always cheaper and faster.
What usually factors in
- The repair cost relative to a new unit’s price
- How far into its expected lifespan the appliance already is (see our article on how long appliances typically last)
- Whether the same part or problem has already been repaired once
- Energy efficiency — a much older unit may cost more to run than a newer one saves you over a few years
What you can check yourself
- Look up the approximate age of the appliance — a manufacture date is often on a sticker inside the door or on the back panel
- Get the actual repair estimate before deciding anything — guessing the cost is where this decision usually goes wrong
- Weigh a premium or high-end appliance differently — parts and labor cost more, but so does replacing it
When to call
Get the diagnosis first. We’ll tell you plainly if a repair isn’t worth it rather than doing work that doesn’t make sense for you — a straight answer is worth more to us long-term than one extra invoice.