An honest framework for deciding whether to fix the appliance you have — including the cases where we tell customers not to.
Every technician gets asked this on almost every call, and the honest answer is not always "repair it". Here is the framework we actually use, so you can apply it before anyone comes out.
The 50% rule
If the repair costs more than half the price of a comparable new unit, and the appliance is past the halfway point of its expected life, replacement usually wins. Below that threshold, repair is almost always the better financial and environmental choice.
Age matters more than people think
- Refrigerators: 10–15 years
- Washers and dryers: 10–13 years
- Dishwashers: 9–12 years
- Electric and gas ranges: 13–15 years
- Over-the-range microwaves: 7–10 years
Repairs that are almost always worth it
Pumps, valves, igniters, elements, thermostats, door seals, belts, control knobs and hoses are inexpensive parts with straightforward labour. On a machine under ten years old, these are easy calls.
Repairs that deserve a second thought
Sealed-system and compressor work on an older refrigerator, a drum bearing on a twelve-year-old front loader, or a main control board that costs more than half the machine — these are the jobs where we will tell you honestly that your money is better spent elsewhere.
“We would rather lose one repair invoice than sell you a fix that fails in eight months.”
One more factor: energy. A fifteen-year-old fridge can cost noticeably more per year to run than a current model, and that gap belongs in the calculation alongside the repair quote.