Homeowners often wonder at what point they should replace rather than repair a major appliance. There are a couple of rules of thumb you can go by, which we will mention first, and then we will look at the debate in more detail.
Rule #1
If your appliance is more than 10 years old, you are usually better off replacing than repairing. Of course, this depends on what needs repair. A new light bulb for a refrigerator is a low-cost fix. However, an ice maker that does not work could be hundreds of dollars. We are also assuming that you can afford to replace the appliance. If you absolutely cannot afford to replace it, then repairing is the only option left.
Rule #2
Several experts recommend a calculation where you find out the estimated cost of repair. If the estimated cost of repair is 50 percent of more of the cost of a new appliance, then you are better off buying a new one if you look at the long-term economics.
But let’s look at this issue from another angle.
Does the appliance still work?
If something is not broken, there is no reason to replace it unless you just feel like the aesthetics do not please you, for example, if all your appliances are stainless steel, but one is still white.
Does the appliance do its job?
If you are suffering because your washing machine’s tub is not big enough to wash king-sized blankets, and you go to a laundromat twice per month, then you may want to replace an appliance that does not need repair. You have to weigh the cost and value of your time spent driving to a laundromat and waiting around for the cycle to finish. There will be many examples of appliances that are not doing exactly what you want them to do—which a newer model could accomplish.
In conclusion, whether or not to repair or replace a large appliance depends on how well the current appliance is doing its job, how much it will cost to fix, how old the appliance is, how much the current appliance pleases or displeases you, and whether you can afford to buy a new one. When you are ready to replace appliances, we are the installation experts in the Vancouver area.
Han Appliances are trusted appliance installation experts on the Lower Mainland, who work closely with many of the appliance dealers. If you need some appliances installed in the Vancouver area or you have any questions about this article, please call us at (604) 233-9216.
