When you should replace major appliances is a somewhat different question today than it was a few years ago. There are some serious supply chain issues worldwide, and getting the exact appliance you want right now may not be as easy as you think.
It’s always easy to say, “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” Many of us can happily continue for years and years using old appliances. However, often old appliances are not nearly as energy efficient as newer ones, and if fixing an appliance is much cheaper than replacing one, that is often the first choice.
When considering whether to replace old appliances, first consider how old they are. Most major appliances are built to have a service life of about 10-12 years, with washing machines and dishwashers lasting slightly less than others. In other words, if your appliance is more than 15 years old, you are operating on borrowed time.
Also, some appliances are riskier than others. For example, an oven that is not working properly can cause a fire faster than a refrigerator, for example. Think about how you would manage without that appliance if yours suddenly broke down, and it was not cost effective to fix it. Most of us could manage better without an oven than we could without a refrigerator or washing machine. If a freezer breaks down, you can lose a freezer full of food that can be worth a fortune of money.
Statistically, a dishwasher is the one that is going to break down at a younger age than your other major appliances. For small appliances, your coffee maker is going to break down first. But most of us could survive without a dishwasher more easily than we could without a washing machine.
Bottom Line
Consider how old your appliances are. If your appliance is more than 12 years old and you are heavily dependent on it, and if you are not going to be easily satisfied with just any make and model in stock, then you may want to seriously consider getting a new one now. Because if it breaks down, you may have to wait a long time to receive a new one that is not currently in stock. Do you want to take the chance of being without the appliance you rely on? Appliances often give us subtle clues that they are nearing the end of their service lives with less than stellar performance and odd noises. Pay attention to what your appliances are telling you. It’s much more pleasant to buy an appliance when you are not desperate for one.
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.
