Failing appliances: Replace or repair?
By Gordon Powers, Sympatico / MSN Finance
As the recession deepens, more homeowners are trying to get the most out of appliances they might otherwise have trashed couple of years ago. It’s tough to know when to let go, however – particularly as repair services are spotty at best and manufacturers mark up scarce replacement parts as a way of encouraging you to buy more products.
How long have you got? The average useful life of a major appliance is about 14 or 15 years, but it varies depending upon the item, suggests industry data: 14 to 19 years for refrigerators and freezers; 14 to 18 years for ovens and ranges; 11 to 13 years for dishwashers; 11 to 14 years for clothes washers; 13 years for clothes dryers.
According to Consumer Reports, if your appliance is eight or more years old, it usually it makes sense to buy a new one, particularly if it has already been repair-prone. In its repair or replace timelines, you'll find year-by-year advice on when to fix or toss a host of different appliances, although you’ll have to subscribe to get all the details.
CR’s basic advice for products that need professional repair: Replace any for which you paid less than $150 and forget about any repair that costs more than half the price of a comparable new product. For example, it doesn't pay to repair off-warranty toasters or countertop microwave ovens.
In fact, unless you've bought a more expensive, high-end model, it might not pay to professionally repair many out-of-warranty products that are more than three years old. But if you still want to try, visit RepairClinic, a DIY site that helps people find parts and fix their own appliances.
Although junking even sort-of-new products can make economic sense, it seems to make less environmental sense. But with the tax credits available now for energy efficient appliances, it might still be a good idea to go ahead and replace that aching appliance with a new one.
Where do you draw the line when it comes to repairing or replacing?
Posted by: realityseeker | Aug 5, 2021 11:53:03 PM
Moj - That comment was a lack of class.
Posted by: Dillion | Aug 6, 2021 2:15:59 PM
well if you bought your appliances from A & P im sorry to here that but appliances have lost their use in working capability in the past 8-12 years, however their are ppl who have washers from 30 years ago replaced for one of todays washers and think that the operation is the same and is very much mistaken. About a good quarter of new appliance owners dont understand that the washer they have bought uses half the energy, half the water and half the soap their old washer did. And by the end of it (Understandably) they now have a broken appliance. In simpler terms if it dont work within the 2 years u got it A: its a lemon or B:u broke it.
Now as that may be if you have had your appliance for the past 10 years and a small $80 part breaks, buy a new part and put it in urself, it saves you stress and money for that repairman who tests your doorbell for $60.
Posted by: J Steed | Aug 8, 2021 12:39:19 PM
Lynn, I have owned my Maytag washer and dryer set now for 22 years. They are used daily. The washer has never had any service whatsoever. The dryer has only had 1 belt replacement. My parents have had their machines for 30 years and a GE refrigerator that has been running for 49 years.
Posted by: J Steed | Aug 8, 2021 12:48:26 PM
Oh, I forgot to mention that the 49 year old GE refrigerator has never had any service done to it. It just keeps running. The only thing wrong with it is the cracked plastic handle on the crisper drawer.
Posted by: Judy Maida | Aug 10, 2021 12:03:20 AM
I OWN 2(two) Maytag Appliances purchased at the same time, I now know why the Maytag Repair Man has nothing to do It's because no one ever buys Maytag a second time.
My dish washer sounds like there's construction going on in the Kitchen!
My refridgerator doe not have an Ice maker it makes loud cracking noises several times a day everyday.
I won't purchase this brand again and certainly would not recommend it .
Posted by: tayyaba islam | Aug 10, 2021 8:04:53 AM
same here ,this time 7 years ago i decided to buy the best ,that is maytag ,fridge,double oven stove and dishwasher.i have had so much trouble with everything ,next time i am going tp stick with something half the price so it does not hurt never go for maytag
Posted by: andrew | Aug 12, 2021 10:57:29 AM
Avoid Bosch like the plague, just the biggest con going..just a fake company, never replying to emails,
-dishwasher was replaced by a Kenmore after just 3 years due to an unfixable problem of black spotting by Sears under a lemon warranty.....Kenmore (Kitchenaid) seems much better and even though "American" at least it can be fixed...
-Squeaky NExxt dryer .. apparently this is normal???
-Nexxt washer that wanders around on its own...
Dual range stove which is rusting on the inside and had cheap plastic nobs and poor enamel stove grates.
These were all supposed to be higher end products, costing many thousands... and after 5 years I really wonder ..
Let alsone Sears which has probably lost money on the service conrtacts... and seem less inclined to repair anything .