October 2003 Owners Update

When to Repair or Replace Broken Appliances

by Broderick Perkins

How do you know when to repair or replace an aging or broken major appliance?
Depends.

Age of the old appliance, the price of a new one, hidden costs and new technology are among a host of factors you'll need to consider, according to RepairClinic.com an appliance parts e-commerce site offering do-it-yourself appliance repair information.

"Many people throw away appliances because they don't know a repair person they trust. They also fear the repair cost will be so high they'll wish they had just replaced the appliance," says the clinic.

RepairClinic.com says the cost of labor comprises 75 percent of the cost of repairing an appliance and many people can troubleshoot and repair appliances themselves for a significant savings.

If the repair is extensive, it may be time to consider replacing it unless you've had it for 10 years of solid service. Hard working appliances still doing the job may be worth a repair investment, says the clinic.

"In general, appliances last between 12 and 14 years. However, many appliances last for more than 30 years," according to RepairClinic.com. The clinic suggests considering the following questions to help you decide to replace or repair your appliance.

If a repair will cost more than half the cost of a new appliance, and the old unit is more than six or seven years old, consider replacing it. Otherwise, pay for a second similar repair and you've just shelled out the cost of a new appliance. Some major appliances don't cost what they did 10 years ago. Check new prices.

Will you incur special costs, say removal, installation and disposal costs to replace an old appliance? Fees can add up and tip the scales back to a decision to keep the old appliance.

How difficult will it be to replace a built in or over sized appliance you can't move through doors or past railings to get the appliance out of the house. Consider those costs as well.

Factor in energy savings available from new appliances. New Energy Star rated refrigerators, freezers, front-load washers and dishwashers can save significant energy and related utility costs. That's less the case with ranges, ovens, dryers and ice makers, according to RepairClinic.com. This becomes especially important to a landlord who is paying the utility costs.

Consider new features that could give you greater flexibility and convenience and, as such, adds to the value of the unit -- provided you actually use those features. A dishwasher with five automatic cycles isn't as valuable to you if you use only three, the clinic advises.

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