When an appliance starts acting up or stops working you wonder if it is worth repairing. Determining whether home appliance repairs or replacement is in order depends on a few factors. The bottom-line is the cost of Home appliance repair Parts and labor compared to replacement cost. Look at your appliance warranty, life span and cost of repair and determine when you need a repair or replace your appliance.
Warranty
Check your warranty for parts covered and for how long. Many times different parts have different warranty time limits. Often both a manufacturer warranty and a sales warranty cover your appliance. The manufacture warranty is from the manufacturer and the sales warranty is from the store where you bought the appliance. The warranty covers some repairs and not others. It gives you a general idea of how much out-of-pocket expense to repair your appliance.
Warranties cover parts and sometimes the labor of your appliance repairs. Quality brands such as Maytag, Jenn-air, Whirlpool, Amana, and more, have excellent warranties backing their appliances. When your appliance is out of warranty the repair which is minor and requires a minimal cost is worth the repair. Weighing the cost of the warranty, and non-warranty repair determines whether repair or replacement is necessary.
Lifespan of Your Appliance
Check the lifespan of your appliance, the price of parts and energy-efficiency perks of a new appliance. We have a list of common household appliances and the lifespan of each. According to realtor.com, these are the approximate expected life span of appliances with normal wear and tear of use. Always check your appliance paperwork for warranty and life expectancy information pertaining to your specific appliance. Sometimes appliances start acting erratically or stop working outside of the typical lifespan, which is why your warranty comes into play to make a repair more manageable.
Appliance Lifespan:
- Refrigerator: 9 – 13 years
- Freezer: 10 – 20 years
- Oven (gas): 10 -18 years
- Dishwasher: 7 – 10 years
- Disposal: 12 years
- Microwave: 9 years
- Washing machine: 5 – 15 years
- Dryer: gas or electric, 8 – 14 years
When to Repair or Replace an Appliance
The general rule of thumb; when the repair cost is 50% or higher than a replacement, the recommendation is in buying a new replacement appliance. The brand, quality, and expense of each appliance determine the 50% cost valuation. Sometimes you are not in a position to pay the new replacement price and a repair is your only option.
A quality repair service in Cleveland, Fred’s Appliance has repair technicians trained at testing and evaluating your appliances. The technicians know when parts are nearing the end of their normal wear and tear life. They order Appliance Repair Parts, have the knowledge and tools to repair most models of appliances. When a second repair comes along, then you know it is time to stop dumping money into an old appliance, unless it is a simple low-cost repair.
Repairs add life to the appliance. Keep in mind small repairs cost less, but large repairs are worth it when it extends the life of the appliance. Another fact to know is a new part for an appliance have a completely new warranty just for that particular part, which makes a repair a consideration.
It is possible to repair an appliance yourself when the repair is minor and the parts are inexpensive. Resources on the internet, including detailed video, are easily accessible and show how to do simple repairs. Purchasing Appliance Repair Parts is easy. Parts are available through many appliance dealers or online sites such as Amazon or EBay are excellent sources. Always check the customer comments for tips, tricks, and reliability of the source of Appliance Repair Parts.
When you are unable to repair the appliance, it has reached the typical lifespan expectancy, it is out of warranty and the replacement cost is no more than 50% more than a repair, consider a replacement. Check reviews and current rating of all appliances before shopping. Appliances, especially large ticket purchases are worth the time researching before walking into a sales room.
Home appliance repairs can extend the lifespan of your appliances. If you are unsure of the cost of a repair it is always wise to compare the repair to a new appliance. Cleveland, Ohio and the surrounding area look to Fred’s Appliance to service their appliances. Fred’s Appliance services many top brands, under warranty and out of warranty appliances. Schedule an appointment with an appliance professional at Fred’s Appliance or receive more information on appliance repair and replacement by contacting us.