Appliance Repair or Replacement: When is it Time to Pull the Plug?
Home appliances have become essential tools helping us keep up with the demands of our busy Canadian lives. So, when one of our beloved appliances goes on the fritz, our daily routines can be uncomfortably disrupted. Getting that broken appliance -be it a dryer, fridge, or other electric friend needed to feed, clean, or clothe our family- up and running, suddenly becomes a top priority.
When an appliance breaks down, the decision to replace or repair it must be made. How do we know if it’s time to unplug the machine for good or, invest money in its resuscitation?
Often, replacement looks like the easiest option, but it’s not always the most economical. Before hauling your leaky fridge out onto the front lawn for scrap metal pick-up, consider the following to decide if appliance repair is a better option.
Appliance Age
Appliances, like all machines, come with a life expectancy that also varies from one appliance to another. The most common appliance life expectancies are:
- Refrigerator: 10 – 15 years
- Dishwasher: 9 years
- Washing Machine: 5 – 15 years
- Dryer: 10 – 15 years
- Oven/Range: 14 years
- Microwave: 9
If the afflicted appliance is nearing it’s predicted expiration date, it may be time to check out the weekly flyers for appliance sales. However, if the machine is at it’s early or mid-life age, finding out appliance repair costs is a good idea.
Appliance Usage
Life expectancy ranges of appliances are based on standard tests done by the manufacturer and based on average, suggested use. They do not account for “unique” usages, or scenario’s outside their recommended operations.
If considerable wear and tear have caused damages to your appliance, replacement may not be the best answer. Investigate the costs of appliance repair and also, consider adopting a more gentle approach to operating your appliance in the future.
Repair Cost
The cost of an appliance repair should always to be considered when deciding to “fix” or “toss” the machine. A prevailing school of thought to that approach is: replace the appliance if the cost of repairments is more than fifty percent of the cost of replacement.
Pulling an appliance’s plug isn’t always the cheapest option. Often, regular maintenance and routine repairs can lengthen an appliance’s lifespan well past its expiration date. Consult an appliance repair company before sending your appliances to the scrapyard. If you are located in Winnipeg or the area, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 204-400-5544 and one of our expert technicians will come as soon as possible.
