Appliance Repair Nationwide

Get help with appliance repair nationwide, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and more.

Find out whether it will actually be more beneficial for you to repair or replace.

If you have made your way to this page, then that can only mean two things... either you're looking to fix your broken appliance or you're wondering whether you should replace it. Unless of course you're doing this for a friend... or you're bored and just wanted to know... OK, OK, maybe there are more than two reasons; either way, take notes on what you're about to read, if you follow directions, it will lead to a more pleasurable outcome for you.

So, should you repair or replace? Well there are several things to consider:

- Age of the appliance

- It's past performance

- Cost of operating the appliance

- Cost of repairs

- Cost of replacement

- How often the appliance is used

The life expectancy for a dishwasher is 9-11 years, so if you've had yours for 7 and it starts to act up, it might be a good time to replace it. On the other hand, a freezer's life expectancy is 20 years, so if yours begins to act up after 5, then you either have a defective freezer, or you have a problem that's repairable and should last a good while longer after the repair.

Another factor to consider is the appliance's past performance. If you had little or no problems out of it in the past, chances are after it's repaired you won't have any in the future. To add on to that, if you just love the appliance then go ahead, repair it and keep it! Now on the other hand, lets say your appliance begins to malfunction, and you have had your issues with it from day one. You didn't like the color, the size, the features, or any "beef" you may have had... then now might be a good excuse to get another one. Even if it's more expensive than repairing it, sometimes satisfaction (or in my life, ALL the time!) is more important than saving a buck.

Ok, so your fridge is leaking (ahh!) and your energy bill is due (Great timing!). Your energy bill is sky high, I wonder why? It's that 10 year old fridge and it's other appliance buddies mooching off of electricity!

Keep in mind that older appliances use more energy than newer ones. When it comes to refrigerators, they use 40% less energy than conventional models made just in 2001! That's a big difference in a short amount of years. Especially when we're talking about an expense we can never get rid of (darn you electricity!). So consider the usage of that faulty appliance. Check the yellow energy guide sticker that came with it to see how much energy it consumes. If you can't find the sticker, simply check the model number which is located on the appliance, and call the manufacturer. Or you can check online at the manufacturer's website. The cost of repairs plus the cost of energy will probably be more expensive than replacing it.

One last factor to consider is how much the appliance is used. Do you only use your furnace or your A/C a few times a year? Well if so it might just pay to get a space heater which costs drastically less than a new furnace and more than likely less than the repair! It will also cost a lot less to operate; as with the A/C unit. You can replace the entire unit with window fans or an attic fan. Again, much less than a whole unit and costs a lot less to operate.

There is a lot of extra info out there on the Life Expectancy of an appliance, and you can take the time researching cost of repairs records on particular items, but make sure whatever decision you choose, it's one you'll be confident and satisfied with. I will post the Life Expectancy Chart for appliances below, but let me tell you a brief story of an old lady who came into one of the stores I used to work in.

She came to buy a new refrigerator because her old one was out of style and she wanted it moved to the basement. Now this little old lady was so tenacious about telling me the age of her old refrigerator, so I asked; "Ma'am, when did you get this refrigerator?"... "1940!" she immediately replied. Now I definitely did not expect that answer, but that fridge is about 66 years old! 15 year life expectancy my foot! And it still cools like the day she bought it. This isn't the only case I've heard of these things occurring. My very first refrigerator still runs strong and it's 20 years old. Anyways, I said that to say, if you have a good efficient appliance and it has done you no harm AND you'd like to keep it, repair it and keep it! Don't let these figures scare you away.

Life Expectancy Chart: