Repair or replace: the 50 percent rule

How to apply the rule

1. Get the real repair price. Not a phone estimate. The price after a diagnosis, with parts and labor included.
2. Price a comparable new appliance. Same type and size, plus delivery, installation, haul-away and any new hoses, cords or vent parts.
3. Check the age. The date of manufacture is coded in the serial number on the model tag.
4. Compare. Over 50 percent of the new price and past half of its life: replace. Otherwise: repair.

Typical lifespans

These are averages. A simple top-load washer or a basic dryer often runs longer. A unit in a hot garage or a busy rental often wears out sooner.

When repair is clearly worth it

• Dryers. Fuses, heating elements, belts and rollers are inexpensive parts. A dryer is almost always worth repairing. See dryer repair.
• Built-in refrigerators. Replacing one means changing cabinetry and panels. Repair is nearly always the lower cost. See built-in refrigerator repair.
• Wear parts on any appliance. Drain pumps, lid locks, suspension rods, fan motors, defrost parts, ice makers and inlet valves.
• Stacked units in a closet. A new unit must fit the same space, vent and connections, which limits the choice and adds cost.

When replacement makes more sense

• A failed compressor or sealed system on a basic freestanding refrigerator more than 8 to 10 years old.
• Tub bearings or a broken spider arm on an older front-load washer.
• Rust through the cabinet or tub.
• A second major repair within a year or two on the same older appliance.

For rental units

Owners and managers have one more number to weigh: the cost of a unit without a working refrigerator or washer while a new one is ordered and delivered. A same-week repair often keeps the tenant comfortable for years at a fraction of the replacement cost. More on the renters and property managers page.

How we help you decide

The diagnostic visit is $89. You get the cause and one price for the repair. If the repair does not make sense for the age of the appliance, we say so, and you pay only the $89. If you go ahead, the $89 is waived.