Sometimes we are torn between fixing our favorite old appliance that a repair person has never seen or buying a new one. Here are some questions to ask yourself if you find yourself in this position.
Has your appliance been very reliable in the past?
If you’ve been lucky enough to have an appliance for over a decade before needing a repair, it may pay to invest some money to keep it running. Repairs are often inexpensive, but remember that at some point, replacement parts for your appliance may no longer be available. Hopefully, after a repair, you won’t have to worry for at least another decade. The cost of repairs must be taken into account. In general, it’s best to avoid any repair that costs more than half the price of a new product. For those expensive repairs, the added savings of buying an energy efficient appliance will make more sense. It’s a good idea to ask retailers, local utilities, and local governments about rebates for recycling and energy-efficient products they may offer.
What is the overlooked cost of replacing an old appliance?
The actual cost of replacing your appliance must be taken into account when comparing repair cost to repair cost. replacement cost. Replacing your old appliance typically requires installation, delivery, and pick-up and disposal fees for your old appliances. So before you rush to dispose of your current appliance, ask yourself how much it will cost to remove the existing appliance, install the new appliance, and dispose of the old appliance. Paying over a hundred dollars to install an appliance is not unusual.
Are the new appliances made to the same quality as my current appliance?
The quality of today’s low-end appliances has degraded compared to similarly priced machines 15 years ago. This is the result of manufacturers losing control over the quality of parts ordered around the world. It seems like they would like us to replace our appliances every few years. You can still buy high-quality appliances, but the more bells and whistles that come along, the more things can go wrong. Repairing high-end appliances can cost a lot of money because they use cutting-edge technology like smart circuit boards. As well. spending a lot of money on an appliance no longer means more reliability; you’re just as likely to need an appliance repair on an expensive top-of-the-line model as you would on a less expensive model. When it comes to major kitchen appliances, Consumer Reports magazine readers rated high-end brands like Viking, Thermador, Dacor and Jenn-Air as the least reliable.
So although there are plenty of attractive appliances with fancy extras, like a steam function on a clothes washer. Your trusty old washing machine can come in handy if you give it a second chance at life.