Repair it or replace it?

It didn’t take Amy Magan and her family of five long to realize how much help their dishwasher had been to them when it stopped working after just two years on the job.

“Five-hundred bucks for a new dishwasher wasn’t within our budget, so we tried to just limp along and hand-wash dishes for a while,” said Magan of Carmel, Ind. “We finally broke down and called a repair guy.”

Magan is happy she did. She was able to get her dishwasher repaired as well as a leaky refrigerator for just $150.

Often, homeowners with a non-working appliance assume they have to replace it, but calling a reputable repair company first could save them big bucks. A new appliance could cost thousands of dollars, but the average price of an appliance repair call ranges from $40 to $100.

“Unless you have a little bit of knowledge and know it’s an expensive repair, you should call somebody,” said Joe Wolf, a member of the Professional Service Association, an independent trade association for appliance service technicians and owner since 1975 of Wolf Appliance Repair in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

“Sometimes, the customer makes the decision (to replace) before they call us. If your car is not starting, you might only need a battery. You wouldn’t replace the car.”

Factors such as the age of the appliance, the amount of maintenance it has received over its lifespan, how much use it has had and how well it has performed will likely factor into the decision of whether to repair or replace.

Most large appliances should last at least 10 years, some for more than 20, according to surveys of highly rated repair specialists and a study by the National Association of Home Builders (nahb.org).

Typically, if a repair will cost more than half the cost of a new appliance and the ailing unit is more than six or seven years old, it’s time to replace it.

The upside of buying new is that most appliances are more energy efficient. However, environmental benefit analysis should also consider the disposal factor. Repairing an older appliance could keep it out of landfills for several more years.

Sometimes the decision is more aesthetically-minded than environmental. Here again, you can save money with repair.

“I have had many customers throughout the years — for instance they have a dishwasher with a panel that matches the rest of the kitchen who would do just about anything they could to repair it so they don’t have to figure out the decor of the kitchen and how they’re going to make the new dishwasher fit in,” Wolf said.

If you do need to colour match your appliance, there are companies that match them to any desired colour scheme through an electrostatic painting technique that makes them look factory new.

“They come out gorgeous,” said Jimmy White, owner of Custom Spraying and Reglazing in Staten Island, N.Y. “Today, your average refrigerator costs $400 to refinish. If you have a person who has a certain-sized refrigerator that can only fit in a certain spot, or that you want in a certain colour, then, $400 is (worth it).”

Proper maintenance will extend the life and energy efficiency of any machine, and help you put off the decision of repair or replace. Don’t overload washing machines and dryers, clean condenser coils on refrigerators, always follow the factory-recommended preventative maintenance guidelines and call a professional if you notice the appliance is not working properly.

“Many times, if you don’t repair it as soon as you hear a noise, it causes much more damage,” Wolf said.

As with any hire, check out local reputation and performance and get price quotes before you commit to a decision.

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5 questions to ask

1. Is it really broken? Check the troubleshooting section of your instruction manual for common problems. You may have a frayed plug, tripped circuit breaker or a bad surge-protector outlet.

2. How old is the appliance and does it have a history of bad operation? Explore your repair options first if this is the first sign of trouble.

3. What’s the cost difference between repair and replacement?

4. What will replacement cost if the new model won’t fit in your kitchen? How about removal, installation and disposal costs?

5. Will energy savings offset the cost of a new appliance?

How to preventing problems

1. Clean the condenser coils on your refrigerator annually and check door seals to ensure they are airtight.

2. Check air filters monthly and replace as needed.

3. Don’t overload dishwashers or washing machines.

4. Inspect the clothes dryer exhaust duct annually. Clean the lint filter before each use.

5. Don’t allow heavy grease buildup on your stove or oven.

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Repair it or replace it?