When to replace an appliance

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 handwash 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 nonworking 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 out," said Joe Wolf, a member of the Professional Service Association, the independent trade association for appliance service technicians.

"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 like age of the appliance, how much maintenance it's received over its lifespan, how much use it's gotten and how well it has performed in the past 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 on Angie's List and a study by the National Association of Home Builders.

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. And 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 color match your appliance, there are companies that match them to any desired color scheme through an electrostatic painting technique that makes them look factory new.

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 correctly or making unusual noises.

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When to replace an appliance