Repair or Replace an Appliance? A Method

There is no percentage rule that fits every appliance. A $300 repair on a $1,200 fridge and a $300 repair on a $600 dryer are different decisions, and both change again if the part is on back-order or the machine has already had two repairs. What works is a method: five questions, answered with the numbers from our written finding rather than a guess over the phone.

1. Repair cost against replacement cost

Compare the quoted repair, all in, with the installed cost of a replacement: the appliance, delivery, installation, disposal of the old unit and tax. People compare against the shelf price and understate replacement by a few hundred dollars. If the repair is a small fraction of the installed replacement cost and the rest of the machine is sound, repair is usually the better use of money. If the repair approaches the replacement cost, replacement usually wins. In between is where the next four questions decide.

2. Age and condition

Age matters for two reasons: the likelihood of a second failure, and whether parts are still made. We do not publish lifespans as facts, because they depend on brand, model, use and luck, and any single number would be a guess. What we can tell you at the visit is the condition of the rest of the machine: whether the drum bearings are quiet, whether the compressor is running within normal current, whether there is corrosion or previous repair work. That is worth more than an average.

3. Parts availability

A repair is only possible if the part exists. For some models a control board or a sealed-system component is discontinued within a few years; for others, parts are available for decades. In Quebec, the Office de la protection du consommateur describes an availability warranty: merchants and manufacturers must make replacement parts, repair services and repair information available for a reasonable period after purchase, or tell you in writing before the sale that they do not. If the part is unavailable, the decision is made for you and you pay only the $89 diagnostic.

4. Energy and water use

A newer appliance may cost less to run, but the saving is usually smaller than people expect. Natural Resources Canada states that ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators use about 9% less energy on average than standard current models, and dishwashers about 12% less energy and 30% less water. The gap against a much older appliance is larger, but it rarely pays for a replacement on its own; treat it as a tiebreaker, not the reason.

5. Safety and the failure type

Some failures end the conversation. A refrigerant leak in a sealed system, a cracked oven cavity, a scorched control board with signs of arcing, or a washer tub with a fractured spider are repairs that are either uneconomic or leave the machine less safe than it was. Our finding says so plainly when that is the case.

What the written finding gives you

Every diagnostic ends with a one-page finding: the symptom, what we observed, the cause, the repair with parts, labour and total, and our verdict on whether it is worth doing. The $89 is waived if you go ahead; if we recommend replacing, you pay the $89 and keep the finding, which includes what to look for in a replacement. We do not sell appliances, so the verdict has no commission behind it.

A worked example, with the numbers left to you

Dryer, no heat. Finding: failed heating element, vent partly blocked. Repair quote: [quoted amount]. Installed replacement of a comparable dryer: [shelf price plus delivery, install, disposal and tax]. Machine is otherwise quiet, belt and rollers fine. Vent to be cleaned either way. On those facts, repair. Change one fact, such as a drum that also rumbles on its bearings, and the answer can flip. That is why the finding lists condition, not only the failed part.

Questions

Is there a rule like 'replace if the repair is more than half the price'?

Rules like that circulate, but we do not use one, because installed replacement cost, parts availability and the condition of the rest of the machine change the answer. Use the five questions above with your own numbers.

How long should an appliance last?

We will not give you a number as a fact; it depends on brand, model, use and water. In Quebec, the legal warranty of quality considers what is a reasonable period of normal use given the price paid and the conditions of use, which is a better frame than an average.

Will you tell me not to repair?

Yes, when that is the honest answer. The finding says so and includes what to look for in a replacement. You pay the $89 and nothing else.

Does a newer appliance really save on electricity?

Somewhat. Natural Resources Canada's figures for ENERGY STAR models are about 9% less energy for refrigerators and about 12% for dishwashers compared with standard current models. Against an old appliance the gap is larger, but it is a tiebreaker rather than a reason on its own.

What if the part is on back-order?

The finding tells you the expected availability as the supplier states it. You can wait, or decide to replace and pay only the diagnostic. We don't ask for a deposit on ordered parts. If a part goes on back-order we tell you the expected date and you can cancel without charge.

Repair or replace: how to decide