Is it worth repairing an appliance, or should I just buy a new one?
As a rule of thumb, repair it if the fix costs less than half the price of a comparable new machine and the appliance is in the first two-thirds of its expected life. Built-in and luxury appliances are worth repairing far longer than freestanding ones, because replacing them means cabinetry work too.
A freestanding washer that costs $700 new is not worth a $500 repair. A built-in Sub-Zero is a different conversation entirely: the appliance is part of the kitchen, the replacement is measured in thousands, and a sealed-system repair that sounds expensive is often still the cheaper path by a wide margin.
The other half of the answer is parts. If the part is discontinued and there is no supply, there is nothing honest to quote except replacement. We say that in the kitchen rather than ordering something that will never arrive.
We tell you when a repair does not make sense. Losing one job is cheaper for us than being the company that talked someone into a pointless repair.
Ask us directly
If this is your appliance right now, the phone is faster than reading. The service call is $85 and it is credited toward the repair.
Other questions
- Why will you not give a repair price over the phone?
- Is the $85 service call credited toward the repair?
- My dishwasher has standing water at the bottom. What should I do before the technician comes?
- My refrigerator stopped cooling. Is that an emergency?
- There is water on the floor under my washer. What do I check first?