Category
Should you fix it or buy new? The 50% rule, appliance lifespan benchmarks, parts availability, and how warranty coverage tilts the decision.
12 articles
The classic guideline is the 50% rule: if a repair costs more than half the price of a comparable new appliance — and the unit is past the halfway point of its expected lifespan — replacement is usually the smarter financial move. Refrigerators last roughly 10–15 years, dishwashers 8–12, washers 8–12, dryers 10–15, and ranges 13–20. A $400 control-board repair on a 4-year-old dishwasher is almost always worth it. The same repair on a 10-year-old unit almost never is.
Lifespan is only one input. Also weigh repair history (multiple failures in a short window signal broader wear), parts availability (older or discontinued models can become unrepairable overnight), warranty coverage (an active home warranty can turn a replacement decision into a $100 out-of-pocket repair), and energy efficiency (newer appliances often pay back part of their cost in lower utility bills).
The guides in this category work through the math appliance by appliance — refrigerator, dishwasher, washer, dryer, oven — so you can plug in your own numbers and get a decision that's grounded in real cost and expected life, not sales pressure.
Most appliance repairs$100–$450Compare freezer repair and replacement using diagnosis, food safety, sealed-system condition, parts, energy use, complete costs, and warranty coverage.
Most appliance repairs$100–$450Compare garbage-disposal repair and replacement using leak location, jams, motor condition, electrical safety, plumbing fit, installation cost, and warranty terms.
Most appliance repairs$100–$450Decide whether to repair or replace a microwave using diagnosis, door and cavity condition, high-voltage safety, installation cost, parts, and warranty terms.
Most appliance repairs$100–$450Decide whether to repair or replace a water heater using tank condition, diagnosis, safety, warranties, installed cost, and household needs.
Typical refrigerator repair$150–$1,000Decide whether to repair or replace a refrigerator using diagnosis, complete quotes, food safety, parts, coverage, energy use, installation, and household needs.
Typical washer repair$125–$450Decide whether to repair or replace a washing machine using diagnosis, complete quotes, leak safety, parts, coverage, efficiency, installation, and household needs.
Typical dishwasher repair$100–$300Decide whether to repair or replace a dishwasher using a written diagnosis, complete repair and installation quotes, condition, parts, coverage, and safety.
Typical dryer repair$100–$300Decide whether to repair or replace a clothes dryer using diagnosis, complete quotes, fire and gas safety, venting, parts, coverage, efficiency, and installation.
Typical oven repair$130–$400Decide whether to repair or replace an oven, range, or cooktop using diagnosis, complete quotes, gas and electrical safety, parts, coverage, installation, and needs.
Most appliance repairs$100–$450Some appliance problems are not worth repairing. Learn when refrigerator, washer, dishwasher, oven, dryer, and cooktop repairs may not make sense.
Most appliance repairs$100–$450Estimate appliance remaining life using model age, usage, maintenance, installation, repair history, efficiency, condition, and parts availability.
Most appliance repairs$100–$450Should you repair or replace a broken appliance? Learn how to compare repair cost, appliance age, reliability, warranty coverage, and replacement value.