|
When considering appliance repair, it is budget-savvy to figure out if it is more cost-effective to repair or replace an appliance. Try this fairly easy calculation: Is the repair estimate higher than 50 percent of the price of a new appliance? If it is not, then repairs should come first. However, bear in mind that appliances are not designed to last forever. After all, with new technology coming out at lightning speed and eco-friendly features being added, many people like to upgrade their appliances every few years—but that does not mean repairs are not critical. According to the Consumerist, a consumer advocacy site, large home appliances (stoves/ovens, refrigerators, washers/dryers and dishwashers) should last at least four years. However, it is possible that a manufacturer could stop making replacement parts immediately after you purchase an appliance. The good news is that reliable appliance repair companies keep a generous stock of common replacement parts, so even if a manufacturer discontinues a part, it may be available from a repair service provider, or they may be able to find an aftermarket part for you. Show Your Appliances Some Love Routine maintenance and repairs can help extend the life of your large appliances. According to Angie’s List’s Angie Hicks, “I think a lot of times we forget to take care of our large appliances,” and that oversight can come back to bite you. If you want to make your appliance last as long as possible, ask yourself a few questions before calling a reliable technician. For starters, are you sure the appliance is broken? Common issues like plug shorts, a bad outlet or a circuit breaker that has been tripped might actually be the problem. You can review the appliance’s manual for the most common troubleshooting problems, or simply let your technician take care of it for you. A skilled technician can easily and quickly repair most appliances no matter the make, model or year—and will likely have access to parts that the average consumer would have to hunt diligently for. Back in Business Many people do not realize how much they depend on their appliances until they’re acting up—or not acting at all. If you frequently have problems with an appliance, it might be time to replace it, and a good technician will tell you that. However, if this is unprecedented, it may be worthwhile to fix it rather than dishing out the cash for a brand-new model. You should be able to get an estimate from a technician before agreeing to repair or replace the appliance, and make sure to get it in writing. Ask about extra costs like disposal, installation fees and the like. Next, do your research and find out how much a new appliance might cost. Prices may have gone up drastically since you last shopped for this appliance. Plus, many people are interested in more energy savings, and new appliances can offer a host of green options. In some cases, the energy savings may offset the purchase, but many times it will take months or even years to just break even. Life Span Cheat Sheet Every appliance is different, but generally speaking, refrigerators and washers/dryers should last 10-15 years. Ovens/ranges should last 10-20 years, as should water heaters. A central A/C unit should last 15-20 years. If your appliance is nowhere close to that age, a repair might be a better and more cost-effective solution.
Related Articles -
appliance repair, replace appliances, new fridge, new stove, new oven, new appliance,
|
