Major home appliances can result in large expenses, and it can be hard to decide whether replacing or repairing appliances is a better option. Although this is a difficult decision to make, there are a few general guidelines that can help to assist you in making the best option.
ADVANTAGES OF REPAIRING
There are many good reasons why it is better to repair appliances when they are broken instead of replacing them. It is usually cheaper to repair the item. In addition, repairing results in less waste than replacing, which is particularly important if you are trying to decrease your carbon footprint.
ADVANTAGES OF REPLACING
Replacing a broken appliance has its benefits too. A brand new appliance will be more likely in a better condition than your previous one. For instance, if your old faucet is covered in grime that you could not remove, getting a new one will be more ideal. Furthermore, replacing an appliance is definitely much less work compared to repairing it.
QUESTIONS TO ASK
Replacing and repairing appliances both have its advantages. The issue here is deciding which one works better for you. This can be complicated as there are many factors to consider. Hence, you should carefully look at all the factors involved in your situation. Take into consideration the cost of purchasing a new appliance, the age of the old appliance, the difficulty of repairing it, and so on. Answering the below questions may also allow you to see which choice is right for you.
- How hard is it to repair?
There are some repair works that you can do yourself and some appliances that are more challenging to fix on your own. For those you are not able to fix yourself, they may be easy work for trained professionals to fix. If that is the case, it is better to leave it to a professional to fix. However, if the repair work is too difficult, it may be more ideal to replace it. For instance, many modern electric devices rely on special parts that are costly to replace. This makes it easier to replace these costly gadgets compared to repairing them.
- How worn out is it?
One important factor to consider is how long will the lifespan of the appliance increase by repairing it. There is little point in investing money to repair something that will have to be replaced soon anyway. However, some old appliances are worth the money to repair if they are well made. A simple repair could keep them working well for a long time to come. The same goes for other appliances that are built to last. In contrast, any appliance that is cheap to start with is most likely not worth fixing.
For many appliances, there is an expected lifespan. For instance, a microwave and dishwasher tends to last for 9 years while a fridge has an average lifespan of 13 years. If your broken appliance is way past the expected lifespan, it may be a better choice to replace it with a new one.
- Is it costing money?
Old appliances tend to cost more to operate than new ones. With new efficiency standards, modern washers, dryers, refrigerators, and other appliances consume much lesser energy than old models.
- What is the disposal cost?
In many cases, the cost of replacing an appliance does not stop when you purchase a new one – you also have to bear the cost of disposing an old appliance. Before you make the decision to replace an appliance, it is important to do some research to know what are the various ways to get rid of the current item. The disposal cost may be high enough to tip the balance and make repairing the appliance the cheaper choice.
