When repair is below 50%
If the repair cost is below 50% of what a comparable new appliance would cost in total, including delivery and installation, repair is often worth considering, provided the appliance is otherwise in reasonable condition.
Repair decision guide
Repair or Replace an Appliance? A Practical Decision Guide
The repair-or-replace decision depends on appliance age, the diagnosed problem, repair cost, parts availability and the realistic cost of a replacement including delivery and installation. A single rule cannot make this decision for every washer, dryer, fridge or dishwasher.
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The 50% guideline
A Common Starting Point: The 50% Rule
A widely used starting guideline is to compare the repair cost with 50% of the current replacement cost of the appliance. This is not a fixed rule, but it is a useful framing tool.
When repair approaches or exceeds 50%
When the repair cost approaches or exceeds 50% of full replacement cost, replacement often deserves a closer look, particularly if the appliance is older or has a history of issues.
The rule has limits
An older appliance near the end of its lifespan may be a better replacement candidate even at a low repair cost. A newer appliance with a single clear problem may be worth repairing even if the cost is proportionally higher.
When repair may make sense
Factors That Favour Repair
The appliance is otherwise in good condition
A single clear, repairable problem on a well-maintained appliance is a different situation from repeated failures across multiple systems.
The repair is proportionate to the replacement cost
Compare the repair against the full replacement cost including delivery, installation and disposal, not just the sticker price of a new appliance.
Parts are available and reasonably priced
Model age and parts availability can influence both repair timing and long-term practicality. Your contractor should confirm parts status before the repair is approved.
When replacement deserves a closer look
Factors That Favour Replacement
Repeated breakdowns
Multiple recent repairs can change the economics even when the newest problem is technically repairable. Consider the cumulative repair spend and whether the pattern suggests further failures are likely.
Significant deterioration
Rust, damaged cabinetry interfaces, corrosion around door seals, persistent leaks or multiple failing components may suggest the appliance is approaching the end of a practical lifespan.
Repair approaches replacement cost
Compare the complete replacement cost, not just the advertised appliance price, against the expected value of the repair. Include delivery, installation, haul-away and any connection work.
Decision context by appliance
Repair or Replace by Appliance Type
The same 50% guideline can lead to different decisions depending on the appliance, the failed system and installation costs.
Washer
Consider the diagnosis, age, recent repair history, tub or bearing condition and whether a stacked installation increases replacement work. One isolated pump or lock problem is different from repeated mechanical failures.
Dryer
Compare the failed heating, airflow, belt, drum, motor or control system with the overall condition of the dryer. For gas models, include the specific repair requirements and any installation work in the comparison.
Refrigerator or freezer
Separate accessible component repairs from compressor or sealed-system work. Cooling-system diagnosis, age, food-storage needs, parts availability and the cost of replacing a built-in or counter-depth unit can all matter.
Dishwasher
Look at pump, leak, control and heating repairs alongside the condition of the tub, racks, door and surrounding cabinetry. Installation and removal costs should be included when comparing replacement.
Oven, stove or range
Elements, igniters, burners, sensors and controls have different repair economics. Gas, electric and induction replacements can also involve different installation requirements.
Built-in or stacked appliance
Access can change the decision. Cabinet panels, stacked laundry, condo clearances, electrical work, gas connections or delivery constraints may make replacement more involved than the appliance price suggests.
Typical appliance lifespans
General Appliance Lifespan Planning Table
These are broad planning ranges, not guarantees or automatic replacement dates. Usage, maintenance, installation, build quality and repair history can move an individual appliance outside the range.
ApplianceGeneral planning rangeHow to use the range
Washing machineAbout 10 to 14 yearsA younger washer with one clear failure may still be a strong repair candidate. Repeated bearing, control or structural problems on an older machine can change the decision.
Dryer, gas or electricAbout 10 to 15 yearsHeating, airflow, belt and sensor repairs can be very different from motor or control problems. Fuel type and vent condition matter to the assessment.
Refrigerator or freezerAbout 10 to 17 yearsFan, defrost, sensor and control repairs differ from compressor or sealed-system work. Cooling-system diagnosis and model-specific parts can strongly affect the decision.
DishwasherAbout 9 to 12 yearsCompare the repair with the condition of the racks, tub, door, pump system and cabinetry installation, not age alone.
Range, stove or ovenAbout 13 to 15 yearsGas, electric and induction appliances have different repair paths. Consider the failed function, condition of the appliance and full replacement or installation cost.
MicrowaveAbout 9 to 10 yearsOver-the-range and built-in models can have installation costs that make the replacement comparison different from a countertop unit.
Use these ranges only as decision context. The diagnosis, repair quote, full replacement cost and overall appliance condition are more important than age by itself.
Before you decide
A Practical Checklist Before Making the Call
Use these questions to structure the decision once you have a diagnosis and repair quote in hand.
- What is the diagnosed problem, and what does the repair involve?
- What is the repair cost including parts, labour and any call fee?
- What is the full replacement cost including delivery, installation and haul-away?
- How old is the appliance, and what is its general condition?
- Has this appliance needed repairs recently? What was spent?
- Are parts available and how long will repair take?
- Does the contractor expect the repaired appliance to last for a reasonable period?
Common decision mistakes
What People Often Get Wrong When Making This Decision
These are the most common ways the repair-or-replace decision goes sideways. Knowing them in advance helps you ask better questions when the contractor follows up.
Comparing repair cost to the sticker price only
A new appliance at a store does not cost what you actually pay to have it running in your home. Delivery, installation, haul-away and any connection work are real costs that should be part of the comparison. A repair that looks expensive against a sale price can look different against the true replacement total.
Deciding before the diagnosis
The same symptom can come from a straightforward, low-cost component or a more significant repair. Deciding to replace before the diagnosis means you may be replacing a working appliance over a problem that would have cost far less to fix than you assumed.
Treating appliance age as the only factor
Age is context, not a verdict. A well-maintained ten-year-old appliance with one clear problem is a different situation from one that has had multiple component failures in the same period. The repair history matters as much as the calendar.
Independent references
Canadian Appliance Efficiency Resources
If replacement is being considered, compare the repair decision with verified Canadian energy-use information. Efficiency is one factor, not a substitute for diagnosis, total replacement cost or appliance condition.
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