Should I repair or replace? An honest rule for each appliance

We'd rather tell you to replace something than sell you a repair we don't believe in. Here's the math we use on every call in Summit County.

The general rule: if the repair costs more than 50% of a new appliance's price and the unit is past 60% of its expected lifespan, replace. Below that, repair. The lifespans below are real-world averages, not manufacturer marketing.

Refrigerators (lifespan 13–17 years)

• Repair: fan motors, defrost components, water valves, ice makers, gaskets, control boards under 10 years old, sealed-system work under 7 years.
• Replace: compressor failure on a fridge over 10 years old. Sealed-system leak on a fridge over 7 years old. Multiple failures in 12 months.

See: refrigerator repair.

Washers (lifespan 10–14 years)

• Repair: drain pumps, door locks, shock absorbers, valves, drive belts, control boards under 7 years.
• Replace: bearing or spider arm failure on a 7+ year old washer. Tub or transmission damage. Multiple failures in 12 months.

See: washer repair.

Dryers (lifespan 12–15 years)

• Repair: heating elements, igniters, thermal fuses, belts, rollers, idler pulleys — at almost any age.
• Replace: motor failure on a 10+ year old dryer where the housing or drum is also worn.

Dryers are usually worth repairing. The components are cheap and most failures are mechanical, not electronic. See: dryer repair.

Ovens and ranges (lifespan 13–17 years)

• Repair: bake elements, broil elements, igniters, surface igniters, sensors, switches.
• Replace: control board failure on a low-end range over 10 years old. Cracked glass cooktop on a 10+ year old range. Multiple failures, especially after a self-clean cycle.

See: oven and range repair.

Dishwashers (lifespan 9–12 years)

• Repair: drain pumps, door seals, water valves, latches, motors, sensors.
• Replace: control board failure on a low-end dishwasher over 7 years old. Tub leak from a cracked sump. Pretty much any failure on a builder-grade Frigidaire/Whirlpool past 9 years.

See: dishwasher repair.

Microwaves (lifespan 7–10 years)

• Repair: over-the-range and built-in microwaves with bad door switches or magnetrons under 5 years old.
• Replace: any countertop microwave (always cheaper to replace). Over-the-range units past 7 years with control board issues.

See: microwave repair.

High-end exception

Sub-Zero, Wolf, Thermador, Viking, Miele, Bosch Benchmark, GE Monogram. The cost basis on these is so much higher (a Sub-Zero column refrigerator is $9,000+) that the repair-vs-replace ratio shifts hard toward repair. We routinely fix 15-year-old Sub-Zeros where the same failure on a Whirlpool would mean replacement. Common in Fairlawn, Bath, and Hudson.

Want us to look at it before you buy a new one? Get a quote or call (330) 426-0384. The diagnostic is $89 and we'll tell you straight whether it's worth fixing.