Fix or replace? What to do when home appliances break down

Jason Law,WFTV.com News Staff
·2 min read

Do you fix it or replace it? It’s a tricky question when one of your big home appliances breaks.

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When home appliances break, it can be a frustrating and expensive problem.

The average cost for a new home appliance is more than $2,100, according to Home Advisor.

Kevin Brasler, Executive Editor at Boston Consumers’ Checkbook, advises homeowners to consider fixing their appliances instead of immediately running out and buying a new machine.

“Just don’t assume-- Oh, it’s broken down; I’ve got to buy a new one. I’m not going to call in a repair person,” he said.

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Even if your appliance is on the cheaper end, Brasler’s team found, “low-priced companies on average rate higher on service quality than their higher-priced competitors.”

“If you’re satisfied with the features of your appliance -- if it hasn’t broken down before-- if it’s been reliable-- if you like the way it looks and operates, then that’s a reason to go ahead and shell out $200 or $300 for a repair because it’s likely to continue to perform well for you,” he said.

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Here are some things to consider if you do want to repair:

  • If your appliance is still covered under warranty, Brasler said, use a shop authorized to perform in-warranty repairs so you don’t have to pay for work.

  • If the warranty is expired, only use top-rated shops.

  • Consider fixing it yourself -- It may not be as expensive or complex as you think.

  • You can usually do most repairs yourself for like $20, Brasler said; parts for appliances are cheap.

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But knowing when to throw in the towel is also important.

If it’s a major repair, if the compressor for your refrigerator has died, or if the transmission for your washer machine is not working, according to Brasler, that’s worth doing a replacement.

“The repair itself is going to be so expensive-- it’s almost worth it just to buy a new unit,” he said

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