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Guide
Repair or Replace Your Appliance? The 50% Rule, Explained
Repair it if the fix costs less than about half the price of a comparable new appliance and the unit is not past the middle of its working life.
That is the rule of thumb most appliance technicians use. Below is how to apply it, typical lifespans by appliance, and a calculator to run your own numbers.
Calculator
Repair or Replace Calculator
Enter your appliance, its age, the repair quote and the price of a comparable new one.
This is a starting point, not a verdict. Energy use, how much you like the appliance and how hard it is to replace all matter too.
Lifespans
How Long Appliances Typically Last
| Appliance | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | About 13 years |
| Dryer | About 13 years |
| Gas range | Up to 15 years |
| Dishwasher | About 9 years |
| Microwave | About 9 years |
| Appliances overall | About 10 years |
Source: National Association of Home Builders figures, as reported by ConsumerAffairs. Real lifespans vary with use, maintenance and installation.
Rules of thumb
When Repair Usually Wins, and When It Doesn’t
Usually worth repairing
Fans, igniters, heating elements, thermal fuses, pumps, switches, belts, door seals, valves and ice makers. These parts are affordable and the rest of the appliance often has years left.
Often time to replace
A failed compressor or refrigerant leak on an older fridge, worn tub bearings on an older front-loader, a cracked tub, or a main control board that costs most of a new unit.
Repair even when older
Built-in and high-end units like Sub-Zero, Wolf and Thermador, and over-the-range microwaves, because replacing them means cabinet, venting or installation work.
Replace for safety
Burning smells that return, scorched wiring, a cracked glass cooktop, or any gas appliance with a persistent leak.
Detroit tips
Two Detroit-Specific Things to Know
- Getting a new one in is harder than you think. More than 95% of Detroit’s current homes were built by 1956. Narrow basement stairs and older kitchens can make swapping a washer, dryer or fridge a project of its own.
- Recycling pays. If you replace a working fridge or freezer, DTE pays a $50 gift card to recycle it.
FAQ
Repair or replace questions
What is the 50% rule for appliances?
If a repair costs more than half the price of a comparable new appliance and the appliance is past the middle of its expected life, replacing usually makes more sense. If either is not true, repairing usually wins.
Is it worth repairing a 10-year-old refrigerator?
Often yes for a fan, relay, gasket or defrost part. Usually no for a failed compressor or a refrigerant leak, since a refrigerator typically lasts about 13 years.
Is it worth repairing a 10-year-old washer?
For a pump, switch, belt or door seal, usually yes. For worn tub bearings, usually no, because the repair is labor-heavy.
Get a repair quote first
Tell us the appliance, the brand and what it is doing. We will give you the diagnostic fee and a likely price range on the phone.