Your appliance is broken, the repair quote is $400, and the replacement is $800. Do you fix it or buy new? This is the most common question in home maintenance, and the answer isn't always obvious. Here's a decision framework that works.
The 50% Rule
The simplest rule: if the repair costs more than 50% of the replacement price, replace the appliance. This accounts for the fact that a repaired appliance is still the same age, and the next failure is statistically more likely.
Example: A 6-year-old washer with a $350 control board failure. New washer: $900. 50% of $900 = $450. The $350 repair is under the threshold — but it's close. Factor in age (6 of 10 years = 60% used) and the risk is higher. Lean toward replacement.
Age Benchmarks by Appliance
| Appliance | Expected Life | Replace At |
|---|
| Washer / Dryer | 10-12 years | 6-8 years |
| Refrigerator | 12-15 years | 8-10 years |
| Dishwasher | 9-12 years | 6-8 years |
| Range / Oven | 15-20 years | 10-12 years |
| Microwave | 5-10 years | 3-5 years |
| Water Heater | 8-12 years | 5-8 years |
| Disposal | 8-10 years | 5-7 years |
Failure Pattern: The Tipping Point
One repair is normal. Two major repairs in 12 months is a pattern. Three is a death sentence for the appliance.
- First major repair: Fix it. This is normal wear.
- Second major repair within a year: Question whether the root cause was addressed. If it was a different component, the appliance is failing in sequence.
- Third major repair: Replace. The remaining components are the same age and will fail next.
When Replacement Makes More Sense
- Age over 60% of expected life: The remaining lifespan is short. A repair extends a dying machine.
- Repeated failures: Two or more major repairs in 18 months.
- Efficiency gap: If the new model is 30%+ more energy-efficient, the savings can offset the purchase price in 3-5 years.
- Warranty: A new appliance comes with a 1-3 year warranty. A repair usually comes with a 90-day part warranty.
- Feature gap: If you've been waiting to upgrade (quiet operation, smart features, capacity), the repair cost is a down payment on a machine you wanted anyway.
When Repair Makes More Sense
- Appliance under 40% of expected life: There's plenty of useful life left.
- Single component failure: One part wore out. The rest of the machine is healthy.
- High-replacement cost: A range or water heater is expensive to replace. A $200 repair is worth it.
- Sentimental or custom fit: The appliance fits your kitchen exactly. Replacement requires re-plumbing or re-electrifying.
Bottom line: The 50% rule handles 80% of decisions. When it's close, let the failure pattern decide. One repair is normal. Three is a trend.
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