Should You Repair or Replace Your Appliance?
A free preview of the decision framework below, plus the full Repair-or-Replace Decision Kit emailed to you for $9.99— works for any appliance, any time you're facing this decision again.
The 50% Rule
The most widely used rule of thumb: if a repair costs more than 50% of the price of a new comparable unit, replace instead of repair. A $300 repair on a washer that costs $700 new (43%) is usually worth doing. A $400 repair on that same washer (57%) usually isn't.
The Part the 50% Rule Misses
An appliance from 10–15 years ago can use 30–50% more energy than a new ENERGY STAR model doing the same job. That ongoing cost doesn't show up in a repair quote, but it's real money every year the old unit keeps running. The full kit walks through how to estimate that gap and fold it into your decision.
Lifespan + repair-cost table
Typical lifespan and repair cost ranges for 7 major appliance types.
Quick decision checklist
Five yes/no questions that point you to repair or replace in under a minute.
Before you call a tech
What to ask a repair technician before agreeing to any quote.