Appliance Repair · Decision Guides

Appliance decision guides

Work through four questions in order: how old is the appliance, what does the specific repair cost, what does a comparable replacement cost installed, and is the fault a known end-of-life failure. If the repair exceeds about half the replacement price, or the appliance is past roughly 10 years with a major fault, replace. Otherwise repair is usually the better deal.

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Step one: find the age. The serial number on the data plate encodes the manufacture date for most brands. Compare it to typical lifespans — refrigerators around 13 years, top-load washers about 14 and front-loaders about 11, dryers 8–12, dishwashers 8–10, ovens 10–15.

Step two: get the specific repair quote, with the part named. "Refrigerator repair" spans $60 for a condenser coil to $1,200 for a sealed system. There is no decision to make until you know which one you're facing.

Step three: price the real replacement, including installation and haul-away. A dishwasher is $400–$700 for the machine plus $100–$300 to install, so about $700–$1,970 all in. An oven is $600–$1,600 for the same type but $750–$2,700 if you're switching between gas and electric — that switch is a much bigger project than it sounds.

Step four: check the failure type. Compressors, sealed systems and control boards on older machines are end-of-life failures, priced at $500–$1,200 each on refrigerators. Belts, seals, switches and elements are maintenance-grade failures priced in the low hundreds. The first group argues for replacement; the second almost never does.

One legitimate fifth option: wait. If the appliance still works badly but works, and you're not facing a safety or water risk, you can plan a replacement for a sale period instead of buying in a panic. That is not an option with a leaking machine or anything gas-related.

How to choose

Look up the manufacture date before you decide anything: It's on the data plate. Age changes the answer more than the repair price does.
Price replacement installed, not just the machine: Dishwasher installation alone is $100–$300, and switching an oven between gas and electric pushes the total to $750–$2,700.
Sort the fault into maintenance or end-of-life: Belts and seals: repair. Compressors, sealed systems and boards on an old machine: usually replace.
Don't decide under pressure in your kitchen: Take the written diagnosis, thank the technician, and price a replacement before you approve anything over a few hundred dollars.
Waiting is a real option — except for leaks and gas: A noisy dryer can wait for a sale. A leaking dishwasher or a gas smell cannot.

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FAQ

Appliance Repair decision guides — common questions

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How do I find out how old my appliance is?

Check the data plate for the serial number — most manufacturers encode the build date in it. Compare it against typical lifespans of 8–15 years depending on the appliance.

Is a $500 repair on a 10-year-old refrigerator worth it?

Usually not. Refrigerators average about 13 years, replacements run $1,000–$3,000, and $500 is at or over the 50% guideline once you factor in what else is likely to fail next.

Does it cost more to switch from a gas to an electric oven?

Yes, substantially. Replacing with the same type runs $600–$1,600, while switching types runs $750–$2,700 because of the utility and connection work involved.

Can I just keep using a partly broken appliance?

Sometimes, and it's a legitimate way to avoid a panic purchase. Not with water leaks, burning smells, or anything involving gas — those need attention now.

Sources

Where these figures come from

Fixr — Refrigerator Repair Cost · retrieved 2026-07-26
Fixr — Dishwasher Repair Cost · retrieved 2026-07-26
Fixr — Oven Repair Cost · retrieved 2026-07-26
Fixr — Washing Machine Repair Cost · retrieved 2026-07-26
Fixr — Dryer Repair Cost · retrieved 2026-07-26