When a technician gives you a repair quote, the next question is almost always the same. Is it worth fixing, or should I just buy a new one? We get asked this every day, and we answer it the same way every time, with a simple rule you can run yourself.
The rule
Work out what a new appliance would really cost you, all in. Then compare the repair quote to half of that number.
If the repair costs more than half of the replacement total, replacing it usually makes more sense. If the repair costs less than half, repair it.
That’s it. The part people get wrong isn’t the rule, it’s the replacement number.
What replacement really costs
Most people compare the repair quote to the price tag on a new appliance. That’s the wrong comparison, because the price tag is only part of what you’ll pay. The real replacement total includes:
- the new appliance itself
- delivery
- installation
- hauling the old one away
Add those four together and the number is often a good deal higher than the price you saw in the store or online. That total is the one to compare against.
Worked examples
The numbers in these examples are made up to show how the math works. Your own quote depends on the model, the part and the job.
A washer that won’t drain. Say a comparable new washer comes to $800 once delivery, installation and haul away are added. Half of that is $400. Drain pumps are one of the parts we replace most often, and a recent drain pump job we did on a GE washer in Cypress came to $345 with parts and labor. That’s under the $400 line, so repair wins.
A refrigerator that’s lost its refrigerant. Say the replacement total for a standard refrigerator is $1,600, which puts the line at $800. Low refrigerant always means a leak somewhere in the sealed system, and the proper fix is repairing the leaking part, whether that’s the compressor, the evaporator or something else. If that repair is quoted above $800, replacing is usually the better choice. What doesn’t make sense is paying for a recharge by itself. The refrigerant leaks back out, the fridge stops cooling again, and a recharge on its own isn’t covered by our warranty.
A dryer that runs but won’t heat. Say the replacement total is $900, so the line is $450. A failed heating element is another of the most common repairs we do, and it usually comes in well under a line like that. Repair it.
Built in appliances are different
The rule still works for built in appliances, but the replacement total gets much bigger, and that changes the answer.
Taking a built in refrigerator out of custom cabinetry and installing a new one can cost $1,000 to $2,000 in installation and haul away alone. For a built in oven it’s at least $275 to $450. That’s before you’ve paid anything for the new appliance.
Here’s a real one. We recently repaired a GE Monogram double oven in Richmond that was built into the kitchen cabinets and showing an F96 error. The cooling fan had stopped and the temperature sensor was damaged. Replacing both parts took two technicians and came to around $850. Replacing that oven would have meant the price of a new built in double oven plus at least $275 to $450 to install it and haul the old one away. Repair was the clear call.
So when the cabinet work is custom and the appliance is built in, repair is usually the better choice.
Other things that tip it toward repair
Time. A repair is usually faster than buying new. You’re not waiting on a delivery date and then an installation appointment. A recent ice maker replacement we did on a KitchenAid refrigerator in Katy had the fridge making ice again like the day it was bought.
The problem might not be the appliance. Sometimes it’s a tripped breaker, a power issue or a damaged outlet, and that’s common after storms here in Houston. If that’s what we find, you don’t pay labor.
The warranty. When we replace or repair a part and complete the repair, parts are covered for 90 days and labor for 30 days.
How to get a real number
Guessing doesn’t help much here, because the rule only works with a real repair quote. A technician comes out and runs a full diagnostic. If you go ahead with the repair, the service call fee is waived. You can see all of our current prices on the pricing page.
Call (713) 333-0343, tell us what the appliance is doing, and ask the technician straight out whether it’s worth fixing. We’ll run the numbers with you.
