Every broken appliance forces the same question, usually at the worst moment: fix it or buy a new one. The answer is mostly math. An appliance has an expected lifespan, a replacement price, and a repair quote, and those three numbers point to a decision more reliably than any gut feeling. This guide works through the math for any appliance, from a fridge to a dishwasher, and flags the cases where safety overrules the math entirely.
The rule most repair techs use is simple: if the repair costs more than 50% of a new appliance, buy the new one. Under 50%, repair is usually the better deal — as long as the appliance is not already past its expected life. A $200 fix on a $800 dishwasher that is four years old is an easy yes. The same $200 fix on a 14-year-old dishwasher is money toward a machine that will break again soon.
| Appliance | Typical lifespan | Repair usually makes sense when |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 10–15 years | Under 10 years old and the fix is under $400 |
| Washer | 10–12 years | Under 8 years old and the fix is under $300 |
| Dryer | 10–13 years | Under 10 years old and the fix is under $250 |
| Dishwasher | 9–12 years | Under 8 years old and the fix is under $300 |
| Range / oven | 13–15 years | Under 10 years old and the fix is under $400 |
| Microwave | 7–9 years | Almost never — a new countertop model is often cheaper than the repair |
Lifespans vary by brand, model, and use, so treat these as planning ranges. The appliance lifespan guide breaks down how long each type lasts and what shortens it — read it before you decide, since the age of your machine is half the equation.
First, how old is it relative to its expected life? An appliance at half its lifespan with one breakdown is a repair. The same appliance at 90% of its lifespan is a replacement waiting to happen. Second, what does the repair cost against a new one? Get the quote in writing, then compare it to the price of the equivalent new model, not the cheapest model on the floor. Third, how often has it broken? One repair in eight years is normal wear. Three repairs in two years is a pattern, and patterns do not stop. Two yes answers to repair means repair; two pointing to replace means replace.
Repair wins when the fix is simple and the machine is young: a worn door seal, a broken belt, a failed drain pump, a bad heating element. These are common parts, the labor is an hour or two, and the machine goes back to years of service. Repair also wins when the appliance is under warranty or a home warranty covers it — the home warranty guide explains when that coverage actually pays. And repair wins when replacement is not really an option yet: a built-in fridge or a wall oven in a custom cutout costs far more to replace than the sticker price suggests, because the cabinet work comes with it.
Replacement wins when the machine is past its lifespan and breaks again, when parts are discontinued, or when the repair costs more than half of new. It also wins on energy: a 15-year-old fridge can use twice the electricity of a current model, so the higher purchase price pays back in running costs. And it wins on safety, no debate: a gas appliance that smells of gas, an oven that sparks, or a dryer with a burning smell is not a repair decision — turn it off, ventilate, and call a pro or replace it. Do not keep running an appliance you suspect is unsafe while you shop around.
A service call and diagnosis typically runs $75–$150, often applied to the repair if you go ahead. Common fixes land at $150–$400: pumps, belts, seals, igniters, heating elements. Expensive fixes — a fridge compressor or a main control board — run $400–$800 and are the ones that trigger the 50% rule. Get the quote before authorizing the work, and ask whether the part is in stock: a two-week wait for a part on a fridge you use daily is a cost too. If the tech cannot quote a firm price, that is itself information.
Apply the 50% rule, check the age against the expected lifespan, and count the breakdowns. Young machine, cheap fix, first breakdown: repair. Old machine, expensive fix, third breakdown: replace. And keep the machine healthy in between — the appliance maintenance checklist covers the yearly tasks that prevent most of these decisions from coming up early.
If a repair costs more than half the price of a new equivalent appliance, replace it. Under half, repair usually wins — provided the appliance is not already past its expected lifespan.
Yes, when it covers the repair: your cost becomes the service fee instead of the full repair bill, which makes repair the better deal more often. Read the coverage first — many plans cap payouts or exclude the part that broke.
Almost never. At 15 years a fridge is past its typical lifespan, parts get scarce, and it uses more electricity than a new one. Put the repair money toward a replacement unless the fix is trivial and cheap.
Some fixes, yes: cleaning a filter, replacing a door seal, clearing a drain. But leave gas, sealed refrigeration systems, and anything involving the main electrical panel to a pro — the savings are not worth the risk, and a bad DIY repair can void a warranty.
Usually not. A countertop microwave costs $100–$200 new, and most repairs cost nearly that once labor is counted. Microwaves are the one appliance where replacement is the default answer.