Short answer: replace when the appliance is past half its expected lifespan AND the repair costs more than 50% of a new one. If only one of those is true, repairing is usually the better value. Below is the same framework we use standing in your kitchen, with real numbers, so you can run the math yourself. Want a straight opinion on your unit? Call (617) 778-2904 and we will tell you honestly if it is not worth fixing.
This is the question we get asked more than any other, usually with a repair quote in one hand and a knot in the stomach. Here is the honest thing: the right answer is often not to repair at all, because the smart money is on a new machine. A good technician should be willing to talk you out of a repair when the math says so.
The 50 percent rule, and the better version of it
The classic rule of thumb in this trade is simple: if the repair costs more than 50 percent of a comparable new appliance, replace it. A 700 dollar repair on a machine you can replace for 900 dollars is throwing good money after bad.
But that rule on its own can mislead you, because it ignores age. So the version we actually use is stricter, call it the 50/50 rule: replace when both are true, the appliance is past the halfway point of its expected lifespan and the repair exceeds 50 percent of replacement cost. Both conditions have to hold. A 400 dollar repair on a two year old machine is a clear fix even if it stings; the same 400 dollars on a twelve year old machine is usually money you will not get back.
There is a third shortcut some technicians like that bakes age right in: multiply the repair cost by the appliance age in years. If that number is bigger than the replacement cost, lean toward replacing. A 200 dollar repair on a 5 year old unit gives you 1,000 dollars, against a 900 dollar new machine you would replace. The same 200 dollar repair on a 2 year old unit gives 400 dollars, an easy fix. It is rough, but it points you the right direction fast.
Know where your appliance sits on the lifespan curve
The rules above only work if you know how long the thing was supposed to last. These are the industry averages we work from.
| Appliance | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 10 to 15 years, some past 18 |
| Washing machine | 8 to 12 years |
| Dryer | 10 to 13 years |
| Dishwasher | 9 to 12 years |
| Oven and range | 13 to 15 years, gas often longer |
| Microwave | 9 to 10 years |
| Water heater | 8 to 12 years |
| Garbage disposal | 10 to 12 years |
Premium brands shift these meaningfully. Sub-Zero, Wolf and Miele units are built to run 20 years or more, which is exactly why a repair on a high end appliance is far more often worth it than on a builder grade one. A 500 dollar fix on a Sub-Zero with a decade of life left is reasonable; the same fix on a bargain fridge near its end is not. If yours is a premium built in, read why a Sub-Zero stops cooling before you decide anything.
The repairs almost always worth doing
If your appliance is sound and reasonably aged, these are clear fixes, cheap parts on machines with years left:
- A dryer heating element, thermal fuse, belt or rollers, see washer and dryer repair
- A gas oven igniter or an electric oven bake element, see oven and range repair
- A washer lid switch, drive belt or motor coupler
- A dishwasher filter cleaning, water inlet valve or spray arm, see dishwasher repair
- A refrigerator evaporator fan, defrost component or door gasket, see refrigerator repair
- A water heater element or thermocouple
These typically run 15 to 100 dollars in parts, or roughly 150 to 350 dollars with a professional. On an appliance under about eight years old, we would fix every one of these without a second thought.
The failures that usually mean replace
Some failures change the math entirely:
- A water heater leaking from the tank body, not a fitting, is finished. A leaking tank cannot be repaired, full stop.
- A refrigerator with a failed compressor or a sealed system refrigerant leak on a unit over about ten years. Sealed system work is expensive, and on an aging fridge a new efficient unit usually wins.
- A washer or dryer with a failed transmission or motor past its lifespan, especially if it is also showing other wear.
- A control board on a cheap appliance near end of life. Boards are pricey, and that is often the moment to let go.
The pattern: anything that is both expensive and sits on an old, already troubled machine.
The costs people forget to put in the math
Hidden replacement costs. A new appliance is not just the sticker price. Budget for delivery, often 50 to 100 dollars, installation at 100 to 200 dollars, and haul away of the old unit at 25 to 75 dollars. Those tilt borderline cases back toward repair.
Energy savings. This cuts the other way. A modern Energy Star refrigerator can cost meaningfully less to run each year than a twelve year old one, enough to recoup part of a replacement over its life. Old, inefficient fridges and water heaters are quietly expensive to keep.
Repair history. A single failure on an otherwise reliable machine is very different from the third repair in two years. When breakdowns start clustering, the machine is telling you something.
Warranty. Before you authorize anything, check whether you are still inside a factory warranty window. People pay for repairs that were covered all along.
How the call actually goes
A seven year old washer that will not spin, repair quoted at 350 dollars, a new comparable unit around 800 dollars. That repair is under 50 percent and the machine is only at its midpoint, so it is a clear repair and you will likely get several more good years.
Now flip it. A fifteen year old dryer, same repair quote, against a 600 dollar replacement. The repair is technically under 50 percent, but the machine is well past its lifespan and another failure is probably around the corner. That is where we would be honest and say replace. The math whispers repair; experience says do not.
Getting a straight answer in Greater Boston
Our diagnostic is 99 dollars and it is waived when you go ahead with the repair, so you get the real numbers before committing to anything. If the honest answer is that your machine is not worth fixing, we will tell you that and you will not have paid for a repair you did not need. We cover Cambridge, Somerville, Newton, Medford and every town we serve, and we handle commercial refrigeration for restaurants too. Call (617) 778-2904 or book online.
The short version
Use the 50/50 rule: replace when the appliance is past half its expected lifespan and the repair tops 50 percent of a new one, otherwise lean toward fixing. Know your appliance typical lifespan, fix cheap parts on sound machines without hesitation, and treat a leaking water heater tank or a failed compressor on an old fridge as a replace. Factor in delivery and installation, energy savings, repair history and any remaining warranty. When in doubt, get the repair quote first, then run the numbers before you say yes.
Common questions
What is the 50 percent rule for appliance repair?
If a repair costs more than half the price of a comparable new appliance, replacement usually makes more sense. The stronger version adds age: replace only when the unit is also past the halfway point of its expected lifespan. If just one of those is true, repairing is normally the better value.
How long do major appliances last?
On average: refrigerators 10 to 15 years, washers 8 to 12, dryers 10 to 13, dishwashers 9 to 12, ranges 13 to 15, microwaves 9 to 10, water heaters 8 to 12. Premium brands like Sub-Zero, Wolf and Miele can exceed 20 years, which is why repairing them is far more often worth it.
When is an appliance never worth repairing?
When a water heater tank is leaking from the body, when a refrigerator compressor or sealed system fails on a unit over ten years old, or when an expensive part such as a control board fails on a cheap appliance near the end of its life.
Should I factor in energy efficiency when deciding?
Yes. A new Energy Star appliance can cost noticeably less to run each year than an old one, which can help offset replacement on a borderline decision, especially for refrigerators and water heaters.
Do you charge to tell me whether it is worth repairing?
Our diagnostic is 99 dollars and it is waived when you proceed with the repair. If the machine is not worth fixing we will say so directly, so you can put that money toward a replacement instead.