Repair or Replace?
Repair is the most economical solution in the vast majority of repair cases. In cases that the repair exceeds 50% however (often the case for refrigerator compressor replacements and some other major repairs), it may be a better option to look into purchasing a new appliance altogether.
To repair or replace depends on a number of factors: maintenance history, particular model reliability, cost of appliance originally, reliability of specific model. For most customers, the appliance’s age in comparison to its expected lifespan is the most important factor to consider:
| Appliance Type | High | Low | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher | 18 | 3 | 11 |
| Dryer (electric) | 15 | 8 | 12 |
| Dryer (gas) | 15 | 8 | 12 |
| Freezer | 16 | 8 | 12 |
| Garbage Disposal | 14 | 9 | 12 |
| Microwave | 12 | 7 | 10 |
| Range (electric) | 19 | 12 | 18 |
| Range (gas) | 22 | 14 | 18 |
| Refrigerator | 16 | 10 | 13 |
| Trash Compactor | 10 | 4 | 7 |
| Washing Machine | 14 | 7 | 11 |
When a new appliance makes sense:
Remember the cost of delivery and disposing of your old appliance. Disposal and delivery costs can run up to $200. A $600 appliance may cost $800 when considering taxes and delivery / disposal costs.
You should also consider that most appliances will need some kind of minor repair prior to the end of their lives. Whether it’s be a defrost heater, drain pump, or thermal fuse, most appliances will require minor repairs, and repair is the most economical option for most part failures.
If the appliance still has a few years left in its life, we typically recommend repair as the most economical option for most part failures. If you still have questions about these options as far as repair please call us at (281) 973-7040 or e-mail us and we can help you out!
New Appliance Options
As complexity in appliances increases, there are more parts which can fail. Certain refrigerators and washing machines can have as many as four circuit boards. Essentially, simpler appliances with less working parts often cost less to maintain than their premium counterparts. Due to this, when customers ask us which models we recommend, we tend to suggest simpler appliances with less lights, functions, and features.
Not many customers are aware that although there are a lot of different appliances brands, there are only a few manufacturers of appliances. Below a table is shown of the three main appliance manufacturers and the brands they own:
| Manufacturer | Brands / Makes |
|---|---|
| Whirlpool | Acros, Admiral, Amana, Bauknecht, Brastemp, Consul, Estate, Inglis, Jenn-Air, Kirkland, KitchenAid, Maytag, Privileg, Roper, and Whirlpool |
| Electrolux | Frigidaire, Gibson, Kelvinator, Lehel, Tappan, Westinghouse, and White-Westinghouse |
| General Electric | General Electric and Hotpoint |
What makes matters even more complicated is that some brands are made by a large number of manufacturers of appliances. Kenmore, for example, is a brand that is used for the following companies: GE, Whirpool, LG, Panasonic, Bosch, and Electrolux. Major electronics manufacturers and newcomers to the appliance industry LG and Samsung manufacture control boards which are sold in American brands. This also includes the General Electric brand.
So, what to buy?
If you’re on a strict budget, you should look at basic models made by Whirlpool. Keep in mind: the more complex an appliance is: the more parts it has. The more parts, the greater the likelihood of part failure.
For customers with a more flexible budget, we recommend appliances by Bosch, Sub-Zero, Thermador, and Wolf. These tend to have a build quality that is high, as well as a long lifespan.
We wish you the best of luck if you do decide to purchase a new appliance and hope that you will call us if you have any appliance needs in the future!