Repair or Replace

There’s nothing inherently exciting about appliances, is there? Just reading the title probably made your eyes glaze over. And yet, they are an everyday necessity in all of our lives. Where would we be without our washer and dryer, without our oven or refrigerator? 

If you’re a homeowner, you might have low-level anxiety about your appliances. There will come a day when one of those expensive, necessary gadgets decides to cough and sputter and stop working. It’s a source of stress for adults everywhere, and the decision you must make is: is this thing a goner? Should you go ahead and replace the appliance, or is it worth trying to repair? If you do go for repairs, should you hire someone, or try to do it yourself? It can be hard to know. 

We’re starting to move away from the materialistic, “throw-away” attitude that was prevalent in society for a long time. And that’s a good thing. We should be recycling, repairing and working to keep products for longer, especially electronic and technological products. That should always be our first course of action, but we should also know when it’s a hopeless business and to throw in the towel. 

Generally, whether or not you should replace or repair an appliance depends on a lot of different factors. The age of the appliance, which part of the appliance is broken, the level of complication in repairs, and the cost of parts are all things you should factor in when deciding whether to try repairs. 

For items like washing machines and dryers, sometimes it’s a simple fix like replacing the dryer heating element. These parts might seem tricky, but they are bought very cheaply and you can find guides on how to replace them pretty much anywhere. It’s a simple gadget to install and you can fix your dryer in just a few minutes – depending on the age of the machine. For some newer models, something like replacing the heating element, previously a simple job, might be more difficult. The rise of “smart appliances” has changed our lives in so many ways, but when it comes to repairs, well…the “smart” part sort of goes out the window. When it comes to newer machines, if you choose to go the repair route (which honestly, is a good idea, since your machine is still new and likely was quite pricey), you might want to call a repair person or technician that specializes in repairing the item in question. Trying it yourself could be risky and dangerous. 

For older appliances, it’s much easier to repair. Guides exist all over the place, and most parts are found easily and replaced quickly. However, if your machine is very old, the parts might cost more than what you would pay to replace it. In those cases, just bite the bullet and buy a new one, always taking care to recycle the old one rather than throwing it away. Many recycling centers will even come pick up your old appliances, saving you time. 

Whether you choose to repair or replace, keeping your appliances in good working shape will make your life so much easier.