Ownership planning
Repair or replace? Use a structured decision instead of one magic percentage.
A useful decision combines safety, diagnosis confidence, condition, cost, parts availability and what replacement would actually improve.
A six-question repair vs replace framework
- Is it safe to continue using? Safety recalls, smoke, sparking, gas odour, severe overheating and repeated electrical trips override cost arguments.
- Is the fault clearly diagnosed? A speculative expensive repair is different from a confirmed replaceable component.
- What is the total repair cost? Include call-out, labour, parts, tax, repeat-visit risk and any related damage.
- What is the appliance condition? Consider leaks, corrosion, seals, noise, bearings, cabinet condition and prior repairs.
- Are parts and service available? Older controls, sealed assemblies and model-specific components may be difficult to source.
- What would replacement improve? Capacity, energy use, features, noise, warranty and reliability all matter—but do not assume a new model automatically pays back quickly.
A practical decision matrix
| Situation | Lean repair | Lean replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Newer appliance, isolated confirmed fault | ✓ | |
| Under manufacturer/retailer cover | ✓ | |
| Repeated major failures | ✓ | |
| Safety recall with manufacturer remedy | Follow recall remedy | Follow recall remedy |
| Critical parts unavailable | ✓ | |
| Cosmetic/minor user-serviceable issue | ✓ | |
| Structural corrosion or recurring leak | Often | |
| Repair is a small fraction of a suitable replacement | Often |
Do not use a rigid “50% rule” as law: A percentage shortcut can be useful for budgeting, but age, diagnosis confidence, safety, warranty and parts availability can change the answer.