A good appliance can last for years, in general between 12 and 15 years. Deciding what to do usually depends on the age of the appliance and how much it’ll cost you to repair it. It’s a major expense and it’s normal that you hesitate. Preventive maintenance will help, but several factors should be looked at before you decide either you repair or replace your refrigerator:
- How old is the appliance?
- What type of refrigerator is it?
- How damaged is your unit right now?
- Will the energy savings offset the cost of a new one?
If your unit is more than 15 years old, you shouldn’t even consider fixing it. It is time. However, if it’s less than 10 years old and the cost to fix it is not substantial, you should go ahead and call an appliance repairman to change the broken part.
Some types of refrigerators are more expensive to replace than repair, because of their high prices. Built-in refrigerators are pricy so might be worth fixing, but side-by-side refrigerators may be worth to replace if they are old enough. Broken integrated freezers should be repaired within seven years and considered for replacement after that.
The amount of damage and broken part to your refrigerator has be considered. If you have multiple defective parts and the cost will be elevated, it's time to replace.
The price of a new unit represents a big investment at first but really an energy-efficient model will make you save a lot of money compared with older models. New refrigerator require 75% less energy to run than models made 20 years ago, which represents about $100 per year.
When there is only one part broken, it can be worth the money to call a technician and get the appliance fixed. Always consider the four factors stated ahead. Don’t forget you can call us to make an appointment with a trained professional appliance repair technician today.
