Knowing when to throw in the towel and buy a new appliance to replace a dying one is a tough call. It’s not easy to identify the signs telling you that your dishwasher or stove can be made to work again, but with a keen eye for detail and a commitment to frugality, it’s easier to accomplish than you might think.
The long life of appliances.
The appliances in your home are machines designed to accomplish some amazing things. Your dishwasher, for instance, has to generate heat for the washing and drying cycles, create soapy suds from the detergent, and remain energy efficient all at the same time. The same applies to your refrigerator. These mechanical parts are subjected to a large variance of temperatures and conditions and are meant to remain durable throughout years of punishing use. Many of these staples of a modern home can be expected to last for a decade or longer, and that’s before any repair work must be done to keep them running. Energy-efficient appliances often come with a warranty packaged in with the sale price, but more often than not the units run beyond these terms without even the slightest hiccup. This is an amazing feat considering that some of your essential devices like the furnace or air conditioning unit live in a veritable freezer during the winter months: in your garage or entirely outside throughout the year’s roughest weather patterns.
Start with the essentials.
While most of your home’s utilities might feel like an integral component of your life and routine, there are a few pieces of equipment that simply take priority. You should perform a tune-up on your heater every few years in order to ensure that it is still working at capacity. Regular maintenance on this appliance is crucial to using less energy in the long run. Likewise, seeking a professional opinion from a technician will make sure that you aren’t stuck without hot water for days at a time in the dead of winter while waiting for a replacement.
Similarly, deciding whether to repair or replace your refrigerator requires a hard look at the age of the appliance itself. Most issues that plague these units begin with the door seal, the freezer, or a strange noise emanating from somewhere within the coil. A new fridge can be a large expense, but if your refrigerator is getting up there in age (at or above the average lifespan) then you might consider just replacing the unit with a new appliance altogether. Newer models are often more energy-efficient, saving you money on your electricity bill. And they utilize more accurate thermostats within the walls of the refrigeration space so you know exactly how cold your foods will be kept. Though, for models that have simply sprung a minor issue a few years into your ownership, a repair is likely the way to go. While under warranty the refrigerator is covered for nearly any problem that might arise, so fixing it won’t require you to shell out any cash. These fixes are often simple as well: a new gasket or compressor should make the whole device as good as new. With the help of a technician, you can get your appliance back up and running before running out for a batch of ice to save your perishables.
Deciding whether to repair or replace your appliances is one of the greatest questions that homeowners have to deal with. There are major benefits to both approaches, so taking the time to understand which solution is right for your home is the best way to ensure long term satisfaction.
