Repair or replace? The appliance maths that settles it

In one line: The 50% rule, the typical lifespans that frame it, and the energy arithmetic that quietly tips the decision - so the next breakdown is a calculation, not a panic.

An appliance dies at the worst possible moment, and the sales floor knows it. A few rules of thumb turn the panic purchase into a five-minute calculation.

The 50% rule

If the repair quote is more than half the price of a comparable new unit, and the machine is past the halfway point of its expected life, replacement usually wins. Both halves matter: a £180 repair on a three-year-old washer is reasonable; the same repair on a twelve-year-old one is a down payment on the next failure.

Typical lifespans - the honest ranges

These vary by brand, usage and water hardness, but the commonly cited ranges are: washing machines roughly 10-12 years, dryers around 12-13, dishwashers 9-10, fridges 10-15 (compressor models stretching further with clean coils), ranges and ovens often 13-15+ (the simplest machines last longest). A machine at half its range with one failed part is a repair candidate; one at the far end of range with a failed control board rarely is - and replacement is the moment to rethink the "smart" upsell.

The energy arithmetic people forget

Older appliances - fridges above all - can cost visibly more to run than modern equivalents, so replacement pays a second dividend on the electricity bill. Be honest though: the saving is meaningful mainly when replacing genuinely old, inefficient units, not a working five-year-old machine. If you keep the old one, the cheap maintenance that extends life is boringly effective - fridge coils twice a year, the door-seal routine, the vacuum's filter-and-brush haircut.

Repairs that are almost always worth it

Simple mechanical failures on otherwise-healthy machines: hoses, belts, door seals, thermal fuses, a blocked pump, a snapped roller. If the fix is a part and an hour, repair wins at almost any age - many washer "failures" are a filter check away, and some "broken" freezers are just frost.

Before you decide anything

Get the quote first - diagnosis fees are usually rolled into the repair if you proceed. Dig out the model number and the receipt; check the warranty twice before paying anyone. And keep a one-line note per appliance of its age and any past repairs - the next breakdown then takes minutes to price, not a weekend of dread.

All of Understand it Common mistakes

General information, not professional advice. Homes differ — if a job is beyond your confidence or the guide’s boundary, that is what tradespeople are for.