1. Cost: the repair against a new one
The repair quote is divided by the price of a comparable new appliance: same type, size and feature level, installed. At about 50% or more, the cost half of the rule is met.
Free tool
Repair or Replace? Appliance Calculator
Should you fix it or buy a new one? Enter the appliance, its age, the repair quote and what a comparable new model costs. The calculator applies the same two-part 50% rule and service-life figures we use when a customer asks our technicians that question, and explains its answer.
★★★★★ 4.9 rating · 470+ Google reviewsRead our Google reviews
Licensed in VA, DC & MD
Want an exact repair price?
Monday - Friday: 8 AM to 10 PM
Saturday: 8 AM to 10 PM
Sunday: 10 AM to 10 PM
Diagnostic visit: $75, or $115 for a double unit.
Credited toward your repair when you approve the quote.
Check your repair quote
Enter the appliance, its age, the repair quote and what a comparable new one costs. The answer uses the same service-life figures and 50% rule as our guide.
How it decides
The rule behind the answer
Replacement only becomes the better choice when an expensive repair meets an older appliance. The calculator checks both halves of that and adjusts for what failed.
2. Age: where it sits in its service life
Before the midpoint of its typical life, a repair returns most of the appliance's life, so repair usually wins. Past the midpoint, the cost test decides. At the end of its typical life, even mid-size repairs become a close call.
3. What failed
Pumps, belts, igniters, heating elements, fans, gaskets and door locks are usually worth fixing at any age. Compressors and sealed systems, transmissions and bearings, main control boards and leaking tubs are where replacement deserves a look on an older unit.
4. Overrides
A gas or burning smell, sparking, a tripping breaker or a refrigerant leak means stop using it until it is checked, whatever the math says. A second repair within a year on an older unit tips the answer one step toward replacement.
The result also spreads each option over the years it buys: the repair divided by the remaining expected life, against a new appliance divided by its full typical life. It is a sanity check rather than the deciding number.
The figures
Typical service life and repair costs in the D.C. area
| Appliance | Typical life | Midpoint | Typical repair (parts + labor) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator or freezer | 10–15 years | About 6–7 years | $200–$450; sealed system often $600+ |
| Washer | 10–12 years | About 5–6 years | $150–$400 |
| Dryer | 10–13 years | About 5–6 years | $150–$400 |
| Dishwasher | 9–10 years | About 5 years | $150–$400 |
| Oven, range or cooktop | 13–15 years | About 7 years | $150–$450 |
These are the same ranges published in our repair-or-replace guide and D.C.-area repair cost guide, which explain the sources and the appliance-by-appliance decisions. Heating and cooling equipment is priced after diagnosis, so it is not in the calculator.
Before you decide
Four checks that can change the answer
Warranty
A young appliance with an expensive failure may still be covered by the manufacturer or an extended plan. Find the purchase date and model number before paying for parts.
Recalls
Search the brand and model on the CPSC recalls site or SaferProducts.gov. A recall repair costs you nothing.
A real replacement price
Price the model you would actually buy, including delivery, installation and haul-away, not the cheapest one on the floor. Built-in and premium models change the math the most.
The error code
If the display shows a code, look it up in our error-code library first. Some codes are a filter, hose or setting you can clear yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Repair or replace FAQ
Replacement usually makes more sense only when two things are both true: the repair costs about half or more of a comparable new appliance, and the appliance is past the midpoint of its typical service life. A big repair on a young appliance is usually still worth it, and a small repair on an old one often is too. The calculator applies both parts.
The ranges we use are 10–15 years for a refrigerator, 10–12 for a washer, 10–13 for a dryer, 9–10 for a dishwasher and 13–15 for an oven, range or cooktop. Use, water quality, venting and maintenance move individual units up or down that range. Our repair-or-replace guide explains the figures.
Often, yes, if the problem is a fan, defrost part, thermistor, start relay or door gasket; those typically run $200–$450 in the D.C. area. Sealed-system work such as a compressor often runs $600 or more, and on a refrigerator that age it is worth getting a replacement price before you approve it. Enter both numbers above to see where your quote falls.
It works, but treat the age result with care. Premium built-in appliances often outlast the typical ranges, and a comparable replacement costs far more, so the percentage test usually favours repair. Enter the real price of the built-in model you would buy.
Leave the quote blank and the calculator uses the typical D.C.-area range for that appliance and tells you whether the answer changes across the range. For an exact number, a $75 diagnostic visit ($115 for a double unit) gives you the full price before any work starts, and the fee is credited toward the repair.