Your Home Essentials During Self-Isolation: Should You Repair or Replace?

It’s a tough time for all of us right now, and we are ALL spending A LOT of time at home. In fact, I have never ever spent so much time in my house on my own before! And whilst that has given me some good time to get DIY bits and bobs done in my own time, it also leads to the discovery of things like, well, broken or neglected household items that I have been ignoring for some time…

When appliances break, it can have a big impact on our day-to-day lives, especially right now when we are staying at home, cooking and cleaning for ourselves (shock horror!) and not able to pop out for a quick bite to eat or spot of entertainment. Urgent action is often required, or it would be under normal circumstances, but things aren’t quite normal right now, are they? 

But what is the best option: to repair or to replace? While it is a decision that needs to be made quickly, it’s also important to weigh up your options before rushing into a decision. The cost is the biggest factor to consider, as well as potentially your practical needs and the environmental impact. Here are just several questions to ask yourself to help you make the best decision.

How much does it cost to repair?

If the damage is severe or it’s a complex problem, repair costs could be expensive. You need to be sure that it’s financially worth repairing the appliance – in some cases, it could be more economical to replace.

The 50% rule

A good way of determining whether you should repair or replace is to consider the 50% rule. Consider how much money you spent initially on the appliance – if repairs cost more than half the value of the appliance, you could be better off replacing it.

You should also consider whether you’ve had to make previous repairs. If you’ve already spent £80 repairing your washing machine and are looking at another £80 repair (bringing the total to £160), it might make sense to buy a new washing machine (considering that most cost £200 to £300).

Saving money on repairs

There may be ways of saving money on repairs. When getting a quote from an appliance repair company, consider ringing up multiple companies so that you have multiple quotes to choose from. Some repair technicians may charge less than others for the same service.

You may also be able to save money by ordering your own replacement parts if necessary. You can find many appliance parts online such as these Westinghouse dishwasher parts. Technicians will often aim to make a profit on any parts they buy in, so it’s usually cheaper to buy them yourself (just make sure you know exactly which part you need).

Another way to save money is repair the appliance yourself. However, this isn’t always wise unless you know what you’re doing. Appliance repair could involve working with electrical parts or plumbing – it could be dangerous if you get it wrong.  

How old is your appliance?

It’s worth also considering the age of your appliance. Most appliances have an average life, after which point parts are likely to fail. Most appliance manufacturers suggest replacing these appliances after this period of time.

Here are just a few common appliances and their average life:

•         Refrigerators (16 years)
•         Freezers (16 years)
•         Gas ovens (15 years)
•         Electric ovens (13 years)
•         Washing Machines (11 years)
•         Microwave ovens (9 years)
•         Dishwashers (9 years)
•         Tumble dryers (13 years)
•         Vacuum cleaners (8 years)

You could find that older appliances aren’t just more prone to breaking but also a lot less energy-efficient. For instance, an older gas oven may use more gas, while an older refrigerator may use more electricity.

It could be worth looking up the energy rating – all appliances are rated from A to G (A being very energy-efficient and G being inefficient). In the case of refrigerators, A+++ is the highest rating. Ovo Energy’s appliance energy rating guide offers more information on these ratings.

Are they covered by a warranty?

Relatively new appliances may still be covered by a warranty, which could entitle you to free repairs. Warranties on appliances generally last only a year (unless you’ve taken out an extended warranty).

If you’ve had previous repairs in the past, a technician may also have offered a warranty. This may only apply if it’s the same fault that occurs (for instance, if a washing machine had drainage issues, the warranty will generally only cover you if the same fault occurs with the same appliance – you won’t be covered for a separate issue).

Warranties can often be forgotten about so it’s worth looking through receipts that you may have kept onto.

Does it still meet your needs?

You may decide that an appliance no longer meets your needs and is therefore worth replacing rather than repairing.

This could be the case with an oven. If you’ve recently got into baking and you’ve only got a small and basic oven, it could be a perfect opportunity to upgrade to a bigger and better oven.

Similarly, you may decide to upgrade a washing machine to a washer/dryer if you don’t currently have a separate tumble dryer.

Replacing appliances could also be something to consider if you’re thinking of selling your home in the near future. While some people take their appliances with them, others may leave them behind to the next buyer (common with ovens, showers and washing machines – which can be a nuisance to move). A brand new appliance could add value to your home in some cases, making it a worthwhile investment instead of repairing an old appliance.

If you replace, what will you do with your old appliance?

If you choose to replace your appliance, you should consider what you will then do with your old appliance. If it is broken, you will be unable to sell it, which could mean having to chuck it away. For those that are passionate about their environmental impact, this may not be ideal.

There are some companies that may be willing to still buy broken appliances for parts. You won’t get as much money as selling a working appliance, but it could still be a way of putting a broken appliance to further use.

Alternatively, you could consider repairing AND replacing. By repairing your old appliance and selling it, you could make some profit – and you may be able to use this profit to put towards a new appliance better suited to your needs.