When it comes to home repairs, sometimes you may consider throwing in the towel and just starting fresh. Sometimes, it can be worth it. However, have you done your research on the new appliance you are buying? Is your old appliance even that old? Besides offering affordable appliance repair for those throughout the Augusta, Martinez, Evans, and surrounding areas, Premier Appliance wants to help you save money in other ways around your home too. In this article, we want to walk you through our guide on how we decide to either repair or replace old appliances.

Assessing the Situation

Everyone, understandably, wants everything to last as long as possible. But if your refrigerator or dishwasher is nearing 20 years old and you’re spending a few hundred dollars every few months to keep it running, you have to realize that it’s time to let go! Think if it in the same way that you would with your vehicle. Are you spending more long term to keep something barely functioning or will you profit in the long run from spending more up front for something better?

Average Residential Appliance Lifespans

In 2019, The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers determined an average of useful lifespans for various home appliances. Here is what they came up with:

• Gas range: 14.2 years.
• Electric range: 11.6 years.
• Top-freezer refrigerator: 14 years.
• Side-by-side refrigerator: 11.1 years.
• Dryer: 13.4 years.
• Top-load washer: 11.2 years.
• Front-load washer: 9.1 years.
• Dishwasher: 12 years.

Of course, with the proper care, these appliances may even last longer. On the other hand, with excessive use and lack of maintenance, you may find yourself spending more out of pocket sooner than expected.

When to Replace Old Appliances

As touched on above, if your appliance is reaching the end of it’s expected lifespan and a repair isn’t going to add several more years onto it’s life, then you’ll want to consider replacement. It is typically common practice to replace when the repair would cost more than 50% of the cost of a new appliance. Additionally, replacing your refrigerator or laundry appliances is a good option if you have older models and want to make the switch to more “smart” appliances. Or, for example, if you want to switch from a gas stove to electric.

Check out this article from U.S. News to determine the best time of year to buy a new-to-you appliance.

When to Repair Older Appliances

Just because a repair is going to be expensive doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to throw the idea out the window (unless you’re going by that 50% rule above!). With the prices of everything today, the more you spend on an appliance, the heftier the repair prices may be. This is especially so for those “smart appliances” that have up to date technology and new, complex features. In other words, in today’s time, an appliance is an investment. How much you put into it is up to you, so you can use your best judgement to determine how far your money will go. Or, you can call in the professionals.

For Repairs and New Installations – You Know Who to Call

Whether you choose to repair or replace your old appliances – Premier Appliance of Augusta will back you up. While we unfortunately don’t sell new appliances, we do help you install them in a safe and efficient manner. We have also spent a bit of our time recently putting together a professional appliance guide for our CSRA community. We understand that some of you want to try your hand at some DIY maintenance when possible, so we put together some of our greatest appliance care tips, troubleshooting, and more. Read through those pages, follow our guides, and see your appliances thank you through longevity and peak performance!

Most importantly, if you ever need professional appliance repair assistance in Augusta, give us a call at (706) 941-2090.