Part of being a homeowner is dealing with the inevitable hardship that comes with appliances breaking down and falling into disrepair; however, it can be difficult to determine if the more economical solution is to have the item repaired or simply dispose of it and buy a brand new one. While buying brand new appliances may not always seem like the most affordable option, some appliance breakdowns signify a decline in the quality and function of the appliance that can only be temporarily fixed—and can burn a hole in your wallet in the long run. In other cases, the appliance is simply experiencing a small issue that can easily be repaired by a skilled craftsman, enabling many more years of fully functional use.
Appliance Repair:Â Air Conditioner
One appliance that can frequently be repaired by an appliance repairman is an air conditioner. Maintenance issues with air conditioners are fairly common and are generally caused by problems in the filtration system or a lack of Freon, the chemical which allows an air conditioner to produce cold air. If an air conditioner starts to produce ice crystals on its filter, is not producing cold air or seems to be circulating dust or debris, a repairman can generally assist in fixing the air conditioner issues and allowing you to continue using that air conditioner for some years to come. To ensure that you get the most life out of your Air Conditioning unit be sure to change your indoor filters regularly. The cheaper filters require changing every month while the better corrugated filters will last 3 months between changes and provide better filtration. HVAC professionals recommend annual maintenance on your A/C unit to prevent minor issues from becoming major repairs. One reason to consider replacing a healt pump unit is that modern units can be much more efficient than older units thus saving you enough in Energy costs to pay for the new unit.
Appliance Repair:Â Washing Machine
One appliance that often needs to be replaced when it breaks down is a washing machine. Home washing machines get a lot of use, and their cycle of motion is a repetitive one. When belts experience wear and tear, they can be replaced, but when the pump in a washing machine stops pumping the water out of  the machine and a new belt does nothing, it is time for the machine to go. A washing machine that leaves a family with sopping wet clothes is not worth keeping around, and those wet clothes can do damage to the dryer. Most appliance stores are willing to remove and dispose of an old washing machine as a part of the installation of a new purchase, so consumers who need a new washing machine may want to look into this as an option.
Appliance Repair: Water Heater
A water heater is another one of those items that doesn’t need repair often but when it does you may have to replace it. If it stops heating water but isn’t leaking you can often drain it and replace an element simply by removing a few screws. Be sure to kill the power to the unit before draining it and refill it before turning the power back on or you will burn out another element!
On a gas water heater the repair may be as simple as relighting the pilot light.
But if either unit is leaking it is definitely time for a new one. Putting a special tray under it is a good precaution to prevent water damage if it does leak and well worth the $20 or so that the tray costs.
Appliance Repair: Dish Washer
Dishwashers will often stop cleaning properly. Soap and dirt will form on the dishes and water won’t drain properly from the bottom of the unit. Many people think this is the end for their poor dishwasher and become so frustrated with it that they run out for a new one. But in actuality this is a fairly simple problem to fix. As a matter of fact if you are relatively handy with tools you can probably fix it yourself. Generally when this occurs all that has happened is that the drain has become plugged with food particles. All you have to do is find the filter and clean it out. This may require removing a few screws and putting some parts in your kitchen sink and cleaning them out. Worst case you may have to buy a new filter for under $50. After everything is clean and the small holes and jets are clear just reassemble and your dishwasher will be good as new.
Appliance Repair: Refrigerator
Refrigerators work much like A/C units they use Freon to move heat from one place to another. In this case the refrigerator moves heat from inside the refrigerator to outside thus cooling the inside of the refrigerator. Just like an A/C unit or heat pump Freon is not consumed in the process, it stays in a closed loop. The only time Freon needs to be replaced is if there is a leak. But if your refrigerator stops cooling it is possible that the heat dissipation fins are plugged with dust, or the fan motor has quit or a thermostat has malfunctioned. All of these are relatively small items and can be replaced by a refrigerator repairman. Modern refrigerators have all kinds of fancy electronic features for ice makers, water dispensers, lights, special cooling for various compartments etc. and often these circuit-boards can fail as well. Replacement is easy but can be expensive. At that point you need to weigh the age and likelihood of more things going wrong against the cost of a new appliance .
Multiple Repairs
Often a single repair will be cheaper than replacement. The problem comes when you have to perform repair after repair. If you can repair an appliance and get 3 to 5 more years out of it, a repair is generally a good idea. On the other hand if it is going to break again 6 months later it is probably more economical to replace it. Unfortunately, there is no foolproof way to determine if it will need another repair soon. But by taking the overall condition of the appliance into account a qualified repairman can often take an educated guess.
Appliances-The Age Factor
While it can be difficult to determine if an appliance should simply be repaired or if a replacement should be purchased and installed, thinking about the situation logically will usually give the situation some perspective. If an appliance is over twenty years old and starts showing signs of disrepair and dysfunction, it is probably time to dispose of it and get a new one. There is little to no chance that continued aging will improve its function, and it may be very difficult and expensive to find the correct parts to actually fix that appliance. In the long run, the expense of purchasing a brand new appliance may only be greater in expense by a small margin than attempting multiple repairs to an appliance that is over twenty years old.
On the other hand, if an appliance is under ten years old and you strongly feel that there is no reason it should be put out of commission or replaced, consider hiring a reputable repairman to analyze the situation. Most companies who send repairmen will provide an assessment of the issue with your appliance for a small charge. Knowing the nature of the problem will let you know if it is easily fixed or if the appliance should just be replaced. If the appliance is still under warranty, you may be able to have it fixed or replaced by the company. In either case, assessing the situation before you act is the key to making the right decision about fixing or replacing an appliance.
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See Also:
- Appliances That Bump Up Your Electricity Bill
- Don’t Throw Out Old Appliances, Save Money By Fixing Them!
- Buying ‘New’ Can Be Cheap Too: Shopping Online The Right Way
- Tips to Keep Your Electric Bill Within Budget
- Save Energy on Laundry
- Small Steps to Big Savings on Home Energy Prices
- Should You Repair or Replace Your Roof?
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