There are household appliances that are used multiple times a day, so it won’t come as a surprise if they start malfunctioning or experiencing breakdowns. When this situation arises, you’d be faced with a decision to make—whether to replace them or have them repaired so they could be functional again.
When dealing with defective household appliances, typically you’d have to conduct some tests and observe their performance before finally deciding on whether they need repair or replacement. And to help you assess whether to replace your appliances or have them repaired, here are some essential things to consider.
When It’s Time To Replace
One factor that could help in determining whether to replace a household appliance is to count its age. Appliances will perform well for a certain period of time. After their useful life, they’d no longer function properly even with proper maintenance. In case your appliances are already nearing their due date, it might be best to have them replaced than repaired.
-
Comparing Costs
If you’ve found one of your appliances is almost near its lifespan, one way to arrive at a wise resolution is to compare the cost of repairing versus replacing it. You can inquire from credible repair shops, like Hamilton appliance repair stores and similar shops, about the cost of repairing your appliance. And if it outweighs the expenses for buying a new one, the better route to take is to replace it.
You can ask for a repair estimate and compare it with the price of the new household appliance model you’re eyeing to buy as a replacement. If the latter costs a little bit higher, it may be wise to still choose to replace since this small difference in cost can still be outweighed by the advantages you’d get from opting to buy a new product.
-
Disposing Of Old Home Appliances
If you’ve decided to replace your defective appliance rather than have it repaired, there are many ways you can dispose of it. Most stores will generally take your old appliance back once you buy a new one since they can use some of its parts on other appliances that need to be reconditioned. You could also get rid of broken appliances and hire rubbish removal services to pick them up and dispose of them responsibly. Some second-hand stores are also worth approaching as they might be able to fix your old appliance and resell them.
Holding a garage sale is also one way to dispose of your defective appliance. You can put it out along with other stuff you found while decluttering your home. You could also consider donating it to a local charity. There are charity organizations that accept appliances of any size, even defective ones. And if you need it picked up, they might be able to help. This is a smart way for you to get rid of old things while helping others.
When To Choose To Repair
If an item has just been recently purchased or is still under warranty, it’s ideal to have it repaired as this won’t normally cost you anything. It’s better to check the store’s terms as some warranties only cover the parts, in which case you’d have to shell out money for labor fees.
-
Choosing A Certified Repair Contractor
If the defective item is not covered by warranty, you may hire a paid professional to repair your broken appliance. When choosing a repair contractor, be sure to hire one that’s certified. Preferably, check their license and certificate to operate to ensure they’re trained and knowledgeable about household appliances and their technicalities.
-
DIY Fixing
If you know a thing or two about appliance repairs, you can do it yourself and save a lot of money from paying a professional to do the fixing. But before attempting to do the repairs, there are certain rules you need to follow. The importance of home appliances in daily life is high, so you want to make sure you’re doing the right thing to avoid destroying the appliance. But more importantly, it’s better to be safe to prevent causing harm to yourself. Here are critical points to remember:
- Before diagnosing the problem or proceeding with the repair, make sure the gas or electric supply to the appliance has been disconnected. Avoid touching the appliance if it’s turned on to avoid any potential accident. Adjustments should only be made with the power off.
- You may try to repair an appliance if the parts are attached with screws, bolts, plugs, and other removable fasteners. All these might allow you to check them out manually. However, if permanent fixtures are used to hold the appliance together, it’s best to rely on a professional technician to fix it.
- If some parts of an appliance are broken, don’t try to fix them. Have the broken parts completely replaced so you won’t have to suffer from recurring damages later on. In instances when specific parts are no longer available for sale, check alternative parts in similar brands and ask the staff if they could be used on your appliance too.
Conclusion
Deciding between a repair or a replacement is necessary when handling a defective household appliance. It’s vital to first check how old your appliance is and compare costs before thinking about replacing them. On the other hand, you can consider repairing your defective appliance if it’s still under warranty and if it’s still relatively new. With the variables and considerations mentioned above, you can either save your household item or save money for repair and buy a new one instead.
