Repair or replace an appliance: the numbers that decide it

The half-price rule and where it comes from

Often called the 50 percent rule, it is the one Fixr's appliance guides repeat: if the repair costs more than half the price of a new, comparable model, consider replacing. Its dryer guide adds a second test, whether the machine is at least halfway through its expected life. Together they make a simple grid, and the numbers to plug into it are below.

Expected life from the NAHB and Bank of America Home Equity study (2007); prices from Fixr's national guides, updated January to August 2025.

So is it worth repairing a washing machine that is four years old? Almost always, unless the drum or tub is damaged. Whether to repair or replace a washer past ten years depends on the part, as the steps below show. Is appliance repair worth it in general? For most single-part faults on machines in the first half of their life, yes.

Run the numbers in three steps

1. Age share. Divide the appliance's age by its expected life.
2. Price share. Divide the written repair quote by the price of a comparable new unit, delivered and installed.
3. Read the grid. Both under half: repair. Both over half: replace. Split: look at the part. A $150 belt on an old dryer is still sensible; a $400 control board on an old washer usually is not, because the next failure is close behind it.

Running costs can tip a close call

Energy and water savings rarely pay for a new appliance by themselves, but they matter when the decision is close. ENERGY STAR says certified washers use about 20 percent less energy and 30 percent less water than standard ones, with a full-size ENERGY STAR model using about 14 gallons a load against 20, and it estimates about $530 in energy savings over the washer's life. For dryers, ENERGY STAR heat pump models use around 70 percent less energy than conventional ones. For refrigerators, ENERGY STAR says one over 15 years old could be costing about $95 a year more to run, and ENERGY STAR puts a standard-size certified dishwasher at about $50 a year to run. An old, inefficient top-loader or a second freezer in a hot garage is where running cost changes the answer.

Federal efficiency rules and new models

Amended federal efficiency standards are on the books for clothes washers and dryers made from March 1, 2028, for conventional cooking products from January 31, 2028, for dishwashers from April 23, 2027, and for refrigerators and freezers from January 31, 2029 or 2030 depending on the product class (10 CFR 430.32, eCFR as of September 2026). In May 2025 the Department of Energy proposed rescinding some of these, including the amended water-use standards for residential clothes washers and dishwashers; as of September 2026 those proposals had not been finalized. None of this requires you to replace a working appliance.

When replacement is the safer call

• A gas range with a leak at the valve or manifold on a unit already past its expected life.
• A cracked glass cooktop on an older range; the glass is the costly part.
• A freezer or refrigerator whose sealed system has failed after about ten years; Fixr puts sealed-system work on a fridge at $800 to $1,200.
• A dishwasher motor, $400 to $600 at Fixr, on a machine close to its 9-year expected life.
• Rust through a washer cabinet or tub, or a drum and bearings job on an old machine.
• A second major failure within a year or two of the first.

Before either choice, check for a recall on the model number. A recalled unit is handled by the manufacturer, and a repair you pay for yourself may not be needed.

Getting a quote you can compare

A decision is only as good as the quote. Ask the company for the diagnosis in plain words, the part, the labor and the total in writing, and what warranty covers both. The visit charge is part of the math; the appliance service call fee page explains when it is credited.

Reviewed October 1, 2026. Spotted an error? Write to admin@compareappliancerepair.com.