Malfunctioning Appliances
When your oven starts to serve up dinner more charred than broiled or your washer begins making suspicious clunking sounds, you've got a problem appliance on your hands. If the trouble continues, orgets even worse, you'll need to take some action. But what? Is it worth your while to go through the
Posted — UpdatedKeep track of the warranty dates on major household purchases by setting up a spreadsheet to record this information. This will allow you to tell at a glance which items are still covered at any given time.
Next, consider the history of the malfunctioning (or non-functioning) appliance. How old is it and what is the typical life expectancy for that type of machine?
Has the appliance performed well in the past? If it's already required major repairs, especially more than once, then chances are it will continue to give you problems in the future.
Try to troubleshoot to find out how serious the malfunction might be. Check sources such as the owner's manual, customer care and online consumer forums. Also research the particular brand and model number to see how reliable they are generally considered to be.
Come up with a ballpark figure for the price of repair. Then find the price of a new version (don't forget to add in charges for delivery, installation and removal of your old machine). If the cost of the necessary repair is more than half the price of a brand new appliance, you'd better think twice about calling in a serviceperson … unless a replacement is beyond your financial means at present.
Take into account the hassle element. That means considering the time and wages you may lose waiting for a service call, plus the aggravation you'll face if it turns out that the problem will require additional follow-up visits or can't be fixed at all.
The environmental impact of your decision is important. Even if the cost is similar to that of buying new, repairing the appliance may seem at first like a greener option than throwing it in a landfill.
However, especially in the case of a refrigerator, washing machine or dishwasher, purchasing a new energy-saving model will benefit the environment by reducing greenhouse gases.