How the verdict is calculated
This calculator applies the same logic an honest repair technician uses, with the numbers shown so you can check the reasoning:
- The 50% rule. If a repair costs more than half the price of a comparable new unit, replacement almost always wins — the industry rule of thumb that appliance techs themselves use.
- Remaining lifespan. Each appliance type has a typical service life (a refrigerator around 13 years, a tank water heater around 10, a gas furnace around 18). A $300 repair on a machine with six expected years left is a very different bet than the same repair on a machine with one.
- Cost per remaining year. The repair cost is spread over the unit’s remaining expected life and compared against the annualized cost of buying new. When the repaired machine is the cheaper way to buy years of service, repair wins.
The verdict is a starting point, not a command. A unit with a strong service history deserves more benefit of the doubt than one that has needed three repairs in two years — repeated failures are themselves a signal, whatever the math says.
Before you accept any repair quote
A surprising share of “broken” appliances fail the cheap way — a clogged filter, a kinked hose, a tripped thermal switch. Before paying for a diagnosis, run through our free guides for the symptom you’re seeing: a dishwasher that stopped cleaning, a dryer that won’t spin, a washer that shakes the floor, or a freezer that stopped freezing. Twenty minutes with a flashlight regularly turns a $250 quote into a $0 fix.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the lifespan numbers come from?
They are typical service-life figures used across the appliance industry and by home inspectors. Individual units vary with usage, water quality, and maintenance — treat them as averages, not guarantees.
Should energy efficiency change the answer?
Sometimes. If your unit is over a decade old, a new model can cut its energy or water use noticeably, which quietly improves the case for replacement — especially for refrigerators and washing machines that run every day.
Is anything I enter saved?
No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser; nothing is transmitted or stored. This tool provides general estimates, not professional advice — see our disclaimer.