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Repair or Replace? The 50% Rule, Explained With Real Numbers

A decision framework for any broken appliance: repair cost vs. replacement price vs. remaining lifespan, with worked examples.

The rule

If a repair costs more than 50% of a comparable new appliance and the unit is past half its expected lifespan, replace it. Both conditions — a pricey repair on a young machine is still usually worth doing, and a cheap fix on an old one often is too.

Worked examples

$250 evaporator fan, 5-year-old $1,200 fridge: 21% of replacement, under half of 13-year lifespan → repair. $800 compressor, 11-year-old $1,000 fridge: 80% of replacement, past half-life → replace. $450 bearing job, 4-year-old $700 washer: 64% of replacement but well under half-life → judgment call; on a quality machine, repair.

The hidden variables

Three things bend the rule: parts availability (a 15-year-old unit may wait weeks for parts), efficiency (a new refrigerator can cut energy use meaningfully versus a 2010 model), and quality tier (a commercial-grade washer is worth repairing far past where a budget unit isn’t).

Demand the honest quote

The rule only works with a real number, which is why AARA Standard 3 requires a written parts-and-labor estimate before work begins and Standard 5 requires members to tell you when replacement is the smarter call — even when it costs them the job.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. When should I repair instead of replacing an appliance? When the repair is under 50% of replacement cost or the appliance is under half its expected lifespan — most fan, pump, belt, igniter, and fuse repairs qualify easily.
  2. Is it worth repairing a 10-year-old washer? Usually only for cheap fixes. At 10 years a washer is at its average lifespan, so any major repair fails the 50% rule.

Sources

  1. First American — Appliance & Home System Lifespans (NAHB data)
  2. r/appliancerepair (community of working technicians)

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