Whenever it is in cuts of repair and ordering a new one industrious people in households or businesses are stuck on a nice dilemma: repair or order a new one? Refrigerators are must be properties in every household hence any break down of it requires immediate steps. The question, however, is that in the long run, which option will save you more money? Would you be better off making the repairs, or will it be too late and you just need to buy a brand new one? This guide will help you evaluate the best course of action based on several factors.
Age of the Refrigerator
The age of your refrigerator is one of the key factors in determining whether it’s worth repairing. While most appliances are efficient when newly bought, this efficiency goes down as the appliances reach their useful life span.
- Refrigerators Less Than 5 Years: In the case of less than five year’s old refrigerators, relatives to be repaired are mostly worthwhile making whatever the problem if minor. Since these are the new models, most of the spare parts are easy to come by and cheap.
- Refrigerators Between 5 Years to 10 Years: At this point of age, it is dependent on the particular site of repair. Many mid-life refrigerators are still worth repairing, especially if they have not had many issues before this.
- Nordic fridges older than 10 years: Fridges aging for over ten years should most often be replaced without further earning their user’s finances. They pay less energy than older models, which means saving money on electricity in the long run.
Should I fix it or just get a new one?
The next step would be a comparison of the total repair costs and how much it would take to buy a new one.
- The 50% rule – A better way to look at this is the 50% rule. If you are going to spend over 50% of the cost of buying a new refrigerator then the old one should be disposed of. For illustration, if it would take $500 to repair your old fridge and a new one is $1000. It’s likely therefore that the better model is the likely outcome.
- Small Issues: These issues are lower in cost in comparison to other renovations like broken thermostats, gunked up clogged drain tubes, or door gaskets that need replacements etc. These repairs are usually under $200 and can help add on several years of life of your refrigerator.
- Major Repairs: If you are having difficulties, such as with the compressor that has failed, a broken control board, and refrigerant leak repair, it is going to be costly ranging upwards of $400. In this case, it is more rational to buy a new refrigerator than spending such amounts of money on repairs, particularly if yours is old.
Energy Efficiency And Long-Term Savings
Fridge is one of the oldest appliances and it is still useful, however, older refrigerators eat a lot more electricity than the current energy star fitted refrigerators. Assuming you still use a refrigerator that is over ten years old, you should be spending more on the electricity bill than what a new one would cost you every month.
- Energy Star Models: New Refrigerators With Energy Star Rating Uses 40% Lesser Energy As Compared To Older Ones: About 90% of the cases, when the patients come to us with a new fridge because their old one wilts down, or some minor shutters are starving the shelves. Dollar initial purchase may make you cringe in price but in the future, more economical operation of the refrigerator itself is quite convincing.
- Utility Bills: Considering replacing an outdated fridge with an energy-efficient unit may rectify the situation and control the electricity bills which will eventually repay the costs of the replacement in due course.
Environmental Impact
The global environmental burden is an insurmountablefactors in this case too. There is also consideration sometimes on whether to repair or replace home appliances in terms of repair and replacement of home appliances. The older type of refrigerator does not throw home into waste per se but these days’s future refrigerators are more designed for the green environment.
- Eco-Friendly Disposal: In the event that you still replace, look for ways to get rid of the old refrigerator such that the environment remains safe. Commonly, when buying a new refrigerant, many retailers have responsible recycling programs including take-back policies.
- Sustainability of Repair: Repairing an appliance helps to increase its use and in turn decreases the need to procure new materials which is a good option within a short span of time. On the contrary, this decision must take into account the factors related to the growing use of energy efficient appliances.
The Problem of Availability of Spare Parts
The older it gets the more aggravating it becomes to source for new refrigerator components. Especially when your fridge is looking for parts that are impossible to find or components that are no longer made. This could be interpreted that an upgrade of the whole unit is a more sensible solution. Moreover, such parts for old devices may prove to be quite expensive since they may be in limited supply.
- Manufacturers Support: Find out when you will find the necessary parts and services related to the fridge manufacturer. However, if support is in short supply or absent altogether, this unit would be best replaced.
Problems of a Refrigerator: Diagnosis and Solutions, What Should Be Done?
Lets take a look at some of the most frequently encountered refrigerator troubles and consider if they are better left repaired or if better options is replacement:
- Temperature Working/Freezing Issues: If the fridge; isn’t cooling off over a period of time, this is usually an indication of thermostat/control board failure. This one is quite common in newer models; however, if yours is over 10 years, consider buying a new one.
- Water Problems: Leakages of anything contained in the refrigerator are more often than not related to blockage in the drainage system or faulty door seals and are cheap to fix. On the other hand – just like it can depend on the cause of the leak also such internally coming leaks (from actual components) can also point to the more evil pessimistic side of replacement.
- Loud Operation: Loud operation is a vice in any working machine and can at times be due to failure in the evaporator fan component or condenser motor. these two are generally fixable, however, should the compressor work and unusually loud sounds are not present then probably its time to get a new fridge.
- Ice Formation: The melting ice used in a frost free refrigerator is normally blamed on the ice melt unit. this is quite often an issue that can be repaired but unless the fridge is very old.
Conclusion: Understanding the Advantages and Disadvantages
When considering your decision about whether to repair or replace an old refrigerator, the first things to consider should be its age, the repair cost, the energy consumption and the possible saving over a period. While buying a refrigerator, a good rule of thumb is to repair if the machine is fairly new or if repairing it, costs less than 50% the price of a new refrigerator. However, for older units or more costly repairs, replacement might be the more economical option in the long run.
In the event that you are still undecided or approach a vacuum cleaner service seeking help and guidance, then you might need the help of an appliance technician who is well qualified and has the necessary experience in this area. Whether you choose to repair or replace, it will depend on the facts available and it would help keep your food fresh and the purse intact.
