$500 to repair washer -- would you buy a new one?

[Sadie22]

Somewhere I saw this rule of thumb:

If the cost to repair a broken item is more than half the price of a new appliance, buy new. If the cost to repair is less than half the price of new, repair the old appliance.

Do you agree?

 

[chris31997]

Here are a few questions for you?

Is that 500 for a part or part and workman?

Do you have cash for that repair?

Do you have cash to replace it?

We tend to look at the cost of repair, age of item, and cost of new item. We also look to see if hubby can do the work himself.

If I have an item that is 10 yrs old, and I have to drop half the value of it to fix it than I might think real hard. If the item is only a few years old, than I would look into repairing the item if possible.

 

[MinnieForMe]

To me, it would depend on the age of the washer. I just replaced my 7 year old one. I can't believe it only lasted 7 years. The repairman told me that even the high end ones (mine was) are only built to last 5-7 years now. He told me if I wanted one to last to go on Craigslist and buy a 20 year old washer. So, I guess if you have an old washer I'd repair it but a newer one I'd replace. Doesn't make any sense does it?????

For what it's worth, he told me to go middle of the line because the high end ones were not lasting any longer. So, I didn't buy the $1000+ I normally would have purchased and ended up with an $800 (sale price) Samsung as I've had it with Maytag. So far so good!

 

[Sadie22]

DH repairs almost everything, but drew the line at this. $500 includes the diagnosis, and then parts and labor to repair an eight and a half year old Calypso. This is the first trouble we've had, although the model was the subject of a class action lawsuit due to problems other people had with that model washer.

I've just about made up my mind to replace the washer with a new one.

 

[monorailsilver]

We bought a new washer from Sears about 4 or 5 months ago. It cost around $550. So no I would buy a new one.

Our old was was only about 8 years old, if that. My dh who is handy was going to try to fix it (again) but it wasn't worth it on his end.

And no, we don't have a front loader. It is a top loader, extra large & I can keep my lid open to dry it with out having to worry about banging a leg when I walk by it.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

Do you have a Sears appliance outlet? I buy all appliances there - I know you can find washers super cheap. good luck!

 

[TaraPA]

I'd replace. We got a high end Maytag when we built the house & it's broken down TWICE in 5 years. Thankfully it was under warranty both times, but the repairman told us the same thing someone else here mentioned - washers are built to last 5-7 years these days, so no use repairing them anymore at that point. Ugh. I think I'll stick to the basic cheaper models from now on if I know I'm going to replace them that often!

And to think I complained about the GE Harvest Gold washer in our first condo. It was 21 years old & still worked perfectly, but I hated the color, so I convincd DH to replace it with a new white one. Young & dumb. We ended up renting out the condo for a few years after buying our first house & that new white washer had to be replaced at the 7-year mark. I bet the Harvest Gold one would have still been going strong!

 

[WDWisTheBest]

DH repairs almost everything, but drew the line at this. $500 includes the diagnosis, and then parts and labor to repair an eight and a half year old Calypso. This is the first trouble we've had, although the model was the subject of a class action lawsuit due to problems other people had with that model washer.

I've just about made up my mind to replace the washer with a new one.

Replacing it is probably the best bet.

 

[tonums]

I would replace. My theory is, if you put out $500 to fix it, whats to guarantee something different might not go wrong in a month? I always buy 5 year plans (at Lowes or Best buy they are reasonable), and after that, screw it, the appliance gets replaced. We got burned by a high end dw once, got it fixed for $200, then something else broke, well we had $200 into it, so we fixed that too, then, you guess it, something else broke. WORST DW EVER, but nonetheless, we ended up replacing everything on it, instead of buying a sweet new one.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Wow. I did NOT know they are made to last 5 to 7 years now.

I have been lusting after a pretty new front loader, but now I think I will hang onto my ancient old washer and dryer that work perfectly well until they can't be fixed anymore.

 

[briand1023]

Replace! Watch the Home Depot and Lowes sales, I bought a front load washer/dryer a few months ago for $449 each w/free shipping.

 

[sjs314]

Yes , Yes Yes I would definately purchase a new washer than spend $500 to repair my old one.

 

[spacemountainmom]

It's sad - everything is so disposable now.

My friend just had her fridge repaired. It was 7 years old and the repairman told her that most appliances are good for @ 7-10 years now. She had the repair plan through the utility company so she got it fixed.

My appliances are all nearing the 15 year mark and I shudder to think about replacing them. I really don't like any stoves now. Mine still actually has a dial on it and not the icky digital thing to set the temperature. I do not like those. My mom has gone through two stoves like that since I've had mine.

I just had my 30+ year old fridge die a couple of years ago. It came with the house and was relagated to the basement when we thought is was dying and wanted a bigger one. It lasted another 13 years after we thought it was going bad. The older stuff really was much better.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I would not pay $500 for a repair unless the appliance was less than 2-3 years old and cost at least twice the repair price. Get a new washer.

 

[Jeninindy]

Replace - $500 is too much to put into an eight year old appliance.

 

[DawnM]

Replace for sure.

We have a 9 year old Kenmore Elite front loader. It did have an issue and DH was able to look up the code it was displaying and figure out what was wrong with it. A little soddering and it was fixed.

Just thought I would throw that in there if you are getting a code message when you try to use it.

Dawn

 

[ceecee]

DH repairs almost everything, but drew the line at this. $500 includes the diagnosis, and then parts and labor to repair an eight and a half year old Calypso. This is the first trouble we've had, although the model was the subject of a class action lawsuit due to problems other people had with that model washer.

I've just about made up my mind to replace the washer with a new one.

Since it's that old, I would replace it. Get a newer model and you will probably save in electric and water. My washer was 20 yrs plus when I replaced it and it still worked! However the clothes were not coming out as dry as they do with the new one, that thing can spin!

 

[mrodgers]

We bought a new washer from Sears about 4 or 5 months ago. It cost around $550. So no I would buy a new one.

Just did this. 9 year old washer from Sears and the spindle on the drum broke. I paid $600 back then for the washer. Part was $450 to fix and a lot of time tearing the entire thing apart myself and putting it back together.

Bought a new one for $499 on clearance (last year's model.)

 

[MinnieForMe]

Hi:
Do not fix your Calypso. I had a newer one and my repairman said $500 would only be the start of the problems with that machine. That's why I replaced it.

 

[marie1203]

I will say replace it. We had that happen last year we bought a used front load washer for $300 on craiglist. It wasn't used long and it was still under guarantee.