Customers ask us this every week: should I just replace it? The honest answer depends on the appliance category, the brand tier, and the failure mode. Below is the framework we use when a customer asks us point-blank.
The default heuristic — 50%
Where the rule breaks down
Premium
Sub-Zero · Wolf · Thermador · Miele · Viking
Designed for indefinite repair. Almost always favor repair until catastrophic failure.
Mid-range
GE · Whirlpool · Maytag · Bosch · KitchenAid
Apply the 50% rule. Repair if cost ≤ 50% of replacement, replace if higher.
Commodity
Budget tier · older units · countertop micros
Repair economics rarely work. Replacement is often the smarter choice.
Premium European builds
A $1,200 compressor swap on a $12,000 Sub-Zero column is 10% of replacement — and the unit is good for another 15 years. Premium kitchens almost always favor repair until something catastrophic happens.
Built-in / integrated units
Replacement isn't apples-to-apples. A built-in microwave drawer is a $2,800 appliance plus $400 install plus matching trim to existing cabinetry. A $600 repair is almost always the right call, even at 30% of new-unit retail.
Anything under 5 years old
If the appliance hasn't reached the end of its design life, repair. Manufacturers design for 10–15 year lifespans on most major appliances; replacing at 3 years pays for someone else's amortization.
The categories where we lean replace
Countertop microwaves
Repair-cost economics rarely work. A new countertop unit is $180–$400.
Sub-12 yr mid-range fridges w/ sealed-system failures
Recharging a leak that's gone undetected for years is rarely a permanent fix on commodity builds.
Top-load washers >10 yrs w/ transmission failure
Transmissions are $400+ and the rest of the machine is on borrowed time.