The life of a homemaker runs on the efficiency of the machines in the home. With the fast and great functioning household machines or kitchen equipment, you can spend enough of your time on other activities. On the other hand, most of your equipment is pretty old or malfunctioning, life will be hell. Many times you may get confused in dealing with your damaged appliances. Some of them will be your favourite ones, some can be claimed quite new but not functioning properly and some others were disturbing you for such a long time. You may have left with only two options you can either repair them or replace them and the choice is yours. So think about the pros and cons of each option before making the decision.
How to figure out a decision?
The balancing between replacing and repairing can be done by considering some of the general guidelines.
- The repair cost
Sometimes only a part of the appliance will be in damaged condition and the substitute cost and accessibility of that piece will be an important constraint. If the cost of repair is more than 50 percent of the buying cost of a fresh piece, it is always better to go with a new purchase. At times, you may face the situations such as the parts under repair are no longer produced. So the option left behind will be a new purchase.
- How worn out is the appliance
Every appliance will have its own lifetime. The average lifespan of the domestic machine decides whether you have to replace it or go for an appliance repair. From the electric range in the kitchen to the microwave the maximum life span is between 9 to 15 years according to the usage and maintenance. If your machine is nearing its life term, it is advised to renew it with the fresh arrivals in the market. Another most important thing to consider before replacement is the warranty period. If your equipment is well within the warranty period, go with the company repair or replacement plans. If something goes wrong with your equipment for the first time don’t opt for a replacement. The repeated malfunctioning can be an indication that it is time to part ways with it.
- The disposal costs
As seen in normal cases, all the used items will get fewer resale values as years pass by. But some pieces such as old model phones, speakers, cars, etc will get high value due to their royal histories and quality at their times. So before disposing of any items of that kind think twice as they may bring double wealth to you in future. Another important aspect regarding fresh buyers is how to get rid of the old ones. Many towns charge extra pennies in the disposal of the bigger appliances. So don’t wait until disposal, rather sell it before as it will be obviously an economy plan.
- Consider the energy efficiency
If you got tired with your electricity bills even after a lot of control, it is high time to check the energy efficiency of your household equipment. The low rated pieces of equipment can be altered with high energy-efficient appliances. The 5 star or 4 star rated appliances have proven to be efficient in the long run. The star rating in the types of equipment such as washing machine and Air conditioners are of great significance and you can change your old machines even if they are working satisfactorily but consume a lot of energy.
- Availability of the service centres
For the repairing or replacement of small parts of the appliances, reliable service centres are essential. Nowadays these services are available online through. Many of the centres make the provision to enquire about the service details and spare parts too. Accordingly, customers can book the appointment and make their services get done very easily.
Merits of repair and replacement
According to the necessity, we can make our decisions between replacement and repair. So it is always better to consider the merits of each.
Repairing
- Cheaper
- Less wasteful- reduce the carbon footprint
- Less wastage of material and manufacturing energy
- Reduce disposal costs
Replacement
- Get the attractiveness of the brand new product
- Better working
- Always give a trendy look to the houses
- Lessens your efforts of repairing again and again
Conclusion
A well-equipped house is not enough for comfortable living. For the long life of this equipment, the frequent servicing and maintenance are also inevitable. The right decision between the appliance repair and a fresh buy always depends on many factors. First, try to identify whether it is necessary to change the appliance or not. Review the repair costs, disposal costs, energy constraints, etc and make an effective comparison with the new purchase. Then take the decision intelligently.