Repair or replace? Here's the math.

The shortcut most techs use: if the repair costs more than 50% of replacement, replace. It's a useful starting point — but it ignores three things that should bend your decision.

1. Age of the unit. A 5-year-old refrigerator with a $400 compressor repair? Fix it. A 15-year-old fridge with a $400 compressor? You're rolling the dice on the next failure.

2. The brand. A Sub-Zero, Wolf, or Miele at year 12 still has 8-15 years of life ahead. A Frigidaire at year 12 is on borrowed time. The 50% rule punishes durable brands unfairly.

3. What replacement actually costs you. Built-in fridges and dishwashers aren't $1,500 — they're $1,500 + cabinet rework, possibly counter rework, install labor, and 3 days of disruption. Repair almost always wins.

I'm honest about this: about 1 in 4 calls, I tell the customer to skip the repair. Here's when:

• Compressor failure on a 12+ year old basic fridge. Compressors are $300-500 in parts alone. At year 12, the rest of the fridge is also tired.
• Control board failure on a low-end washer/dryer at year 8+. Boards are $200-400, and there's almost always another failure within 18 months.
• Catastrophic damage from a leak or fire. Wiring damage cascades — what looks like one repair becomes three.
• Discontinued parts. Some 2010-era Samsung and LG units have parts that are no longer made. Not worth chasing.

If your appliance is one of these, fix it:

• Sub-Zero — designed to be repaired forever. Parts available, units last 25-30 years.
• Wolf — same parent as Sub-Zero. Pro-grade build, long life.
• Miele — German engineering, 20+ year life, parts available.
• Bosch — particularly dishwashers. Quiet, durable, parts widely available.
• Speed Queen — commercial-grade laundry built for 25+ years.
• Viking and Thermador — luxury cooking, built to last.

If your appliance is one of these, the calculation is closer:

• Whirlpool, GE, Maytag — solid brands but average lifespan. Use the 50% rule.
• Samsung and LG — feature-rich but more failure-prone than American brands. I lean toward replace at year 8+.

When I'm in your kitchen, this is what I'm running through my head:

1. How old is it? Under 7 years → almost always repair.
2. What's the part cost? Under $200 → repair regardless.
3. Is the rest of the unit clean? No rust, no other issues → repair.
4. Is it a built-in? Almost always repair.
5. What's the brand tier? Premium/luxury → repair. Value tier at year 10+ → think about it.

I'll always give you the honest answer. Sometimes that means I don't get the job — and that's fine. Customers send their neighbors when they trust the advice.