Fridge in the Fritz? Here’s how to choose between refrigerator repair and refrigerator replacement

Having trouble with a refrigerator that started leaking or stopped turning on and off? Whatever the problem, you have to choose between having your refrigerator repaired for broken parts or having your refrigerator replaced completely. Here are some facts to consider before making your final decision.

If you are like most homeowners in the United States, then you rely on a fully functioning refrigerator for all your daily food and meal storage. Helping you keep perishable items like milk and luncheon meat from spoiling, your refrigerator is vital to everyday food safety and the overall health of you and your family. Since our refrigerators are in constant use, it’s easy to forget that they’re like any other appliance in that they weren’t built to last forever. Over time, one or more of the parts in your unit will wear out and you will have to make a decision: repair or replace it?

First, let’s talk about the pros and cons of refrigerator repair. Whether you choose to repair the unit yourself or hire an appliance repairman to do the job for you, fixing the broken part of your refrigerator will cost significantly less than replacing the entire unit. The downside to going for refrigerator repairs, though, is that you’ll need to make sure that at least one qualified person is in charge. That means you’ll either have to intensively study a refrigerator repair manual or hire a licensed repairman to complete the job for you. The first option allows you to save even more money, but it will reduce a large part of your free time; the latter option requires you to pay for outside labor, but will get the job done without detracting from your weekend plans.

The alternative to repairing your refrigerator is, of course, to replace it entirely. Many homeowners take this course of action when they feel that their current refrigerator has become outdated and worn out, concluding that this particular malfunction is just the first in a series of malfunctions that will only increase in severity as time goes on. Generally speaking, this is good logic when dealing with units approaching the double digits in age.

However, the price of a new refrigerator is more than twice the average cost of refrigeration repairs, so you’ll want to be sure your refrigerator is in bad shape before making such a major purchase. Also, while buying a new refrigerator will surely save time, since you won’t have to wait to study a refrigerator repair manual, order parts, or wait for a technician to arrive, you will have to consider the difficulties of installing it. and properly dispose of the old one. This is an extremely important consideration, as incorrect disposal can result in hefty fines on top of what you already paid for your new fridge.

In short, your choice is between saving money and avoiding future problems. Hiring a refrigerator repair service or performing necessary refrigerator repairs yourself will be significantly cheaper (price range for refrigerator repairs: $200 – $270; price range for brand new refrigerators: $400 – $3,500), while replacing your old model with a new one will prevent problems from occurring again in the future. It’s a tough call, but don’t think about it too long – you can’t go long without a working refrigerator!