When a major appliance breaks, the hard question is rarely whether it can be fixed. It is whether fixing it is money well spent. Enter the age of your appliance, the repair quote and the price of a replacement below. The calculator applies the best-known rules of thumb, shows you each result separately, and gives one clear verdict — so you can see exactly why it leans the way it does.
Quick answer
The 50% rule: repair if the repair costs less than 50% of a replacement. If a repair would cost half as much as a new appliance — or more — that money is usually better put toward the replacement.
The $5,000 rule (for HVAC): multiply the appliance’s age in years by the repair cost. If age in years × repair cost is over $5,000, lean replace; at or under $5,000, lean repair. An older system needs a much cheaper repair to be worth doing.
This site sells nothing and takes no commission, so the verdict is independent. No installer, retailer or repair company influences the result — it is simply your numbers run through the rules explained on this page.
Repair vs Replace Calculator
Note: money fields are labelled with $ — any currency works. Enter amounts in your own currency and read every $ result in that same currency.
Optional: energy savings
The 50% rule explained
The 50% rule compares one number with another: the repair quote as a share of the replacement price. Divide the repair by the replacement and turn it into a percentage. Below 50%, the repair leaves you with an appliance that cost far less than new, which is usually good value — provided it has life left in it. At 50% or above, you are paying at least half the price of a new machine for an old one, with an old machine's remaining lifespan and no new warranty.
The rule is deliberately simple, and that is both its strength and its limit. It says nothing about age, reliability or running costs, which is why this calculator never uses it alone. Treat it as the first check, not the final answer.
The $5,000 rule explained
The $5,000 rule is used for heating and cooling equipment, where repairs get more expensive as systems age. Multiply the age in years by the repair cost. The result weighs the same repair very differently on a young system and an old one: the older the unit, the less a repair has to cost before replacement becomes the better bet.
Worked example: a 12-year-old unit with a $500 repair scores 12 × $500 = 6,000 — over $5,000, so replace. A 4-year-old unit with an $800 repair scores 4 × $800 = 3,200 — under $5,000, so repair. Notice the second repair costs more in cash, yet it is the better repair, because it buys years of life on a young system.
Appliance lifespan chart
These are typical lifespans under normal household use. Good installation, maintenance and light use can extend them; hard water, heavy use and missed servicing can shorten them. The calculator uses the midpoint of each range.
| Appliance | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|
| Central AC | 12–15 years |
| Heat pump | 10–12 years |
| Gas furnace | 15–20 years |
| Refrigerator | 13–14 years |
| Washing machine | 10–11 years |
| Dryer | 13 years |
| Dishwasher | 9 years |
| Gas range | 15 years |
| Electric range | 13 years |
| Water heater | 8–12 years |
Worked examples
Example 1: 12-year-old central AC, $600 repair vs $6,500 replacement. The 50% rule leans repair: $600 is only about 9% of $6,500, far below half. The $5,000 rule leans replace: 12 × $600 = $7,200, well over $5,000. Age leans replace too: at 12 years the unit is at about 89% of its 13.5-year expected life. Two rules to one — the sensible verdict is Replace. A cheap-looking repair is still poor value this late in a system's life.
Example 2: 3-year-old washing machine, $250 repair vs $700 replacement. The 50% rule leans repair: $250 is about 36% of $700. The $5,000 rule does not apply to washing machines. Age leans repair: 3 years is only about 29% of a 10.5-year expected life. The sensible verdict is Repair — a young machine with most of its life ahead of it is exactly what a repair budget is for.
The energy-savings payback
A new appliance often uses less electricity than the one it replaces, and those savings are real money — but only if they arrive soon enough. Work out the annual saving first: (old kWh per year − new kWh per year) × your electricity rate. Then divide the extra cost of replacing over repairing — replacement quote minus repair quote — by that annual saving. The result is the simple payback in years.
Read the payback against the old appliance’s remaining life. If a new model pays back its extra cost in three years and the old one is near the end of its lifespan anyway, energy strengthens the case for replacing. If the payback is fifteen years, energy savings alone do not justify replacing a repairable machine. Use the appliance electricity cost calculator to work out the yearly running cost of the old and the new model before you decide.
When to repair even if the rules say replace
- Warranty coverage. If parts or labour are still covered, your real cost may be a fraction of the quote, and the rules — which assume you pay in full — no longer apply cleanly.
- A minor, cheap part. A failed capacitor, belt, pump or igniter on an otherwise sound appliance can be a small fix with years of service behind it, not a sign the whole machine is finished.
- Moving house soon. If you will leave within a year or two, a repair that simply keeps things working can be the sensible spend, as long as it is safe.
- Replacement requires other expensive work. New ductwork, electrical upgrades, plumbing changes or cabinet alterations can add far more than the appliance price itself. Repairing buys time to plan that work properly.
Repair or replace guides
The calculator gives you the verdict for your numbers; these guides explain the thinking behind it, appliance by appliance, with costs, lifespans and worked examples.
- Appliance Repair vs Replace — How to Decide
- Dishwasher Repair vs Replace
- Refrigerator Repair vs Replace
- The 50 Percent Rule for Appliance Repair
- How Long Do Appliances Last? — Typical lifespans for the big appliances, and the 50% rule for when repair stops paying.
- Appliance Lifespan Chart: Every Major Appliance and System — The full reference chart — kitchen, laundry, water, heating and cooling.
- DIY vs Hire a Contractor: How to Decide Job by Job — Four questions and a job-by-job verdict table for keeping the savings and skipping the disasters.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 50% rule for appliances?
Repair if the repair costs less than 50% of the price of a replacement. At 50% or more, putting the money toward a new appliance is usually better value. It is a first check only — age and reliability matter too.
What is the $5,000 rule for HVAC?
Multiply the system's age in years by the repair cost. If the result is over $5,000, lean toward replacing; at or under $5,000, lean toward repairing. It applies to central AC, heat pumps and gas furnaces.
How long should an AC / fridge / washing machine last?
Typically: a central AC lasts 12–15 years, a refrigerator 13–14 years and a washing machine 10–11 years, with normal use and maintenance. Individual appliances can fall short of or outlast these ranges.
Is it worth repairing a 10-year-old AC?
Sometimes. At 10 years an AC is at roughly 74% of its expected life, so a modest repair can be worthwhile, but an expensive one usually is not. Run the $5,000 rule: a $600 repair scores 6,000 and leans replace, while a $300 repair scores 3,000 and leans repair.
Does a warranty change the decision?
Yes. If the repair is covered, your out-of-pocket cost may be much lower than the quote the rules assume, so repairing usually makes sense while cover lasts. Check which parts and labour are included before deciding.
Should I factor in energy savings from a new model?
Yes, especially for older, energy-hungry appliances. Compare the annual saving with the extra cost of replacing over repairing: if the payback period is shorter than the old appliance's likely remaining life, energy savings strengthen the case for replacing.
Disclaimer
This tool is decision guidance, not financial advice. It applies general rules of thumb to the numbers you enter and cannot know the condition of your specific appliance. Safety comes first: never attempt to repair a cracked furnace heat exchanger or a gas leak — safety problems need a professional assessment first, before any repair-or-replace decision. Finally, older R-22 refrigerant systems are phased out and costly to recharge, which is a legitimate factor toward replacing them rather than repairing them.