Calculator 02 · Ownership cost
Repair or replace appliance calculator
Compare five years of projected cost, including the repair, remaining useful life and the energy cost of old and new equipment.
Repair or replace
Compare five-year ownership costs instead of looking only at today’s repair quote.
If the estimated remaining life is under five years, the keep-and-repair scenario includes a later replacement during the comparison window.
Appliance starting points
Choose a repair or replace scenario
Each page opens the same five-year calculator with an appliance-specific age, repair quote, replacement cost and energy estimate.
Worked examples
How the five-year comparison changes
Each row uses an illustrative diagnosis and price, then applies the same five-year cost logic as the calculator above.
| Appliance | Age / expected life | Repair / replacement | Five-year repair / replace | Lower projected cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washer | 8 / 12 years | $350 / $900 | $1,525 / $1,075 | Replace · $450 lower |
| Refrigerator | 6 / 14 years | $300 / $1,200 | $1,000 / $1,650 | Repair · $650 lower |
| Dryer | 10 / 13 years | $450 / $800 | $1,725 / $1,125 | Replace · $600 lower |
A lower quote is not always the lower-cost path.
A repair can be the practical choice when the appliance has useful life left and the quote is modest. Replacement becomes more compelling when another failure is likely during the comparison window or when operating-cost savings are meaningful.
What this calculator includes
The five-year repair path includes today’s quote and the current unit’s energy cost. If expected remaining life is under five years, it also includes a later replacement. The replacement path includes the purchase price and the new unit’s energy cost.
What still needs human judgment
Safety recalls, water or gas damage, refrigerant rules, parts availability, warranty coverage and installation constraints can outweigh a purely financial comparison. Use a qualified technician for safety-critical equipment.