Repair scenario · 9-year-old example
Dishwasher repair or replace calculator
Compare a dishwasher repair quote with replacement cost, remaining life and estimated operating savings. Change the prefilled values to match the appliance, diagnosis and local prices.
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.
Use the quote, remaining life and operating cost together.
This example starts with a $350 repair, a $700 replacement and 1 years of expected remaining life. Those are planning defaults, not a live national quote.
Five-year cost comparison
The repair path is $1,500 and the replacement path is $975 under the default assumptions. Because the remaining life is under five years, the repair path also includes a later replacement.
Important check
Include installation, water-line work and cabinet-fit constraints. A simple pump or latch repair can differ substantially from tub, motor or control-board failure.
Quick answers
Dishwasher repair or replace questions
Should I repair or replace a 9-year-old dishwasher?
Using a $350 repair, a $700 replacement and the five-year costs in this example, the lower projected-cost path is to replace by about $525. Replace these planning values with a written local quote before deciding.
How long does a dishwasher usually last?
This calculator uses 10 years as a planning life and 1 years of remaining life for the default example. Usage, maintenance, climate, installation and model quality can move actual service life in either direction.
Do energy savings justify replacing this dishwasher?
The newer-unit assumption saves about $35 per year, or $175 over five years. Energy is included in the comparison, but repair risk, installation cost, safety and parts availability can matter more.