When to Bite the Bullet and Buy a New Unit: Home Repair Tips for New Owners
The holidays are right around the corner and people’s thoughts are turning to cook for their family and friends. Do you know what is never a fun thing to experience? Your air conditioner, refrigerator, freezer, or other major appliance conking out with all your guests right there.
There are plenty of common accidents that occur in the kitchen, and many of them happen around the holiday season. Let’s say you chose to repair that faulty dishwasher instead of replacing it, and are now on your way to the emergency room because of a slip and fall due to the leak in front of that same kitchen item. Now you realize that it’s a good idea to talk to someone about replacing that faulty dishwasher. Kitchen accidents are something that no one wants to have to deal with whether it involves the stove, grease, knives, or something else that could be dangerous.
In fact, there are more than a few items around your home that are often repaired instead of replaced when they need to be. In this article, you’ll find signs that it’s time to bite the bullet and invest in a new unit instead of repairing the old one yet again, especially if you’re a new homeowner, and not sure how long that one has been around to begin with.
Air Conditioners
While an air conditioner is one of the most expensive things to replace in your home, if it’s a dinosaur and not energy-efficient it’s time to invest in a replacement unit. Also, if you have the service technician’s phone number on speed dial, then you’re probably spending more to keep your AC unit or furnace in working shape than you would if you had gone ahead and replaced it, to begin with. Ask your technician what he thinks. The professionals will tell you if repairing or replacing is the best option for you. If you play your cards right, your next air conditioner will last you well into the next decade.
Dishwasher
The average lifespan of this much-needed kitchen tool is nine years, so if you feel like yours is older than that, then it’s time for a replacement. If your dishes aren’t completely clean when you go to put them away, it’s possible that the unit can be repaired, but it’s doubtful. The same holds true if the unit is leaking. Again, a trusted technician will give you advice on whether it’s time to replace your unit with a better model.
Microwave
Many people don’t realize that a microwave can need replacing every five to 10 years, according to how well maintained it is. One of the biggest signs is if you smell burning, or the microwave sparks or smokes when in use. Other signs are that the food isn’t cooking properly, the keypad function has stopped working, and the door doesn’t seal properly anymore. Luckily, microwaves are one of the cheapest appliances on this list, so you should be good to go.
Refrigerator
No one wants to be told that their refrigerator has just given up the ghost, but it does happen if the fridge is ancient. Refrigerators, if well taken care of, do last from 13 to 19 years, so unless something happens you do have some time. Other signs that it’s time to replace instead of repair the fridge are if it’s sweating inside the refrigerator or on the floor, the ice function is no longer working and the coils on the back of the refrigerator are burning hot to the touch. Replacing a refrigerator that isn’t working properly for an energy efficient model will also cut down on your energy bills.
Washers and Dryers
One of the other items that people hate to have to replace is the washer and dryer combo. A typical washer lasts for anywhere from 10 to 14 years, with a dryer lasting from 10 to 13 years. If your units are leaking everywhere or refusing to ring out your clothes and dry them properly, then it might be time to consider replacing them as soon as possible.
These are just a few of the appliances that you might want to consider biting the bullet and replacing instead of repairing if they’re old or just can’t be fixed. Newer units are more energy-efficient, so well worth the money, you’ll spend. This is the best way to ensure your new units stay new for many years to come, and will also give you peace of mind that you’re doing all you can to keep your kitchen and your home safe.