The repair-or-replace question is one our technicians answer multiple times a day. There's a simple rule of thumb, some important exceptions, and a few brands where the answer is almost always the same regardless of age.

The 50% Rule and When to Break It

The standard guideline in appliance repair is: if the repair costs more than 50% of the current replacement value of the appliance, replacement deserves serious consideration. A $400 repair on a washer worth $600 new is a borderline call. A $200 repair on the same washer is almost always worth it.

The rule breaks down in two situations. First, when the appliance is a premium brand with a long service life — a $600 repair on a Sub-Zero refrigerator worth $8,000 new is obviously worth it. Second, when supply chain issues or inflation have pushed replacement costs up significantly — which has been the case in Canada since 2022. What a new appliance costs today is often meaningfully higher than what you paid five years ago, which shifts the 50% calculation.

Brands Built to Be Repaired

Some brands are simply designed for longevity in ways that make repair almost always the right call:

Speed Queen — Built on commercial laundry technology, Speed Queen washers and dryers are designed for 25 years of use. Their mechanical simplicity means fewer electronic failures and more repairable problems. A 12-year-old Speed Queen with a transmission issue is worth fixing.

Miele — Miele states their appliances are designed for 20 years of daily use, and they mean it. Miele washers, dishwashers, and cooking appliances have proprietary components but excellent parts availability. Repair is almost always the right choice on a Miele until the machine is genuinely end-of-life.

Sub-Zero — Sub-Zero refrigerators from the 1990s are still being serviced and performing well in Edmonton homes. Their dual compressor system is repairable, their parts availability is excellent, and the replacement cost for a comparable unit is $8,000 to $15,000. Repair wins decisively here until the machine is more than 20 years old and has compressor issues on both circuits.

Mid-Market Brands Where Age Decides

For the most common brands, age and repair cost together determine the answer:

Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid — Under 10 years: repair almost always. 10 to 15 years: depends on the repair cost and type. Over 15 years with a major repair: replacement worth considering, but these are repairable machines with good parts support.

LG — LG's linear compressor refrigerators have a documented early-failure pattern in units produced between 2014 and 2017. If the diagnosis is a linear compressor failure on one of these models, check whether the unit is covered under LG's extended warranty before authorizing a repair. For LG washers and dishwashers, the repair-vs-replace math follows the standard 50% rule.

Samsung — Samsung appliances are generally worth repairing under 8 years. After 8 years, control board failures become more common and parts availability on older models can be limited. Get a diagnosis before deciding — the answer depends heavily on which component failed.

Parts Availability in Edmonton

Parts availability matters more than most people realize. A repair that could be done for $180 in parts becomes a different decision if the part is on a 6-week back-order. We check parts availability before quoting any repair and tell you the realistic timeline before you commit. For common brands — Whirlpool, Maytag, GE, Frigidaire — parts are typically available within 1 to 3 business days. For less common or older models, it varies.

Questions Our Technicians Ask Before Recommending Replacement

Before telling a customer to replace rather than repair, our technicians ask: Is this a recurring failure or a first-time failure? Is the repair fixing a root problem or a symptom? Are there other components near end-of-life that will create follow-up repair calls? What's the realistic remaining useful life of the appliance if we fix this?

A washer with a failed pump at age 9 may be worth fixing if everything else tests fine. The same washer at age 9 with a failed pump, worn bearings, and a cracked drum is a different story. Our goal is to give you an honest answer on the phone or at the door — not to sell you a repair that will have you calling back in three months. Read more about why Red Seal certified technicians matter when making these calls.