Growing up, most of us were used to seeing appliance repairmen regularly coming out for refrigerator service. Even your parents probably had an unhealthy obsession with keeping the fridge as cool as possible for as long as they were able. These days, appliances are much cheaper than they used to be, so people have gotten into the habit of replacing more often than they did decades ago.
However, having the team at Able Appliance come out for refrigerator repair in the Kansas City area is generally going to be much cheaper than replacing a fridge every couple years, and we can take care of everything from a noisy motor to a fridge that’s too warm. So what makes the most sense in your situation?
How Much is the Repair?
As refrigerators get older, more parts can break down and the costs can add up. Realistically, it doesn’t make sense to pay more than half of what it would cost to buy a new fridge. Think of it like this. You’re driving a 12-year old car that’s now worth $2000. It breaks down and the repairs are $1500. Makes a lot more sense to sell off the car and get a new one rather than putting in almost as much as the car is worth.
Able Appliance will wave the service call fee if you decide to go through with the repairs. If after learning what’s wrong and receiving an estimate you do decide to buy a new refrigerator, you’re not losing much and can make a more informed decision.
What Type of Refrigerator Do You Have? How Old is It?
While it may seem that appliances today break faster, refrigerators are still running on average around 13 years. On the other hand, not all types of refrigerators last as long as others. Here’s a loose guideline of when to repair based on the type of fridge you have and it’s age:
- Built-In Refrigerators: Replacing a built-in refrigerator is going to be very costly and a real pain overall. It will involve buying a more expensive fridge and likely some additional interior decoration. That’s why unless the fridge somehow completely self destructs, it always makes sense to repair these fridges.
- Bottom Freezers: Next to built-in refrigerators, fridges with the freezer on the bottom tend to hold out longer than most. Generally these should always be repaired within the first seven years. After that, it depends on the cost of the repairs.
- Side-by-Side: In the mid-range are the fridges that are split down the middle between fridge and freezer. You should repair these in the first five years and think about repairs after that.
- Top-Freezers: These fridges tend to be on the cheaper side and not as well made, so they don’t last as long. Plus, the lower cost means there’s less financial wiggle room between repairing and replacing. Repairs often make since in the first three years, and sometimes between four and six years old. If it’s seven years or older, it will probably need to be replaced.
The Pros and Cons of Replacing
Buying a new refrigerator can be a major hassle. It’s going to be much more expensive than getting a repair. Plus, you
have to figure out what to do with the old fridge and then think about moving in the new fridge and getting it installed.
On the other hand, if it’s been a long time since you’ve bought a fridge, an upgrade can make your life a lot easier and lower monthly bills. New refrigerators are more energy efficient than ever, quieter than ever, and have more features. For instance, today you can control temperatures of different compartments, turn your fridge into a freezer and vice versa, stream music from your fridge, cool your drink in minutes with a blast chiller, and even get a built-in fridge Keurig.
Trust Able Appliance with Your Refrigerator Repairs
To truly know whether to make the repair or get a new fridge, contact Able Appliance for expert refrigerator repair. You can call us from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. six days a week or get in touch with us 24/7 via email. We’ll have a trained refrigerator expert sent out right away, and remember that a service call is FREE with a repair
