Dishwasher Repair: When Is it Worth Fixing?

Is it time for that old dishwasher to go?

Deciding whether to repair or retire a dishwasher can be a purely monetary decision. Other factors may enter into your decision on whether to proceed with a dishwasher service call or to go shopping for a new one. If you have mechanical skills and the repair is simple, you may want to at least consider doing your own dishwasher repair job rather than paying for a dishwasher service call. Does this Spark an idea?

Troubleshoot

Check the dishwasher's owner's manual for a list of troubleshooting options. Look for obvious solutions to fix dishwasher problems such as checking the circuit breaker for the dishwasher as well as the water supply line. If either the electrical power or the water is off, the dishwasher can't operate. Run down the entire list of troubleshooting options and make note of what you think the problem is.

Repair or Replace

Evaluate the age of your appliance. If the dishwasher is still under warranty, proceed with the repair. If the dishwasher remains covered by its warranty, the warranty should cover both replacement parts and labor costs. The life expectancy of a dishwasher is usually 10 to 11 years. If your model is considerably newer, proceed to fix dishwasher problems unless the cost of repair is more than half the price of a new model. If your dishwasher isn't quite at the end of its life expectancy, consider what options are available on newer models and whether you can make substantial savings on energy costs from a new dishwasher.

Consider how difficult it might be to pull out the old dishwasher. If you have to run different water lines or remodel a portion of the kitchen cabinetry to get the new one to fit, it might be more cost-effective to simply fix the old dishwasher.

Before you make the dishwasher service call, determine if you can do the dishwasher repair yourself. Depending on where you live, you may have to pay up to $100 for a service call with additional fees for parts. Find the model number of your dishwasher so you can get the right parts to fix the dishwasher. While things like seals and baskets are relatively easy for a do-it-yourselfer to repair, fixing the motor on the dishwasher may be beyond your skill level. If your old dishwasher has high-end electronics and special features, you are more likely to need to call a repair technician. If you attempt the repair yourself, turn off the electricity and water to the dishwasher no matter what the repair is. Bear in mind that you may void any warranty when you repair the dishwasher yourself.

References

• Digital Federal Credit Union: Appliances---Repair or Replace?
• Consumer Reports: Repair or Replace it?