What to Do When Home Appliances Are Out of Warranty

If a home appliance causes problems within the warranty period, the manufacturer or dealer will pay for the repair. Consumers simply have to make sure that they do not place the repair order with the repair shop themselves, but rather with the seller.

The choice is more difficult when the warranty has expired. Is it still worth repairing at one's own expense or is it better to invest in a new device? Here are some tips to make the decision easier.

First, check the warranty documents. It may be that the warranty was extended beyond the statutory period at the time of sale for a small additional charge. Or a manufacturer grants this extension on its own initiative.

If you own a particularly valuable or large number of household appliances, you can also consider a manufacturer-independent insurance policy. Some companies offer so-called electronics insurance, which covers private households in the event of damage caused by short circuits, operating errors or carelessness.

Next, the damage should be localized. For this purpose, operating manuals contain a list of possible sources of error; devices with a display usually show a code. Some defects turn out to be half as dramatic on closer inspection: Perhaps a circuit breaker has merely tripped because a supply or drain line is clogged, a sieve needs cleaning or a machine is overloaded.

To Keep Costs in Check: Request a Cost Estimate

If functionality cannot be restored, the cost of a repair must be contained. Trustworthy repair shops have experience with potential causes of damage and can make a good estimate of the scope of the repair: Which spare parts are necessary, how many working hours, is on-site repair possible? It is essential to ask for a cost estimate. In this way, consumers can also compare whether a price is set too high or, on the contrary, suspiciously cheap.

Based on the cost estimate, it is easy to decide for or against the repair. As a rule of thumb, if it is more than 50 percent more expensive than a new device, the defective one should be replaced. The disadvantage of higher initial costs is offset by the advantages: the new appliance's unlimited warranty and, as a rule, better energy efficiency.

The age of the appliance must also be taken into account. Heavily used "workhorses" such as washing machines, stoves and refrigerators may last 15 years or more, but their usual useful life is designed for ten to twelve years. After that, repair is likely to be only a temporary solution, especially if repeated damage has already occurred.

If in doubt, a qualified repair service provider is the right contact here as well.