<p></p> <img src="https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dcr-apis/wp_contents/uploads/DCR-ADMIN/repair%20or%20replace.jpeg" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/> <p></p> <p>I’m sure you’ve found yourself in a situation like mine: An older appliance breaks down and you’re struggling to decide if it’s worth repairing it or it’s time to spring for a new one. A competent service technician can help you make that decision, but in general, it’s good to think about the “50% Rule.”<br><br>First, I’ll tell you about my problem and thought process. Our 16-year-old dishwasher started making a knocking and rattling sound mid-cycle. I quickly turned off the machine, unplugged it and squeegeed the standing water out of the basin. We were pretty sure it was close to the end of its life cycle. The technician who came to the house was going to charge $129 for a diagnosis. We decided to take a gamble hoping an affordable repair would be possible. <br><br>The technician recommended a minor repair—the dishwasher only needed a new valve for a few hundred dollars and it would be fixed. There was no need to invest $1,000 for a new one. Fingers crossed that I can put off that purchase for a few more years.<br><br>According to the “50% Rule,” if the repairs cost more than 50% of the price of a new appliance and the appliance is more than halfway through its expected lifespan, it’s a better value to replace it. It’s easy to find the average lifespan of an appliance online. Refrigerators typically last 10 to 15 years, while water heaters and dishwashers last eight to 12 years.<br><br>Generally, experts recommend repairing an appliance if it’s under seven years old, hasn’t needed major repairs and still works well. You should replace it if you’ve had lots of service calls, parts are hard to find or it’s not energy efficient.<br><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/" target="_self">Use Diamond Certified Resource to find top rated companies.</a><br><br><strong>Local, Top Rated Diamond Certified Companies Related to Your Topic</strong><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/appliance-repairs/ca/contra-costa-county/" target="_self">Contra Costa County Appliance Repair Companies</a><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/sonoma-appliance-repairs/" target="_self">Sonoma County Appliance Repair Companies</a><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/alameda-county-appliance-repairs/" target="_self">Alameda County Appliance Repair Companies</a><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/marin-appliance-repairs/" target="_self">Marin County Appliance Repair Companies</a><br><br><strong>Related Articles</strong><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/Guide/Home-Appliances/" target="_self">The Homeowner's Guide to Home Appliances</a><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-expert-advice/" target="_self">Get Expert Advice From Owners of Top Rated Local Companies</a><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/membership/" target="_self">Become a Diamond Certified Preferred Member (Always Free)</a> <br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-top-rated-companies/hub/ca/san-francisco-bay-area/" target="_self">Find Top Rated Companies in the San Francisco Bay Area</a>&nbsp;</p>