Consider Repair Before You Buy Brand New

Clothes dryer repair

If your dryer stops drying, do you consider dryer vent repair? Or do you jump right to replacement? Unfortunately, Americans have a tendency to lean towards simply tossing the offending device rather than opting for appliance repair, but taking that route could be expensive, wasteful, and just plain silly.

Think about the logistics of the problem. Very often, calling in a professional just to get an estimate for what is wrong is usually free. They can tell you that the only thing wrong is that the hose is clogged, and your dryer vent repair would cost a tenth of what it would cost for an entirely new dryer.

Something to consider when devices starting malfunctioning is their age. How long have you had it? And when is the last time you needed to call someone in for refrigerator repair? The average lifespan of a fridge is 15 to 19 years, so if it is due, then it may be time for a new fridge after all. But even if the fridge is 21 years old, get a repair man out first, it could be a simple fix that could save you from buying a new fridge for another year or two.

Another consideration is the frequency of malfunctions. There is only so much that calling in the dryer repair guy can help. If he is in every few months or so with a new problem to fix, it is definitely time to replace. But, make sure that that is the case. A quick tip for dryer longevity is shaking out your clothes when they go from washer to dryer. This increases surface area on the clothes, meaning more gets dried more quickly, increasing efficiency, energy use, and reducing over use of the machine. Also, be sure to empty the lint trap before every use. Not only does it increase efficiency, but it reduces the risk of fire, and the risk of clogging the vent, leading to the need for dryer vent repair.

A washing machine is one of the most expensive appliances in the home, yet always seems to be the one to go on the fritz first. A fully functioning washer averages about 22% of the total water costs in a home per year. Imagine how much would be used if you need washer repair and it is not running at peak efficiency. An easy tip for saving water and money is to use the shortest cycle, and use cold water washes for most of the loads. This can save you money and be environmentally friendly.

With some best practices, your appliances can last for some time before breaking. And even then, always consider the repair before the replace. Save yourself the time and money and hassle of installing a new appliance by getting the repair guy in to fix the problem in no time. For more information, read this website.

5 Comments

  1. Luis Shelton

    good point. we do have a very wasteful mindset. it does not help that computers and cell phones are specifically designed to be obsolete in a year or two.

  2. Mike Hanson

    good point. we do have a very wasteful mindset. it does not help that computers and cell phones are specifically designed to be obsolete in a year or two.

  3. Natalie Lucas

    good point. we do have a very wasteful mindset. it does not help that computers and cell phones are specifically designed to be obsolete in a year or two.

  4. Nathaniel Philips

    good point. we do have a very wasteful mindset. it does not help that computers and cell phones are specifically designed to be obsolete in a year or two.

  5. Frank Curtis

    good point. we do have a very wasteful mindset. it does not help that computers and cell phones are specifically designed to be obsolete in a year or two.

Leave a Reply