Do you know whether you should repair or replace your appliance?

If your oven has stopped heating or your dishwasher is no longer cleaning your cutlery, it can be difficult to know whether to replace or repair your appliance.

Deciding what to do depends on several different factors such as the appliance's age and average lifespan.

Taking out appliance insurance with Home Emergency Assist before a problem develops is vital as this ensures that you're covered in the event that your kitchen appliance suffers a mechanical or electrical breakdown or accidental damage. You can cover up to 10 of your most important kitchen appliances on one plan - and you'll get a discount for insuring more than one appliance too.

Lifespan of an appliance

If your kitchen appliance is on the older side, it may not be worth trying to repair as finding parts will be difficult.

If your appliance is newer however, it's more likely that you'll want to have it repaired.

According to an article by the Independent*, the average life expectancy of your kitchen appliances are:

• Fridge/Freezer: 7 years and 10 months

• Washing machine: 7 years and 2 months, after around 1,417 loads of washing

• Oven: 8 years and 3 months

• Microwave: just under 7 years, after around 1,416 uses

• Dishwashers: 6 years and 8 months, or approximately 1,505 cycles

They also found that three quarters of people will use an appliance until it's beyond repair before replacing it, spending around £428 per person a year trying to repair appliances that have broken.

There are things you can do to improve the lifespan of your appliances; by keeping them well maintained, they're less likely to break down. If you live in a hard water area, you can read our guide to extending the life of your washing machine and dishwasher. You can also help to keep your fridge freezer running at its best by cleaning it regularly.

Although some problems will need a qualified technician, you can learn how to solve common dishwasher problems yourself and how to prolong the life of your oven.

When to replace your appliance

Generally, if your appliance is more than halfway through its lifespan or will cost half as much to repair as to replace, it's better to replace.

If you have appliance cover with Home Emergency Assist, your appliance is under 5 years old and is declared beyond economical repair, we'll replace the appliance with one of similar specification and functionality for you.

If your appliance is between 5 and 10 years old, we'll contribute towards the cost of replacement. For more details about our cover, you can visit our policy documents page.

*How long do household appliances last on average?

Want to protect your appliances with insurance for mechanical and electrical breakdown plus accidental damage? Cover everything from washing machines, to ovens, air fryers and smart tech. Get a quick, free quote online to keep life running smoothly. Or explore our full range of plans, including boiler and heating, plumbing and drainage, or complete home emergency cover for total peace of mind.