Should you repair or replace your broken dishwasher?

Ahh, the trusty dishwasher, saving us from dishpan hands and hours spent standing at the kitchen sink. Until it breaks down. If your dish cleaning companion starts malfunctioning, you’ll need to decide if it’s worth fixing or whether you’ll be better off buying a new machine.

Taking into account factors like the age of the machine, common issues and repair costs can help you decide whether it’s better to patch up the problem or buy a new dishwasher.

Before you take one more step towards repairing or replacing your dishwasher, you should check whether it’s still covered by warranty. In Australia, dishwashers typically come with a two-year manufacturer's warranty, although a few brands and models have longer warranties of up to 5 and even 10 years.

The manufacturer's warranty is a commitment to replace, repair or refund the cost of the dishwasher should it malfunction or not work as it’s supposed to during the warranty period. You can often also opt to buy an extended warranty at the time you buy a new appliance, either from the manufacturer or the retailer, which provides additional coverage for two to three years after the standard warranty has expired.

If you're uncertain about the warranty status, get in touch with the retailer, as they should be able to confirm whether it’s still covered. If your dishwasher is still covered, that's great news! Contact the place you bought it from to take the first step towards repair or replacement. If it’s out of warranty, read on.

The age of your dishwasher is key in determining whether it's worth repairing or replacing. So, how long should a dishwasher last? They generally have lifespans of 10 to 15 years, although factors like maintenance, how frequently they are run, and whether they are used in hard water areas can affect this.

If yours is nearing the end of its lifespan, investing in a new model might be a more cost-effective choice than paying to repair an older dishwasher and extending its life by another couple of years. If your machine is only a few years old, but out of warranty, you’ll probably be more inclined to try and get it up and running again.

Make a note of this number, e.g. Age: 8 years

Make a note of this number, e.g. Cost of old machine: $650

One of the main things that will determine whether you opt to fix a broken dishwasher is, of course, the cost of repairs. Contact a local appliance repair service to explain the problem and ask what they think it’s most likely to be, and roughly how much a repair might cost.

Minor issues like a broken door seal or an electronic control panel malfunction may be relatively inexpensive to fix and cost around $100 to $300. More complex problems or major component damage, however, could push the cost to $500 or more, depending on the type of repair and price of replacement parts.

If the quoted repair costs approach the price of a new dishwasher of similar quality, it’s probably a better use of your money to buy a new one.

Make a note of this number, e.g. Estimated repair cost: $300

When evaluating whether to replace your current dishwasher, take into account the price of a new machine and potential installation costs. If you already have the plumbing infrastructure set up for a dishwasher, you can potentially install it yourself, if you’re comfortable with a bit of DIY, as long as you follow safety guidelines and the manufacturer's instructions.

Although newer dishwashers come with advanced features, the nature of technological developments and a competitive appliances market may mean that prices haven’t changed much since you bought your last machine. Appliances Online has a wide range of dishwashers, starting from under $500. You might also find that the greater water and energy efficiency of new dishwashers can reduce your utility bills, helping to offset the purchase cost.

Make a note of this number, e.g. Cost of a new machine: $750

With those numbers written down, the decision to either replace or repair becomes clearer.

EXAMPLE A: Your old machine is 8 years old and cost you $650. The estimate to fix it is $300. Replacing it with a similar or slightly better machine will cost around $750. Upgrading to a new, more water and energy efficient model could be the best option. So, time to check out some new dishwashers.

EXAMPLE B: Your old machine is 5 years old and cost $1,400. The estimate to fix it is $400. Replacing it with a similar or slightly better machine will cost around $1,500. Spending money on extending the lifespan of your higher end dishwasher could be a better option.