Should I get my dishwasher repaired or buy a new one?

One of the most frustrating things when it comes to home ownership or even renting is when an appliance breaks down.

While some of us have insurance to cover such events, or a warranty in place, many of us do not. As household appliances – such as dishwashers, washing machines, ovens, and fridges – are essential to the modern way of living in the UK, you’re left with two difficult, opposing questions.

Do I get the old dishwasher repaired or do I buy a new one?

It’s a question that likely brought you here. Because our team at Repair Aid are pretty ace at repairing dishwashers, we’re also pretty well versed in being able to answer this question for you.

So do I repair or replace my dishwasher?

Let’s get straight down to the brass tacks: ideally, no; but it really depends on your circumstances. If your dishwasher is more than 10 years old, there’s a good chance you may want to consider replacing it (depending on what’s wrong). However, if it’s less than 10 years old, you’ll want to consider keeping it around.

As well as the cost of replacing a dishwasher, there’s just not enough raw materials in the world to allow for us to replace a dishwasher the first time it breaks within a few years of it operating.

It just depends on how long you have had it, how often it has been used, the manufacturer, if the manufacturer is still in business, if the spare parts are easy to source and the condition of the machine upon purchase.

If the dishwasher is less than 10 years old, then these things are less of an issue. However, there’s something to be said for the robustness of older machines. Newer machines break down more easily and need repairers due to having many more working parts. Older dishwashers tend to be better at dealing with plates that haven’t been rinsed properly than newer dishwashers.

However, even if your dishwasher is over 10 years old, it may still be in good condition and serviceable due to older dishwashers being quite robust. Often, it is the type of electronics in dishwashers that make this happen. So it’s possible for your dishwasher to be up to 15 years old without any major concerns or only requiring minimal repairs.

However, if it’s over 15 years old, you might be starting to see some problems. Things such as a build-up of limescale sediment, the unavailability of spare parts and time will start to catch up on it. At this point, it may be just as expensive to replace the dishwasher than get it repaired.

As with anything in life, it’s the context of the situation that matters but once you hit the ten year mark and there’s a problem, it’s certainly worth your while to start looking around at what a replacement dishwasher could offer you. But don’t be so sure to cast away a dishwasher just because it’s old.

What if my dishwasher is under ten years old?

As aforementioned, the problem with newer dishwashers is that they can be more delicate than their older counterparts. Things such as too much food on plates and broken glasses can really play havoc with newer machines leaving you to replace drain or heat pumps.

Therefore, it’s really important to be very regimented in your cleaning schedule with modern dishwashers. Some of the most common problems with these dishwashers are things such as streaky lines appearing on cutlery and glassware or when there is a build-up of limescale in the dishwasher.

While the latter can be rectified with regular descaling, the former can be a result of a blockage. Instead of calling out a repairer, take a look inside the machine and see if there is any debris on the spray arm or anything that could be blocking the holes where the water comes out. A quick rinse of the spray arms can help, too. Just be careful with trying to have a poke at the holes as this can change the shape and reduce the effectiveness of the clean.

The good thing about modern dishwashers is that many come with different warning lights (much like a broadband router) that can give you information, in conjunction with the user guide, to help you understand the problem.

However, they are not always accurate and are just there to help guide you. If your dishwasher is relatively new, within the past year or two, it may still be under manufacturer warranty and you should make full use of this while you have this coverage.

Fixing your dishwasher: DIY or call Repair Aid?

At Repair Aid, we are specialists when it comes to dishwasher repairers. It’s something our qualified engineers do every single day. However, you may want to try and have a go at repairing the problem yourself. If its an older machine, and you’ve had a lot of experience of it, as well as the tools and competence to match, it could be worth giving it a go.

However, newer machines have a lot more that could go wrong. And there’s a higher risk fiddling with a newer machine (especially one that isn’t that old) versus an older dishwasher that may need replaced soon anyway. The former just has more parts that could go wrong and, additionally, they have more electronics which makes it dangerous – especially when there’s water around. This is why you should really leave dishwasher repairs to trained professionals who know what they are doing.

That’s exactly why you should call Repair Aid to get the job done right. We’ll be able to tell you if it will be worth your while to get the dishwasher repaired or if a switch to a new machine is more worthwhile. Either call us on 020 7183 6944 for a free quote or book your appointment online and we’ll help you answer the question.