The average lifespan of a stove or oven is 13 to 15 years. Over that lifetime, your stove needs maintenance and likely repair. Sometimes those repairs can become quite expensive.
This is when replacement becomes a smarter option. Several factors go into deciding whether stove repair or replacement is the right choice.
This guide will help you make the decision between repair and replacement for your stove or oven.
Table of Contents
Cost Comparison
How much will the oven repair cost? If the cost of repair is more than 50% of a new one’s cost, then it makes more sense to replace your oven. Consider both the overall cost of repair along with the cost and availability of the individual replacement parts.
Parts Availability
Sometimes, you don’t have the ability to repair your oven, and you’re forced to choose a stove replacement. This happens when the replacement repair parts are no longer in production. If there are no parts, there’s nothing to replace your broken ones with.
Appliance Age
When deciding between ovens and stove repairs vs. replacement, you need to consider the appliance’s age. You can apply the 50% rule here too. If your stove is 50% past its useful life, then it may be better to replace it rather than repairing it.
It helps to look at the cost of the repair in conjunction with the appliance’s age. An appliance that’s halfway through its useful age could support a more expensive repair than one that’s 75% through its useful life. In other terms, the older the appliance, the less expensive the repair should be.
Energy Efficiency
Older ovens and stoves lack modern energy efficiency features. If you’re looking to upgrade, then it makes more sense to replace your broken stove. Purchasing an oven with the yellow Energy Guide sticker can save you money in the long run.
Useful Life
Will the necessary repair extend the useful life of your stove? If so, then the repair’s investment can make it well worth the additional useful life you’ll get out of it. However, compare the cost of the investment with the length of the additional life.
An expensive repair may not be worth a minimal increase in the useful life.
Kitchen Style
Do you like everything to match? All of the appliances in your kitchen need to have the same design approach and finish. If this is the case, you’ll need to consider this when deciding if it’s time to buy a new stove.
Your oven breaking down could signal it’s time to replace all of the appliances in your home. This represents a much larger purchase and can sway your decision to repair instead of replacing.
However, if you’ve already replaced another large kitchen appliance, then it could be bothering you that they don’t all match. Your oven needing repair is the perfect excuse to replace this piece so that you’re one step closer to everything matching again.
Consider Stove Repair Services
If you’re facing stove repair, stop for a moment. It may be smarter to skip the repairs and opt for buying a whole new stove instead. To determine which is better for you, think about the ease and cost of repair and your current stove’s age.
Browse our other home maintenance articles for more helpful guidance on making your own repairs.
