Refrigerator Not Cooling? Work Through These 6 Checks First
Before you book a technician, five minutes of checks resolves a surprising share of no-cooling complaints. Here is the order we work through them ourselves.
Read →Buying Advice · 2026-05-05
Repair or Replace? A Straight Answer on Appliance Economics
There is a simple framework for this decision, and it is not the one most blogs repeat.
Short answer
As a general rule, repair an appliance if the repair costs less than half the replacement price and the unit is within its expected service life. Built-in and luxury appliances are almost always worth repairing because replacement involves cabinetry work.
The 50 percent rule, with a caveat
The common guidance is to repair if the cost is under half of replacement. That works well for freestanding mainstream appliances. It works badly for built-ins, because replacement there is never just the appliance.
Built-ins change the maths entirely
A built-in Sub-Zero column or an integrated Liebherr is fitted into custom cabinetry. Replacing it can mean cabinet modification, panel refitting and sometimes counter work. A repair that looks expensive in isolation is usually far cheaper than the true replacement cost.
Expected service life
Refrigerators typically run 12-15 years, washers and dryers 10-13, dishwashers 9-12, and professional ranges 15-20. A fault at year four is worth fixing without much debate. The same fault at year sixteen deserves a harder look.
Which failures are worth it
Control boards, pumps, igniters, elements, seals, belts and motors are all routine repairs with good outcomes. Sealed-system refrigerant failures on an older mainstream unit are the case where replacement often wins.
What we do
We give you the diagnosis and the repair cost before you commit, and we will tell you plainly when we think replacement is the better decision. We would rather give honest advice than sell a repair that does not make sense.
Need a hand? Lerman Appliances has served Los Angeles since 2002. Call (818) 510-4851, provide the model number and describe the symptoms — we’ll try our best to tell you what is likely wrong before dispatching anyone.
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Broken appliance? Let’s get it sorted.
Call the office, provide the model number and describe the symptoms. We’ll try our best to tell you what is likely wrong and what it takes to fix it before anyone gets in a van.