{
  "slug": "appliance-replace-vs-repair",
  "title": "Repair vs Replace Appliance Calculator",
  "heading": "Repair or Replace Calculator",
  "category": "other",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/appliance-replace-vs-repair",
  "summary": "Compare repair cost against a new unit over remaining life.",
  "description": "The 50% rule is a decent heuristic but ignores energy savings and remaining lifespan. This compares annualized cost of repairing against buying new.",
  "formula": "Annualized repair = repair ÷ remaining years; annualized new = (price − energy savings × life) ÷ life.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=appliance-replace-vs-repair",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "repair",
      "label": "Repair quote",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 320,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "remaining",
      "label": "Years the repair buys",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0.5,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "newPrice",
      "label": "New appliance price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1100,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "newLife",
      "label": "New unit expected life",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 12,
      "unit": "yr",
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "energySave",
      "label": "Annual energy savings if new",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 45,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "repairAnnual",
      "label": "Repair cost per year",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "newAnnual",
      "label": "New unit cost per year",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "delta",
      "label": "Repair minus new (per year)",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "ratio",
      "label": "Repair as % of new price",
      "format": "percent",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Repair quote: 320 $",
      "Years the repair buys: 3",
      "New appliance price: 1100 $",
      "New unit expected life: 12 yr",
      "Annual energy savings if new: 45 $"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Repair cost per year: $107",
      "New unit cost per year: $47",
      "Repair minus new (per year): $60",
      "Repair as % of new price: 29%"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter repair quote ($).",
      "Enter years the repair buys.",
      "Enter new appliance price ($).",
      "Enter new unit expected life (yr).",
      "Enter annual energy savings if new ($).",
      "Read your repair cost per year on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "repair": 190,
        "remaining": 1.7999999999999998,
        "newPrice": 650,
        "newLife": 7,
        "energySave": 25
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "repair": 320,
        "remaining": 3,
        "newPrice": 1100,
        "newLife": 12,
        "energySave": 45
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "repair": 510,
        "remaining": 4.800000000000001,
        "newPrice": 1750,
        "newLife": 19,
        "energySave": 70
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.",
    "Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.",
    "Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "What's the 50% rule?",
      "a": "If the repair costs more than half a new unit and the appliance is past half its expected life, replace it. This calculator refines that with energy costs."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does a negative delta mean repair?",
      "a": "Yes — a negative number means repairing is the cheaper annualized path."
    }
  ],
  "related": [],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Repair vs Replace Appliance Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/appliance-replace-vs-repair)"
}