When to Fix and When to Replace a Broken Range
Whether you’re using your stove to cook or keeping your jeans warm on a cold winter morning, it would be a major inconvenience if it stopped working. But if it breaks, what’s better: repair your range or buy a new one? The experts at Consumer Reports (CR) have created a guide and interactive tool to help you figure it all out.
How to use the Consumer Reports interactive tool
You can access the interactive online tool on this page of the CR website. First, use the drop-down menu in the top right corner to select the type of cooker you have, choosing between electric coil, electric smooth top, electric induction, gas and professional style. Then use the sliders at the bottom of the tool to indicate how long you’ve owned your inventory, the original cost, and any repair estimate.
The color bar will tell you whether you should definitely repair, consider repairing, or replace the model line. If this indicates that you should replace your model range, the tool provides recommendations for considering new models.
Landfill repair cost
According to CR’s 2021 survey , the average cost of parts and labor to repair a defective model is $206. Of those surveyed, 24 percent were able to either fix a broken stove themselves or ask a friend or relative to fix it for them. For those who paid to have their stove repaired, the average costs were:
-
Gas stoves: $191.00.
-
Electric ranges: $212.00.
-
Professional Style Ranges: $290.
Of these repairs, approximately two-thirds of those performed by a professional technician were corrected on the first try.
But even if you decide it makes sense to buy a new model, that doesn’t mean your old one should end up in a landfill. While appliances are notoriously difficult to recycle, you can try to find a retailer who will remove—and ideally recycle—your old appliances when you buy new ones.
You can also check with your local city or county government to see if there are special days for recycling household appliances or large items, or use the Earth 911 search tool to find your nearest recycling center (by zip code).