A clear decision grid for choosing between repair and replacement: appliance age, parts availability, a quote after diagnosis and indicative ranges to be confirmed on site.
| Situation | Preferred Path | To Validate |
|---|---|---|
| Recent unit with a simple failure (gasket, drain pump, door switch) | Repair usually makes sense | Warranty coverage and proof of purchase |
| Unit over ten years old with a major failure (bearings, tub, control board) | Replacement worth serious consideration | Comparative quotes after diagnosis |
| Failure recurring despite a first service call | Evaluate replacement | Written diagnosis and service history |
| Obsolete or hard-to-find part | Replacement likely | Parts availability from the manufacturer |
What the failure is already telling you
Before reaching for the calculator, look at the symptoms. A washer that won’t start, a drum that won’t spin, a leak spreading across the floor mid-cycle or heavy thumping during the spin do not all point to the same verdict. Some issues are fixed with a modest part; others reveal deep wear.
Common minor failures involve the door gasket, the drain pump, the lid switch or a tired water inlet hose. At the other end of the spectrum, drum bearings, a cracked tub or a burned-out control board generate costs that quickly approach the price of a new machine.
Timing matters too. A leak that reaches the floor can damage the subfloor and, in a rental building, the ceiling of the unit below. The longer the intervention waits, the higher the final bill climbs beyond the machine itself.
Three questions before deciding
First question: how old is the appliance? Under five years old, a well-targeted repair often extends its useful life for a fraction of the cost of replacing it. Past ten years, the balance tips: components age in cascades, and fixing one part does not stop the next one from failing shortly after.
Second question: the relationship between the service cost and the machine’s current value. There is no universal magic number, because everything depends on brand, part and accessibility. Ask for a diagnosis and then a written quote, and treat every estimate as an indicative range to be confirmed on site.
Third question: parts availability. For some brands or discontinued series, the needed part no longer exists or takes weeks to arrive. A machine sitting idle for a month in an occupied home means laundromat trips and daily friction for the whole household.
The decision grid, line by line
The table above condenses the most frequent scenarios seen in Quebec homes and rental buildings. Each line crosses a typical situation with the path usually preferred and what still needs validating before signing anything.
Notice that the “To Validate” column is the one people skip too often. Warranty coverage, for instance, completely changes the math: an appliance still under coverage must go through the manufacturer’s authorized service rather than just any shop.
When in doubt between two lines, get two quotes. The time invested is well worth the gap between an informed decision and one made in a rush with an overflowing laundry basket nearby.
How an in-home diagnosis works
A technician specialized in appliances arrives with measuring instruments and a stock of common parts: pumps, gaskets, switches, thermostats. In many cases, the diagnosis and the repair happen during a single visit.
The right practice is straightforward: diagnosis first, quote next, work only after your approval. Be wary of anyone who starts tearing the machine apart before pricing the intervention and getting your sign-off.
One important note about who intervenes: appliance repair falls to technicians specialized in these machines. When a job touches the installations themselves (water supply plumbing, a dedicated electrical circuit, a gas hookup for a dryer), hire a verified RBQ-licenced contractor.
Verified and sourced
Verified on September 27, 2026
Official sources
What these numbers do not cover
Energy use is compared on the appliance’s ENERGY STAR label; the gas connection belongs to a verified RBQ-licensed contractor.