1. The Repair Cost Exceeds 50% of Replacement Value
This is the fundamental financial test. If a comparable new machine costs £400 and the repair quote is over £200, the economics favour replacement. The repair cost threshold should be even lower — around 35% — for machines over 8 years old, because even a successful repair leaves you with an ageing machine more likely to fail again soon.
2. It Has Needed Multiple Repairs in the Past Two Years
One repair is normal over a machine's lifetime. Two or three in quick succession is a pattern that suggests the machine is approaching end of life. Track what you have already spent on repairs — if you have spent £200 in 18 months and now face another repair, the total cost of keeping the machine running is becoming hard to justify.
3. The Machine Is Significantly Less Energy Efficient Than Modern Models
Machines manufactured before 2010 can use 30–50% more energy per wash than modern A-rated equivalents. With energy prices at 2026 levels, this difference amounts to £40–£80 per year. Over 5 years, the energy saving from a replacement can more than offset the purchase cost.
4. Spare Parts Are No Longer Available
For machines over 10–12 years old, spare parts can become scarce or prohibitively expensive. If your engineer cannot source parts at a reasonable price, repair is not an option regardless of the economics.
5. The Drum or Outer Tub Is Cracked or Corroded
Cracks in the drum or outer tub are terminal faults. These components are not economically repairable on most consumer-grade machines — the cost of parts and labour approaches or exceeds the value of a new machine. If corrosion is present, other components will be close to failure too.
6. It Consistently Damages Your Laundry
A drum with broken paddles, damaged baffles, or sharp edges from corrosion can snag and damage clothes. If you are regularly finding garments damaged after washing and the cause has been identified as the machine, it is time to replace.