Appliances are an essential part of any home, designed to make our lives easier. But when they break down, it can be inconvenient and costly. Knowing which appliances are the most and least reliable can help you better calculate your finances and prepare for any potential breakdowns. According to Consumer Reports, refrigerators are the most likely to break down in the first five years, with 40% of them having problems.
The most common issues reported are not cooling properly (23%), ice machine not working (5%), and leaking (3%). July has the highest number of refrigerator breakdowns of the year, followed by August and June. This is because refrigerators have to work harder to keep food cold during the hot summer months. Dishwashers are the second most likely to break down in the first five years, with 30% of them having problems. The biggest complaints about dishwashers are that they don't clean properly (11%), don't dry properly (9%), don't drain properly (7%), and control panel breaks or doesn't work properly (7%).
An example of what can break in a dishwasher that needs repair is the drain pump. If it's broken, dirty water may not pump properly into the drain. Washing machines are also prone to breakdowns in the first five years, with 30% of them having problems. The biggest complaints include mold on front loaders (14%), drum not rotating properly or at all (6%), and machine not draining (5%). One of the least frequent problems is that they don't start at all (only about 3%).Dryers are the least likely to break down in the first five years, with 20% of them having problems.
The most common problem is that they don't heat up correctly (20%). After that, the next most common problems are with the drum (8%) or machine not starting properly (5%).Cooktops are one of the most reliable appliances, with very few problems in the coming years. Even when there are issues, they're usually minor and require only cheap repair parts and general maintenance. Cookers, on the other hand, are much less reliable than cooking hobs.
In particular, stove-type cookers tend to be more unreliable than free-standing kitchens. Washing machines surveyed very close to cooking hobs for being the most reliable household appliance. This is not surprising due to the high reliability of certain brands of washing machines and dryers. One manufacturer had a 94% reliability rating on its washing machine range. Freezers are the most reliable appliance outside of freestanding and stove-top kitchens, followed by refrigerators and fridge-freezers being the least reliable. Fridge-freezers may be less reliable because they have more functional parts than their siblings alone. It's clear that breakdowns in household appliances can cost a considerable amount of money when they begin to age.
It's stressful to endure a breakdown in an appliance, but there is greater convenience if you are protected with a home warranty. It's a simple way to keep your appliances working at their best for as long as possible. If a breakdown occurs, simply file a claim and wait for a free and high-quality repair. When an appliance breaks down, it's important to repair it as soon as possible. Knowing when they are likely to break allows you to better calculate your finances so you can save money for that day.
Most home appliance manufacturers estimate that washing machines should offer at least 10 years of trouble-free performance. Once your washing machine starts to approach this point, you may begin to experience breakdown problems and a more frequent need to replace parts. If your machine is older, you may have difficulty finding replacement parts or find that they are more expensive, which may prevent repairs. However, it is worth considering repairing an appliance before replacing it as this can save you money in the long run.
