Repair if possible
If it’s a replacement appliance you are looking for, getting the current one fixed could be better for your pocket and the environment, but it is important to weigh up the costs.
Getting it repaired by the original manufacturer, or an authorised agent, is often the best thing to do but can take time.
The average appliance repair cost in the UK is between £40 and £80 an hour, according to the website Checkatrade. It suggests that the average bills for a dishwasher, fridge or washing machine to be fixed are £200, £150 and £125 respectively. Whether this is money well spent depends on the age of the appliance and the fault.
Right to repair rules, which apply to products bought after July 2021, mean you should be able to buy spares even if the model is no longer on sale.
Make a claim on your appliance insurance if you have it (the expert view tends to be that this is not worth the extra cost) and check your warranty.
A washing machine guarantee is usually for two years, but some have an extended warranty – a few even offer up to 10 years’ cover on the motor. During this time, the manufacturer should replace or repair your machine for free.
Most fridge-freezers have a one- or two-year guarantee as standard but, again, some makers cover the motor for up to 20 years.
Buy secondhand
Picking up a secondhand appliance will keep costs down and has become easier to do thanks to the popularity of marketplaces such as Gumtree and Facebook. “Used” obviously means used, so this option is not without risk.
Giuseppe Capanna, the product safety engineer at the charity Electrical Safety First, says: “When buying secondhand white goods, you won’t receive the same protections as you would with new products from a trusted retailer or manufacturer, and there’s also limited regulation to protect you.
“Older products may have worn-out components, lack essential modern safety features, or be subject to recalls, so safety can easily be compromised.”
There are some simple checks you can carry out. For starters, ensure the model hasn’t been recalled by consulting the charity’s product recall checker.
“Avoid purchasing from individual private sellers, as your legal rights in these transactions are minimal,” Capanna says. “Instead, choose established and reputable business sellers. Ask if the product has undergone a portable appliance test (PAT). If they can’t confirm this, it’s best to consider other options.”
Some specialists sell refurbished appliances alongside new ones, and have checked and repaired them before they go on sale. Appliances Direct, for example, advertises savings of “up to 60%” on refurbished models. Another option is “ex-display”, which means the item may no longer be in its original packaging or has been on display on the shop floor. The Appliance Centre’s sale section, for example, includes ex-display models such as a Bosch washing machine, reduced from £699 to £579, which comes with a two-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Set a budget
The march of new technology, from “smart” displays to 15-minute wash cycles, means that setting a budget is a good place to start, otherwise the choice can be overwhelming. Fridge-freezers, for example, can cost anything from a wallet-friendly £200 to more than £2,000.
Lisa Hollidge, the business unit director across seasonal, toys and electricals at Argos, says choosing the right fridge freezer or dishwasher “can be daunting”. “However, if you do your research and look out for deals, you can end up saving in the long run on great quality products.”
“We often run promotions, such as Nectar point deals, cashback offers, free installations or bundled deals,” she says. “Buying items when a deal is active can ensure you make excellent savings.”
If you can’t afford to pay in one go, many retailers offer finance options to spread the cost over months or years.
However, longer loan periods tend to attract interest, which can really add up. Another option is buy now, pay later, where no interest is charged, provided you pay up within your credit plan period.
Remember other costs
When comparing prices, remember to factor in delivery, installation and recycling costs. Some companies only deliver to the front door which is not ideal if you have bought a mammoth American-style fridge-freezer.
If you want the retailer to disconnect an old washing machine and plumb in your new one, you will need to pay, with the extra costs involved set out at checkout.
AO, for example, charges £25 for its “remove and recycle” service, £30 for connection and £5 to unpack and remove packaging. If you select several services, you usually get a discount, but if you are buying more than one appliance, think about getting an annual delivery pass. AO’s is £39.99 and covers all of those costs.
Think long term
Most people will pay close attention to the price tag but these days it’s just as important to check the energy efficiency label, says Ben Gallizzi, an energy expert at the price comparison service Uswitch.
He says: “You might save yourself £100 by getting a budget appliance, but you could be left paying a hefty bill as some devices can cost five times as much to run as their more energy-efficient alternatives.”
Energy ratings run on a scale from A to G, with A the most efficient. When Uswitch looked at the price versus the running cost of appliances it found big differences.
While a £529 A++ rated Hotpoint tumble dryer cost £23.25 a year to run, the bill for a C-rated dryer by the same brand, with a price tag of £299, was £130.81. Therefore, after roughly two years, the higher running costs will have cancelled out the saving, and you will be spending about £100 a year more on energy.
Sometimes the gap is less dramatic. A £619 A-rated Beko dishwasher costs £12.30 a year to run versus £18.78 for an F-rated Indesit costing half as much to buy.
“How quickly a more efficient appliance pays for itself depends on the product, but sometimes low-energy devices can cost the same as gadgets that will run up three times the energy bill,” says Gallizzi. “Taking the time to make a simple calculation could save you money in the long run or, alternatively, stop you from overspending on a device that will never pay for itself.”
Donate, sell or recycle
If your old appliance is in good working order, consider giving it to charity. Many offer collection services. Try the British Heart Foundation or research local charities. Other ways of giving items away include Freecycle and Trash Nothing.
Selling it on sites such as eBay and Gumtree is another option. Hannah Rouch, the secondhand expert at Gumtree, says: “Secondhand washing machines and fridge-freezers make, on average, £100 on Gumtree. Larger American-style fridge-freezers go for £250. Make the listing ‘collection only’ and you’ll also skip the disposal cost of the item.”
If it is broken, check online where it can be recycled. The retailer will usually offer to do this but there is typically a cost.
Some councils offer a bulky waste collection service, and this can be a cost-effective away to get rid of several items. Prices vary but, according to Gumtree, the average is about £35.