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Refrigerators can usually be repaired for much less than the cost of replacing it. Same goes for washing machines/drying machines, or pretty much any other lar

Refrigerators can usually be repaired for much less than the cost of replacing it. Same goes for washing machines/drying machines, or pretty much any other large appliance. I've seen people throw out perfectly good soft furnishings simply because they didn't know how to clean them, and let outdoor furniture go to rot because they didn't bother treating the wood every year or so by oiling it. Cookware also often goes to waste due to neglect or lack of maintenance - I know a few people who buy pretty expensive kitchen knives and never sharpen them, instead replacing them.

eternityforest 4y ago
Sharpening is one of the few things on all those life skills lists that's actually worth it. Stones aren't expensive, it's reasonably doable although way harder than people say.
- dsr_ 4y ago
  Sandpaper and a flat surface is even cheaper than stones, and easier to boot. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scary_sharp https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scary_sharp
  - nibbleshifter 4y ago
    TIL! I'll have to give that a try sometime, I've an abundant amount of sandpaper in various grits.
matwood 4y ago
It depends on the item and the risk. Google/internet has helped here immensely. My refrigerator 'failed', and it just needed a new logic board. Way easier than building a computer. Risk was medium because it's hard to go too long without a refrigerator. I had a tankless hot-water heater fail, so replaced most of the parts inside. Eventually, figured out the exchanger had cracked which was about 1/2 the cost of a new heater. Lots of time wasted, though not much money. Bought a new one b/c the one was 10 years old. Risk was low because we could survive without hot water for a bit. I installed the new one with the help of a friend - saved about $3k. This cold caused an outside pipe to fail. I did PVC joins for the first time yesterday and they seem to be good. Cost was very little in both money and time. Risk is also low since it's outside. If what I did fails, I can always call a plumber. Furniture items I reuse all the time. It's amazing what a quick repaint and/or buying new upholstery can do. When I buy new furniture now, I try to only buy things with slip covers/easy to replace parts.
kyriakos 4y ago
if the refrigerator compressor fails its usually not economically repairable. everything else is fixable.

eternityforest 4y ago

Sharpening is one of the few things on all those life skills lists that's actually worth it. Stones aren't expensive, it's reasonably doable although way harder than people say.

dsr_ 4y ago
Sandpaper and a flat surface is even cheaper than stones, and easier to boot. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scary_sharp https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scary_sharp
- nibbleshifter 4y ago
  TIL! I'll have to give that a try sometime, I've an abundant amount of sandpaper in various grits.

matwood 4y ago

It depends on the item and the risk. Google/internet has helped here immensely. My refrigerator 'failed', and it just needed a new logic board. Way easier than building a computer. Risk was medium because it's hard to go too long without a refrigerator. I had a tankless hot-water heater fail, so replaced most of the parts inside. Eventually, figured out the exchanger had cracked which was about 1/2 the cost of a new heater. Lots of time wasted, though not much money. Bought a new one b/c the one was 10 years old. Risk was low because we could survive without hot water for a bit. I installed the new one with the help of a friend - saved about $3k. This cold caused an outside pipe to fail. I did PVC joins for the first time yesterday and they seem to be good. Cost was very little in both money and time. Risk is also low since it's outside. If what I did fails, I can always call a plumber. Furniture items I reuse all the time. It's amazing what a quick repaint and/or buying new upholstery can do. When I buy new furniture now, I try to only buy things with slip covers/easy to replace parts.

kyriakos 4y ago

if the refrigerator compressor fails its usually not economically repairable. everything else is fixable.