The question that follows naturally from  “should I repair or replace?” is “what do you recommend I buy?”.  To be as thorough as possible, this question gets its own page.  Whether I am standing in front of you, talking on the phone or texting with you, here is what I would say:

-Dishwashers-

Starting with the easiest thing to recommend and perhaps the strongest recommendation of one brand for one particular appliance is Bosch for a dishwasher. The starting price for a Bosch is going to be a little higher than the starting price for more common household brands like GE, Frigidaire and Whirlpool. But the return on investment is worth it. 

-Washer/Dryers-

Almost as ubiquitous as the dishwasher recommendation is LG for washer/dryers. The side note in this case is that Speed Queen will far outlast an LG. But Speed Queen can cost significantly more and the usability of the washing machine is significantly less in comparison because the tub volume of Speed Queens is on the small side. You won’t be able to wash a king comforter in a Speed Queen, for example. But a Speed Queen will likely last 25-30 years even with above average use. And while LG is a recommended brand for this category, you will likely only get 8-12 years out of one with average use. And that number will track lower or higher given heavy to light use respectively. 

The second part to the washing machine recommendation is that I recommend top load over front load washers. Bottom line: front load washers need more attention to keep clean and fresh. For example, a front load washer needs to have the drain filter at the bottom front cleaned out periodically. To maintain a spotless door seal, the door gasket must be dried with a towel after each use and the door left open. Front load washers also have a higher cost to repair on average. Of course, if you have a small space and have to stack a dryer on top, then front load washing machines are the only way to go. 

Both style washers should have the tub clean cycle run monthly with a cleaning tablet, by the way!

-Refrigerators-

Now we are getting into more diluted territory for a clear recommendation. You are going to have to do more of your own homework for this category. The focus starts with which kind of fridge you are considering: freezer on top, a side-by-side, or a French door with the freezer on the bottom are the most common. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. I have listed the three main types in order from least complicated and most reliable to more complicated and less reliable. Also consider that add ons like ice makers and water dispensers are additional complications and common fail points as the fridge ages. 

I really can’t zero in on a brand for this category. One brand that is often poorly rated in one style can excel in another style. Perhaps the only thing I can say from a service perspective is that GE provides a service platform that makes my job a lot easier.

Also keep in mind that high-end or luxury branded refrigerators don’t mean they will be any more reliable than other more common brands. Above about $2500 the rate of return on investment diminishes quickly. And the cost of repair on high end refrigerators will almost certainly be more.

-Cooking Appliances-

Here the recommendations get even less certain. There is a greater variety of microwaves, wall ovens, cooktops and especially ranges than in any of the other appliance groups. I think that cooking appliances are often seen as a showpiece in a kitchen and this can make such a purchase an emotional decision. Manufacturers are happy to offer many choices for a decision like that. A similar philosophy applies here as with refrigerators: you’re going to have to do more homework, and the less complicated, the better. 

I would say the safest bets would be to stick with the top three most common brands (higher end name plate in parenthesis): GE (Cafe), Frigidaire (Electrolux) and Whirlpool (KitchenAid). 

Also, similar to the advice for refrigerators, high-end and luxury cooking appliances do not mean they will last any longer or need fewer repairs. What it does mean is that the cost to service will scale with the cost to purchase.

-Final Thoughts-

I think it is always wise to not buy the very cheapest of any appliance. The cheapest one in any category is likely going to be usable for only a few years. When any part failures come up, the repair cost will be most of the price or equal to the original purchase price. 

At the end of the day, I think it is important to get what you want. For example, if you like the fridge with all the options but it is not highly rated, then go with the one you like. Because there is a good chance that even the worst ones will run just fine for at least a dozen years and you don’t want to spend all that time looking at and using the one that wasn’t your first choice.

Happy Shopping!