Repair VS Replace

Our industry, much like many out there, are moving towards a “JUST REPLACE IT!” attitude, when it may not make sense for you. The Good Guys have always been about giving our customers a choice in what they want to do. In most cases, repair is an option, unless for some reason the part is no longer available from our suppliers. It is important to weigh your options any time your wallet is involved.

When looking into the repair route, you should consider:

  • Age of the Equipment – as equipment ages your maximum repair budget should shrink. Furnaces last 15-20 years on average.
  • Prior Repairs – have you already replaced other components recently that may tend to fail over time? If so, you may be better off increasing your max budget for repairs a little.
  • Equipment Condition – have you been taking care of the equipment? Manufacturers strongly recommend having annual maintenance. A lack of maintenance can let problems shorten the life, (ex: gas pressures, plugged filters)
  • Financials – repairs are cheaper than new equipment, however, can you afford a new installation right now? While we have financing options, some customers choose to do a repair and start saving for the next year or two to then replace.

Everyone is different!

Everyone’s situation is unique, and that is why we do not like the “JUST REPLACE IT!” approach. Regardless if you want to repair, or replace, our team will do our best to keep costs affordable, and do our job professionally. We want you to be happy with your choice, and we strongly believe sharing our knowledge and experience can really help others out.

If you would like a written quote on replacement, we strongly recommend setting up a visit with an estimator. Our guys here are so personable and are happy to give you the information and pricing options without pressuring you to replace. Our service department is also happy to diagnose and give you their honest opinion based off of age, prior repairs, and condition of your equipment what they would recommend.

Why do some companies not talk about repair?

This varies a bit between industries, but in general we believe it is for:

  • Money – there is much more profit to be had with new equipment than repairing older equipment.
  • Lack of Qualified Staff – some companies have a shortage of repair technicians, and if they aren’t experienced they may not feel comfortable determining the problem or repairing it.
  • Bad Policies – some companies give large incentives to encourage replacement vs replacement. This causes less than ethical business practices where a technician is now a glorified high pressure salesman.

(We make more money with replacements than repairs, but we are happy to do what you want to do. 100% of our service team is fully trained technicians that can make repairs. We give our techs a $5 thank you for setting up estimates, and $15 if you happen to buy new equipment. This amount is small as to not encourage techs pushing stuff that is not needed.)

Right to Repair!

We are strong believers in the right to repair. When you purchase an appliance for your home, whether it be Furnace, Air Conditioner, Boiler, Water Heater, Dishwasher, Washer, Dryer, Refrigerator, Stove… you should have access to the parts, as well as any contractor, and those parts should not be designed in a way to discourage repairing. We sell most parts over the counter to those needing them. We will always advocate for options for homeowners. Options are the best things we as consumers can have. There is a great organization, fighting for all of our rights to be able to access parts and fix our own equipment (as well as allowing us access to parts), check them out at repair.org!