Get matched with top appliance repair pros in Parkland, FL

A gas stove is slightly cheaper to operate than an electric stove. Your actual operating cost will depend on your local utility costs, but gas stoves tend to be more energy efficient. However, they also cost more to purchase and install, especially if you don't already have the necessary gas line in your kitchen.

If your refrigerator is more than 15 years old, it probably needs to be replaced, and it makes more sense to replace over repair. A new fridge costs $1,000 to $4,000 or more. If you have a newer fridge, it’s worth spending a couple hundred dollars on a repair to make it last several more years. Repairing an older fridge might not yield much in the way of useful life. You can always ask your repair technician if it makes more sense to replace your fridge rather than repair it.

While frequent or costly repairs may make you think about replacing your appliance, other signs to replace an appliance include unusual noises and high utility bills. But also keep an eye (and nose) out for more dangerous signs, such as a sparking microwave, a smoking oven, or a leaking fridge. Appliances that spark, smoke, smell foul or burnt, or are leaking may mean that there are broken parts, and this brings higher risk of fire, shock, and water damage.

The safest option is to let a technician conduct the inspection. However, if you are certain that the capacitor failed and you take all precautions to avoid electric shock, you can take a look yourself. Usually, you can open the front panel of the unit and use a flashlight to find the small capacitor cylinder. It should have a sticker on it that provides its product number, capacity, and similar information that you can note when talking to a contractor.