Dishwasher: fix or replace?

[TwoTowels]

My Hitachi dishwasher is 20 years old. It has started shorting out the kitchen circuit. The electrician said I would have to either (a) get an appliance repairman out to fix it, or (b) replace it.
Given its age would you bother fixing it? I have been looking for an excuse to get a new one as this one leaves the dishes wet. And presumably a new model could be more energy-efficient.
As you can see I'm trying to convince myself that option (b) is justified.

I would say an electrical fault on a 20 year old appliance is terminal. I wouldn't risk my safety. You don't want kids electrocuted, kitchen flooded, or the house to burn down, do you? In any case it might not be possible to source replacement parts, so you could be paying a repair person to come out for nothing. A new one will use less water and electricity. It will look shiny and clean and smell new (at least at first). It will not, however, last 20 years.

I'd replace it. It's lasted a good time as appliances go, a new model should be more efficient, a repair might well cost a significant proportion of a replacement price but mainly I'm not sure I'd want to trust repaired electrics especially on an appliance with water in it.

Having had various parts replaced on my 7/8 year old Siemens dishwasher in the last 12 months I would say replace. My appliance engineer (independent - not from Siemens) said that if it had been one of the cheaper brands of dishwasher he would not have been able to repair it as many bits aren't accessible/replaceable and in the case of the 1st fault would have melted the base - my base is metal cheaper brands are plastic apparently.

As PP said a new dishwasher will be more efficient and cheaper to run although Eco seems to mean it takes 4 hours to complete the cycle

I think it's had a good innings.

And you won't have wet dishes anymore.

Replace it.

Buy a new one had your money’s worth

Replace. A new one will use so much less energy.

Well perhaps get a quote for fixing but I would say after 20 years - get a new one. By the time you have paid a call out charge , hours spent and parts I reckon you aren't far short of a new dishwasher. & the little fellow isn't really doing his job now leaving the dishes wet. I would not want an appliance that was shorting out circuits.

New one from me & that is my final answer Jeremy :)

Thanks all! I have bought myself a month's subscription to Which? and am leaning toward a Bosch.

I always thought I was being economical by choosing the 30-minute cycle on my old machine. Little did I know, the shorter cycles use more water and more electricity! I have an Economy 7 electricity tariff so finding a new model that runs efficiently with a cycle of less than two hours (i.e., the duration of the cheap evening time) is proving to be a challenge.

First world problems and all that.

After 20 years replace. You might not her able to get the replacement part anyway - that is what forced out hand with the last dishwasher.

I had a Bosch for years and it was great. This house we have a Miele ( integrated ) more expensive but I have had it for 10 years still going strong and they have a reputation for quietness & it is. I sometimes have to open the door to check it is on. But it does an eco wash but can't remember the time. A normal wash with mine is roughly 1 hr 20 , 1 hour 10 depending on the load. . But for the price the Bosch I had was great. That said I did not check re economy 7 etc when I bought it as we did not have that.

I have a Bosch slimline 5 yrs old ,eco 3 hrs 15, do it late eve no probs

Definitely replace it. The new one will save you electricity and water.

I used to run mine overnight until a firefighter told me that wasn't a good idea to leave kitchen appliances on when you go to bed.

I’ve had 3 dishwashers over the past 20 years (Bosch) so I’m really impressed that you have managed to keep yours going for so long. You have most certainly had your moneys worth out iof yours so if you can easily afford a brand spanking new one then go for it and enjoy sparkly clean plates and cutlery.