Why you don't repair your broken

[mppey]

It's fair to say that today we'd rather replace a broken appliance/gadget than repair it...and I'm 100% guilty of this habit too. Sometimes prices are low and buying new seams like a reasonable idea, or I just want it fixed and ready to be used again as quick as possible BUT every time an appliance in my household goes bust, my dad would take out his toolbox & try to fix it himself... and I'm asking why? Why is it that we don't repair anymore and my 68yr old father has developed a "fix it yourself" attitude and kept it throughout the years?

We try to fix appliances if we can, eg new brushes on the washing machine, DH fixed a dishwasher that we bought second hand when it broke after a few years - although it was not easy!

We also bought a dishwasher new that has developed a fault just out of warranty. Because of the cause, we’re only able to fix it by paying a Bosch engineer - which would be £99 plus the part. Given how crap the dishwasher has turned out to be, breaking so quickly in a way that only they can repair, I’m loathe to throw more money their way!

There’s also the worry that paying someone to repair it could cost more than a new one.

Mix of a few things.

We have repaired a lot of things (fan in oven, parts of dishwasher smaller appliances).

The addition of computers into things have made a lot of things more complex for the DIY enthusiast.

Repairs for the few things we couldn't do ourselves have in average cost almost as much as buying a new one, and only had a 30 day warranty on the repair. Doesn't really make a lot of sense financially.

I think manufacturers should be forced to increase standard warranties on items.

My dad still has the washing machine from when I was born (45yrs) and never had a problem with it.

Things used to be sturdy and mechanical, and made with parts that could be mended or were easily replaceable. Now, you are more likely to be faced with an electronic issue - a microchip or board that can't be repaired by someone at home, so you have to replace the whole part. Half the time that won't cure it, so then you have to try something else instead. Often the cost of doing all that and the labour involved will be more than buying a new one.

For me it depends on how much I understand (a plumber once told me I needed a new boiler. I was certain this want the case and when u said it was on am insurance plan he got a replacement part quick as) and how much the party replacement costs versus a new item.

It depends whether it's economical to repair. Many appliances just aren't, if it's not a straightforward replacement of a part.

So many things aren't even made possible to repair. We're not even trusted to wire a plug or even change a fuse, these days.

I got sick of toasters that croaked when just out of warranty and invested in a clockwork dualist, about 13 years ago. The
timer broke but were were able to order one for £25 and replace it ourselves. One tiny little clockwork switch to be disposed of, instead of a whole toaster.

DH repairs electronic stuff. He changed a capacitor in a heating controller when we moved into this rather cold house at the start of last winter and, after he'd had it replaced. Fixed a faulty kindle e book reader by putting the circuit board into a warm oven to reset the solder.

It takes a particular mindset to do that sort of stuff, though - and my he colluded with my dad who repairs everything for the kindle!

I've had a few things fixed with replacement parts like oven, cars, washing machine, TV, lawn mower. However, I've also had to buy new items, because repairs cost too much or too old like mobile phone, car too expensive to fix

I do get repairs done if it's something expensive like an oven or laptop, but not a toaster or kettle, though I remember my dad doing repairs on things like that and wish I had those skills.

It's also true of little things like clothes - we don't tend to darn and patch them these days.

I think we've just got used to things being disposable and don't really value resources any more or expect things to last for long, and fewer people have the skills or inclination to work out what's gone wrong and put it right. It's very wasteful and maybe now we're starting to wake up to the damage done by our throwaway culture, perhaps we'll move back towards repairing things.

Have you come across Repair Cafes? There's one near us that Friends of the Earth runs once a month where volunteers help people repair all kinds of things. There's a directory of them here: repaircafe.org/en/visit/

I think dependd 3 things

Money
Time
Skill.

My husband is not great at diy and fixing things.
He can change a fuse do simple stuff.
Hes not techie so laptop goes to local shop that did repairs normally they look at it for low cost then tell you how much its going to be.

A few years ago we were skint we brought 2 2nd hand washing machines.
The 1st was high tech think samsung made an annoying tune.
The 2nd was bosh off eBay.

Its broken down twice and been repaired twice . There a man locally who fixes things he has £30 call out charge.
Each time its been something cheap and simple i estimate i brought the machine for £100 and spent £100 in repairs.
I have owned the machine for 6 years.
Its lasted 1 house move
Mosr days 2-3vwashes a day.

Mostly i guess i have been lucky
Its bit like cars deciding when to let it go as it's costing more than its worth.

We replace kettles.
We managed get through 3 toasters in 15 years.

Had 1 broken cofffee machine amd 1 broken scooter i took along to the repair cafe which is free.

The 2nd time it broke decided it would go.
Husband tried to fix a mini micro scooter once and broke the board.

Shops have stopped repairing or servicing buggies only know of 1.
I have done minor buggy repairs myself
I do sew holes up but i don't darn socks.
I try to get stains out of clothes.

My dad loves repairing things

The amount of old appliances that end up dumped in Africa.

Washing machine repair man says lots not built to last.

They have shorter life spans

We are quite frugal and we keep things for ages.
We buy lots 2nd hand got bargain smeg fridge £110 recently as needs a new seal.
Saw a broken oven but googled and think too expensive to fix.

But if you know where to take things or research cost of parts you can get some bargains.

Repaired our dishwasher twice it’s probably 20 years old. Also bought new cutlery basket and stuff. There’s a couple of independent guys who have a low call out charge.

I’ll give modt things a go at repairing....

The thing is things aren't built to last now and people want the latest technology. Most people would rather buy upto 5-6 butget machines over 20years than 1 meile washing machine.

My mum has meile washing machine and a tumble dryer. She has had both repaired a couple of times and they are 20yrs old. But they are made to last and there is a local stockist who comes out and does repairs cheaply and the parts are never expensive. She doesn't like the machines any more they are ugly, dated and obviously they aren't as energy efficient or as technologically advanced as modern machines but she can't justify changing them when they still have life in them. Next time she intends to get a much cheaper washing machine, just so she can update regularly without guilt.

Also you can pick up a washing machine for under £200 which is a fraction of the average monthly wage and not generally economical to repair - back when they were built to last and last and last they cost 1-2months of the average persons wages! Even now the only ones being built to last cost near (or even over) a months wages for many people. That's the biggest challenge in changing throw away society. Most people have to go for the cheap "disposable" option because they simply can't finance the longer lasting earth friendlier types.

Then you've got the major manufacturers of phones/tablets/laptops deliberately slowing down old machines until they are un-usable, to make those of us who aren't bothered about having the latest tech keep buying new ones. We need laws and company ethics to stop that.

Plus there is fashion, which I think has a huge influence - people rip out and replace perfectly good kitchens, bathrooms, appliances, pictures, rugs, lamps, light fittings, etc because they are "dated". When really it shouldn't matter.

I do think in a 100-200years time, we will be looked back on as the selfish, wasteful, earth destroying era of mankind. But it's not going to be easy to come out of that era.