Repair - Recycle - Reuse

Unfortunately the US has become a nation of “throw away culture” and many people do not even consider repairing and reusing appliances, electronics and other household items. I cant help but get a little frustrated when some people throw away perfectly good working appliances because of needing a simple repair, upgrade or for aesthetic reasons.

OVER 37,400,000 U.S. TONS of appliances and E-waste are not recycled and end up in a landfill each year.

Major large appliances, often referred to as "white goods," include essential household machinery such as refrigerators, washing machines, and water heaters. As of 2018, these items accounted for 5.3 million tons of waste, representing approximately 1.8% of the total Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generation.

The waste management of these appliances at some facilities are primarily focused on metal recovery but most appliances these days have various materials such as foam, plastics and glass.

Value Appliance Repair recommends repairing VS replacing because it is better for the environment and has less negative impact on earth. When it comes to repairing appliances it can also save the customer a lot of money as well.

If you do end up replacing please consider calling your local recycler and ask them if they actually recycle most of the disposed appliances. Consider hiring a licensed smaller recycler that is EPA certified for Refrigerant Recovery: Safe removal of ozone-depleting substances, instead of having the big department store just take away your appliance.

Source-https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/durable-goods-product-specific-data#MajorAppliances

BUYERS GUIDE-

Ultimately we hope that you decide to repair your appliance over replacement but I wanted to provide this because people ask us what should I buy new or what would I buy as a technician

The Golden Rule: Simple is Better

If you want an appliance that lasts, skip the bells and whistles. Reliability is inversely proportional to the number of features.

  • Tactile over Tech: Choose physical buttons over touchscreens every time.

  • Fewer Failure Points: The more "smart" features a machine has, the more there is to go wrong.

Expert Tip: If you want the ultimate reliability, look for basic American-made appliance manufactured between 1980–2010. I still repair these machines regularly because they were built to be serviced, not replaced.

🧺 Laundry: Washers & Dryers

When buying new, focus on brands that prioritize mechanical integrity over fancy cycles.

Washing Machines

  • Top Picks: Speed Queen, Whirlpool, Amana, Maytag, and LG.

  • Performance Note: Research the difference between agitators (traditional) and washplates (HE/Impeller). Many users find traditional agitators provide a better clean.

  • Front Loaders: If you go this route, be aware of mold buildup on the front seal. Look for models with a kickplate at the bottom; this allows easy access to the drain pump when it inevitably needs a cleaning.

Dryers

  • Top Picks: Speed Queen, Whirlpool, Amana, Maytag, LG, and Samsung.

  • Note: Dryers are generally simpler machines, but staying with these brands makes finding parts much easier.

🍳 Ranges & Ovens

Cooking tech has stayed relatively simple, but modern designs can be a nightmare to fix.

  • Top Picks: Whirlpool, Amana, Maytag, Frigidaire, or GE.

  • The "Back Wall" Rule: I prefer control knobs placed on the back console. It keeps them away from heat and out of reach of curious children.

  • Repairability: Avoid built-in ovens or drop-in stovetops if possible. They are significantly more expensive to repair and difficult to pull out of the cabinetry.

  • Surface Choice: Keep in mind that while glass stovetops look sleek, they are much pricier to fix if they crack or the heating element fails.

🧊 Refrigerators

The refrigerator is usually the first thing to break in a modern kitchen. Keep it basic to keep it cold.

  • Top Picks: Whirlpool, Amana, Maytag, and Frigidaire.

  • The Ice Maker Rule: Only buy a model with the ice maker located in the freezer. In-door ice dispensers are the #1 source of service calls.

  • The "Run Away" Red Flags: 1. If it has more than one display screen.
    2. If it uses more than one evaporator.
    3. If you remove the ice bucket and still can’t easily see the ice-making mechanism.