About WorthTheRepair

We built WorthTheRepair to stop the guesswork. When an appliance breaks, the decision to fix it or trash it is often emotional. We treat it as a financial equation.

The Core Philosophy

Technicians often use a "gut check" rule: If the repair costs more than 50% of the cost of a new machine, don't do it.

But that rule is flawed because it ignores depreciation. A 5-year-old washing machine isn't worth what you paid for it. To make a truly financially sound decision, you must compare the repair cost against the item's current value, not its original price.

How the Math Works

Our engine doesn't just apply a flat percentage. We use category-specific depreciation schedules derived from insurance and resale market data:

• Appliances (Linear Decay): Items like washers, dryers, and refrigerators typically lose value steadily over their lifespan. We model this linearly, assuming a standard usable life (e.g., 10-15 years).
• Electronics (Exponential Decay): Laptops, phones, and TVs lose value much faster in their first few years due to rapid technological obsolescence. We use an exponential decay curve to model this sharp initial drop.

The "50% Rule" Refined

Once we calculate the current value based on age and category, we apply a Condition Multiplier. An item in "Mint" condition retains about 115% of its base book value, while "Poor" condition drops it to 80%.

Finally, we calculate the Repair Ratio. If the quote exceeds 50% of this calculated current value, our algorithm recommends replacement. We also calculate the "Break Even" point-telling you exactly how many more months the item needs to last to justify the repair bill.

Privacy First

We believe financial decisions are private. This calculator runs entirely in your browser. When you enter costs and ages, that data is processed by JavaScript on your device. We do not store your inputs on our servers, and we do not sell your data.