One of the most liked and staple appliances in your home is probably the dishwasher. It is a huge convenience to everyone who would rather do anything than stand at a sink full of suds and dirty dishes. (Count me among you!)

The big crisis comes the day your dishwasher stops working or begins to make strange noises, or just doesn’t seem to operate the way it used to do. So, what do you do? Is it worth the repair costs or should you just replace it?

Here is a list of things to look for before you make the big decision for repairing or replacing your dishwasher.

• No power – this can be due to a faulty latch, blown circuit breaker, or fuse, or a problem with the circuit board or electrical components.
• Water issues – this could be caused by several issues. If there is no hot water, the cause could be the heater coil. Depending on the age of dishwasher, this might be worth the repair. No water could be a broken latch. If the float assembly or drain lever arm is stuck these are easily fixed by a repair service.

New dishwashers have a typical lifespan of 6-10 years. When making the decision on whether to buy or repair the first thing to look at is the age of the dishwasher. Next, identify if the problem is a major or a minor repair. Items such as door seals and latches, fill valves, drain pumps, pressure switches, and soap dispensers are all considered minor issues. These items are worth calling a repair service.

Leaking water, where the bottom of the dishwasher is rusted, or cracked; replacement of motor is required, or a machine that is at the end of its lifespan, should be replaced. You don’t need to have a service technician charge you to say that it shouldn’t be repaired.

Be informed before you decide on repair or replacement for your dishwasher. Make the decision that makes more sense for your budget.